What kind of transmission gauge is everyone using?

[KidVermicious]

Well that's silly. It should be the way I want it to be.

 

[jgue467]

Do you know how hot the transmission supposed to be in normal driving and towing? Some gauges ends at like 220 and some at 300, idk which one should I get.

Normal can vary quite a bit depending on terrain (level, hilly, mountainous) and whether the OD is turned off on the latter two and of course ambient temps. My experience (with a bypassed 15k cooler) in 100+ west texas mountains is 240 with no OD bypass, turn it off and the temps drop to under 200. Same on the Sierra Madre (south and north) and much lower in the Rockies (170 on the meanest climbs), otherwise mild hills around my area in central texas and flats equate to temps around 160-180, so yeah I'd suggest the 300 range one, but most important thing is to learn (from your guage) when to shut the OD off, that makes all the difference. Luck! :banana:

 

[KimIsAGuy]

When it comes to physical gauges there are two types, mechanical and electric. Mechanical gauges have a full sweep (from low numbers to high) electric ones normally don't have as nice a sweep unless you buy expensive ones. I wanted a cheap gauge so I bought one for around $15-20. Not as pretty an install as most with electrical but it works for me. Mechanical gauges have a capillary tube attached that can't be taken off and they're normally only 6 to 8 feet long so installation is limited.

Here's my write up.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/69257-mechanical-transmission-temp-gauge-install.html

Thanks everyone I appreciate the input!

kball: I like your write up, it's really helpful. I'm still looking for a transmission temperature gauge. I think I'm just going to go for a B&M one just because its cheapest and it comes with everything I need for the install.

My question is now is that could the housing be taken off and just use the face and mount like:

I use an AEM Digital Trans/Water temp gauge. Comes with 4 faces plates. 2 for trans, 2 for temp. One is white, one is black.

 

[kball]

The B&M gauge is an electrical gauge just like a.wilson's so yes you should be able to mount it the same way.

 

[the great him]

dont buy that B&M gauge... it has a terrible read out and is basically useless. you may as well not have a gauge if you get that one. its too vague and not detailed enough. id say just save up and get the auto meter gauge... -at the bottom of my post is a link to my build thread. on the first page i have some pictures of the gauge im running and its readout/display. i have an electrical gauge so placement is up to you, and how ever much wire you want to run. if your gonna get one do it right the first time around and not buy something that you will regret in 6 months.

 

[csp]

Autometer or Isspro

Any gauge is mountable in just about any type of bezel or panel.

 

[KimIsAGuy]

I like the AEM the most, its the cleanest look to it. I guess its time to save up!

I'm a little strapped for cash after going on a vacation, but I'm glad I bought a new radiator (KOYO) and tranny cooler (B&M) before I left!

I can always add the gauge in later, even though its more convenient doing it all at once. Whatever, my labor = free labor.

 

[Deezil]

I added a trans temp guage last night, how much slower than the engine does the trans warm up? I know in my diesels it takes forever, but not sure on a little rig like this? Say from cold to 160 or something...

thanks

 

[the great him]

I added a trans temp guage last night, how much slower than the engine does the trans warm up? I know in my diesels it takes forever, but not sure on a little rig like this? Say from cold to 160 or something...

thanks

its gonna very greatly... its all dependant on several things;
1, where you live, do you live in an area where you have hills, or stop and go traffic immediately like suburbia, or are you out in the country where you have little to no traffic in the morning...?
2, how do you drive? do you drive like grandma or jeff gordon?
3, how much weight is your runner pushing around? are you stock or do you have bigger tires? do you have armor/bumpers, a lift? do you carry other people with you all the time, or extra stuff in the back like tools?
4, do you live in a place that is cold, or gets a lot of wind?
5, where did you install the sending unit for the gauge?

all of those and more will affect the amount of time it takes to get your trans temp up and warm.

for me if i get in my truck and do errands and run around town it will only take a couple of min for my trans to be 150*(plenty warm). but if i jump directly on the fwy and take off it can be several min to see 130*... because the trans is not working as hard and i have a much higher airflow over the coolers.

 

[Deezil]

yeah, makes sense. So far Ive only done a couple short drives, has not gotten above 120 yet, which is where my gauge starts at... so I guess Ill have to make a longer drive to make sure the gauge is working.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Is a scangauge as accurate as a autometer?

 

[TheeMikeB]

I'm running a SGII mounted on my steering column. Much more than just a temp gauge.

 

[MGP]

Is a scangauge as accurate as a autometer?

The Scangauge just displays the data that the ECU is transmitting on the OBDII Interface so the temperatures are as accurate and the same as the ECU is reading.

That goes for all the other data output displays on the Scangauge -- it's just displaying data the ECU is transmitting for the various sensors in the system.

Short answer -- the transmission temperature display is as accurate as the ECU/temperature sensor is measuring it! The temperature sensor Toyota uses is very similar to the aftermarket Autometer, VDO, etc. sensors so I would expect the temperature to be quite accurate.