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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / December 2007

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monitoring transmission oil temperature

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tomasz.kk@gmail.com - 17 Dec 2007 08:59 GMT
I have an idea to install two temperature sensors, on two oil lines
what are coming out from the transmission  (Sterling 827).   One
sensor for the oil coming out of the transmission, and the other for
the oil return line.   I just don't know what thermometer should i
use?
what temperature range?
i found such  32 ~ 248° F  dual thermometer:
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/product.php?productid=2745&cat=0&page=

what do you think?  is it enough?   or maybe there is some better
thermometer, any advice appreciated.
John S. - 17 Dec 2007 13:41 GMT
On Dec 17, 3:59 am, tomasz...@gmail.com wrote:
> I have an idea to install two temperature sensors, on two oil lines
> what are coming out from the transmission  (Sterling 827).   One
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> what do you think?  is it enough?  

A thermometer needs to read and display information.  It looks like
that analog thermometer with digital display will do just that.  I
would find an analog meter with a mechanical pointer to be a lot
easier to read.  Especially during the day when light can wash out
those little numbers completely.

I have to ask why you need to monitor both sides on an automatic
transmission.  Indeed I wonder what purpose a transmission temperature
display will do on a passenger car with an accura transmission.  Are
you towing a heavy trailer for long distances?

> or maybe there is some better
> thermometer, any advice appreciated.
tomasz.kk@gmail.com - 17 Dec 2007 15:55 GMT
thanks for your reply.
I don't tow,   mainly city driving,  but i read that even during
normal driving transmission  fluid gets to hot, and its better if
the fluid is cooler,   should around 170F.
I'm planning to install an external tranny cooler too, so it would
cool down the fluid after it exits the radiator.  And i thought it
would be good to know how does it perform,  what is the temperature
drop  between hot oil coming out of the transmission and  cooled down
oil entering the transmission.
I wouldn't install this gauge permanently on the dash,  i'd keep it in
a glove box,  and check the temperature of the fluid if needed.   If
its still to high i'd add a little fan to the cooler then.

 

> A thermometer needs to read and display information.  It looks like
> that analog thermometer with digital display will do just that.  I
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> display will do on a passenger car with an accura transmission.  Are
> you towing a heavy trailer for long distances?
John S. - 17 Dec 2007 16:18 GMT
Isn't this a 20 year old car roughly?  If so I would think that
transmission and other overheating problems would have surfaced on
this car as well as on the parent car the Accura.

Yes, transmission fluid gets hot, as does engine oil in normal
driving.  But if you buy good brand fluids and keep them changed I
don't know if there is really a problem to solve by adding a
transmission cooler and temperature gauge.  Most car manufacturers
including Honda design engines and transmissions with cooling in
mind.

I understand the Sterling has a less than sterling reputation for
quality but I don't think that extends to the drivetrain does it?

> On Dec 17, 10:55 am, tomasz...@gmail.com wrote:
> thanks for your reply.
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -
Scott Dorsey - 17 Dec 2007 16:45 GMT
>thanks for your reply.
>I don't tow,   mainly city driving,  but i read that even during
>normal driving transmission  fluid gets to hot, and its better if
>the fluid is cooler,   should around 170F.

Sure, but what can you do about it?

>I'm planning to install an external tranny cooler too, so it would
>cool down the fluid after it exits the radiator.  And i thought it
>would be good to know how does it perform,  what is the temperature
>drop  between hot oil coming out of the transmission and  cooled down
>oil entering the transmission.

If you do this, there is no need to measure the temperature on an
ongoing basis, is there?

>I wouldn't install this gauge permanently on the dash,  i'd keep it in
>a glove box,  and check the temperature of the fluid if needed.   If
>its still to high i'd add a little fan to the cooler then.

Have you considered just installing a manual transmission and being done
with it?  This all seems very silly to me.
--scott
Signature

"C'est un Nagra.  C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

tomasz.kk@gmail.com - 17 Dec 2007 18:26 GMT
the car is '94 but i'm trying to keep in a good condition,  new
radiator, new thermostat, new coolant.  Engine temperature is very
stable, i have no concerns at all.
But i haven't replaced the transmission fluid yet,  previous owner
replaced it with some dexron III when the car had 160kkm,  now its
213kkm  and its time for new fluid.
ATF-Z1 is not an option because it is $38 /qt. in my country,  i'm
planning to use Valvoline maxlife ATF instead, which is cheaper: $16 /
liter.   Considering that to do full flush i would need around 10
litres, this will bring the cost to $160  for just the fluid.
Thats the reason i became so interested in transmission fluid
temperature, before i pour the precious new fluid i want to see if
stock cooling system is efficient enough. and its probably not.
Scott, do you get my point?
http://www.mazda6tech.com/images/6itrannycool/trannylife.jpg

On Dec 17, 5:03 pm, Steve <n...@spam.thanks> wrote:
> :http://www.amazon.com/2552-Traditional-Electric-Transmission-Temperat...
> And you only need one gauge, not two. There's no reason (other than
> curiousity) to measure the temperature drop across the cooler.

Thanks for the link!  the gauge seems to be cool and its temperature
range is very same as that LCD  thermometer i posted, so i guess mine
will do the job too.

Well i'll post the results when i install it.
tomasz.kk@gmail.com - 17 Dec 2007 18:30 GMT
ow the link doesnt work ,  here it is:
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2521/trannylifeab2.jpg

according to this diagram, the cooler the better:)
Scott Dorsey - 17 Dec 2007 22:22 GMT
>ATF-Z1 is not an option because it is $38 /qt. in my country,  i'm
>planning to use Valvoline maxlife ATF instead, which is cheaper: $16 /
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>stock cooling system is efficient enough. and its probably not.
>Scott, do you get my point?

No, I still think you are out of your mind.  If you are worried, either you
can use a high temperature fluid or you can use a cheaper fluid and change
it more often.

There's no reason to flush the whole thing.  Just do a change.  It'll leave
some fluid behind.  That's okay.  Do it again in another 30,000 miles.

Sure, a transmission fluid cooler OR using the higher grade fluid will
allow you to extend your service interval.  But it's sure an expensive
way of doing it.  Use the cheap stuff and change it often.
--scott
Signature

"C'est un Nagra.  C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Steve - 17 Dec 2007 16:03 GMT
> I have an idea to install two temperature sensors, on two oil lines
> what are coming out from the transmission  (Sterling 827).   One
> sensor for the oil coming out of the transmission, and the other for
> the oil return line.   I just don't know what thermometer should i
> use?

Why not use a transmission temperature gauge, something along the lines
of this

http://www.amazon.com/2552-Traditional-Electric-Transmission-Temperature/dp/B000
62YW6K


And you only need one gauge, not two. There's no reason (other than
curiousity) to measure the temperature drop across the cooler.
 
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