Gauge sender placement in the 48RE?

[Matt400]

I am having mixed feelings about where to put the trans temp sender.

I was thinking of a Mag-Hytec extra deep pan with the sender in the supplied port but then the added 4 quarts in there would surely show a cooler pan temperature.



Another thought is since the factory pan is already pretty deep, why not just add a drain plug and sender port.

Is there a better way to measure true trans temp like a line out adapter where the fluid exits to the cooler?



What have you done on yours or seen on other trucks?

 

[ThomasLawrence]

Mass Diesel (http://www.massdiesel.com) is now offering an /03 cooler line, with the rubber center section as per Chrysler recall C44, with a 'T' fitting to accept an 1/8" NPT sender. This is the best place to measure temperature, because it's where the fluid is at it's hottest.



I'm expecting mine in this week. I'll post a pic when it's installed.



-Tom

 

[Wiredawg]

Place in upper part of transmission

There is a test port middle of transmission on right side a couple of inches above transmission pan. Works great.



Wiredawg

 

[Matt400]

Re: Place in upper part of transmission

Originally posted by Wiredawg

There is a test port middle of transmission on right side a couple of inches above transmission pan. Works great.

I took a look at that and saw three 1/8" plugs on the right side and one on the left.



The one on the left is just above the rear cooler line

One on the right by the dip stick tube

One in the right middle of trans like you pointed out

and one to the right rear.



Are all those test ports? I am wondering if pressures in those ports could exceed what the sender is intended for.

Originally posted by Tom Mass Diesel (http://www.massdiesel.com) is now offering an /03 cooler line, with the rubber center section as per Chrysler recall C44, with a 'T' fitting to accept an 1/8" NPT sender. This is the best place to measure temperature, because it's where the fluid is at it's hottest.



I'm expecting mine in this week. I'll post a pic when it's installed.

Thanks Tom, thats a good idea too... seems like they could have just made an adapter where the line mates to the trans. will look forward to the pic of that new line!

 

[NC_Mog]

Re: Re: Place in upper part of transmission

Originally posted by Matt400

Are all those test ports? I am wondering if pressures in those ports could exceed what the sender is intended for.

Because its a temp sender, it should handle any pressure the transmission can produce.

 

[ThomasLawrence]

Okay - here's some links to some pictures:



First, here's the factory C44-recalled cooler line, with the rubber center section: Old Cooler Line



This is the replacement line from Mass Diesel: Cooler line with temp port



Here's a close-up of the temp port (it's a male-to-male AN fitting with an 1/8" NPT tap in the middle. Coming out of the AN fitting is an 1/8" nipple, an 1/8" Tee, and an 1/8" plug in the Tee, leaving a single 1/8" port open for the temp sender): New line closeup



Here's a close-up of the new line installed. I oriented the fittings so the Tee faced the rear of the truck (offered the most clearance). The temp sender is underneath the black wire loom: New Line Installed



Hope that helps some



-Tom

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by ThomasLawrence

Okay - here's some links to some pictures:

Hope that helps some

It sure does Tom, thanks for taking time to post them. Looks like if a person could get a hold of those fittings they could make one also out of the new line after the recall was done.



Does that section connect to the front or rear part of the transmission?

 

[ThomasLawrence]

It sure does Tom, thanks for taking time to post them. Looks like if a person could get a hold of those fittings they could make one also out of the new line after the recall was done.

I'm sure you could. The line just gets cut, flared, and the fitting drilled and tapped (if it doesn't already come with the 1/8" tap port to begin with).



But, by the time you gather everything, most likely purchase a flaring tool (this is either 5/16" or even 3/8" tubing - pretty big), maybe screw up and have to repair/replace the line, it seems a whole lot easier to buy a pre-made line for $75.

Does that section connect to the front or rear part of the transmission?

Front section - right underneath the shift cable. You can see a picture of it here - it's the one on the left.



-Tom

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by ThomasLawrence

here's the factory C44-recalled cooler line, with the rubber center section: Old Cooler Line

Hi Tom,

I just got around to looking at that line and noticed that mine is one solid piece so the one you posted must be the replacement for the recalled line. I assume they added the hose to relieve stress on the cooler. BTW what is that anyway... some sort of pre-cooler before it goes on to the radiator?

 

[ThomasLawrence]

Matt,



Yes, this is the line that's replaced under recall (you should have gotten a recall notice by now). DC found that under heavy load/low RPMs, vibrations were produced that were transmitted through this line and could break the heat exchanger, allowing coolant and transmission fluid to mix with each other. The rubber section isolated those drivetrain vibrations.



The heat exchanger in question here is a water-to-oil cooler that's standard on diesel-powered trucks, and is plumbed in the cooling loop before the air-to-oil heat exchanger mounted in front of the radiator.



-Tom

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by ThomasLawrence

(you should have gotten a recall notice by now).



The heat exchanger in question here is a water-to-oil cooler that's standard on diesel-powered trucks, and is plumbed in the cooling loop before the air-to-oil heat exchanger mounted in front of the radiator.

Yes Tom my truck goes in on Thur for the new line and to inspect that exchanger.

I thought those cooler lines went up to the radiator like on a gas rig which is why I didn't understand the first exchanger but now I see the separate cooler up front tucked in there, nice size too!



Any idea how many years back on the CTD's they have done it that way and not ran the trans fluid through the radiator?

 

[ThomasLawrence]

Any idea how many years back on the CTD's they have done it that way and not ran the trans fluid through the radiator?

Quite a while - at least since '94. In earlier years, the water-based cooler was tucked underneath the turbo (not really the best place for a "cooler" )



-Tom