Manual transmission temp gauge???

[blacksheepdiesel]

A friend has '03 Cummins HO with 6 spd and wants to install a temp gauge for the transmission. Is this possible? Where does the probe go? I told him he really doesn't need it but he still wants to do it.



TIA



Trent

 

[Prairie Dog]

You could use a trans pan drain kit that B&M makes. It's meant to be installed in a sheet metal pan and it has an 1/8 NPT plug in the middle. Just replace the plug with a sending unit (same thread) and install it in one of the PTO covers. I think the drain plug kit is less than $10.



Scotty



http://store.summitracing.com/product.asp?p=2544&searchtype=ecat&l=BMM

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

THIS IS A MANUAL transmission!

Is a temp gauge really needed in a manual?



Trent

 

[Boonieman]

I also was wondering why you'd need a temperature readout on a manual transmission. If you were going to monitor that temperature, why not the differential temperatures too? I think if you overheat this manual transmission I'd think you have the truck SERIOUSLY overloaded, or there's some other really bad things going on and the transmission would be just one of many worries at that point. Just my opinion.

 

[rbattelle]

You could buy a set of fastcoolers from Genos. They have a 1/8 NPT port.



I'll probably install a transmission temp gauge even though I have a manual. But that's because I have a disease called "Obsessive Gauge Compulsion".

 

[Dean Upson]

I just put Di-Pricol EGT and Boost gauges on my truck and I think if I was going to have a temp gauge I would opt for the rear axle with the Mag-Hytec Cover . I don't think the manual transmission temp has been much of an issue.



BTW, the molded in color A-pillar pod from Geno's is a pretty good looking item. I wish they'd thought to paint the mounting bolt, though (I did that). The gauges are a very good match for our factory gauges.



Dean

 

[Boonieman]

rbattelle



This is true... . you don't have to NEED a temperature readout, or anything else. All you need is to WANT one. Kinda like the GPS I took along on our last trip... . my wife thought it was goofy when we had a perfectly good map with us. I too am obsessed sometimes with all the electronic and other gadets that we have to choose from. By the way Dean Upson... thanks for your advice on the GPS antennae..... it worked great!!

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by Boonieman

. I too am obsessed sometimes with all the electronic and other gadets that we have to choose from. By the way Dean Upson... thanks for your advice on the GPS antennae..... it worked great!!

Aren't we all gadget nutzos? Glad the antenna worked out for you.



Dean

 

[rbattelle]

My wife thinks my obsession with gadgets is going to put us in the poor house. She might be right.

 

[DPKetchum]

Years ago a friend installed a trans temp in his 1970 Z28 LT1 camaro. Muncie 4 speed. He said looks nifty dosent really read squat. It ran cool no matter how hard you ran the car. Less then 200 degrees if I remember correctly. I think normal easy griving more like 150 or less

 

[Kirwin]

6 speed temp

I have had a temperature gauge in both the 5 speed and the 6 speed trannies in my 97 Ram. See my signature. The five speed runs a little cooler (but close to) the rear differential pulling and a lot cooler (>20 F) running with the truck empty. The 6 speed will get up to around 200 pulling at interstate speeds. It takes much longer to get up to temperature than the 5 speed. I installed the FABTEC PTO cover plates in both the transmission and the transfer case and along with the Mag-Hytec rear differential cover and used a 4 position switch to allow me to select any of the gear boxes to monitor with a Cyberdyne digital gauge. Hope this helps. They are not necessary but why not? Ken Irwin

 

[JJW_ND]

Cheap way....

I did this on my 5sp, which requires your to catch your old fluid or change it.



Remove the PTO plate on the side you want the sensor. I drilled the plate to accept fittings to provide a place to screw in the sensor into the plate. Reinstall plate and your good to go. I put my sensor on the drivers side so I did not have to disturb it each time I changed the fluid.



If your pulling hard and heavy, transmssion temps will move some. I find they follow the engine oil pretty close. If your engine oil temp runs steady, so does the transmission. Running empty it rarely gets to 150. When pulling hard I have on got to 190 once, but then again, the engine oil is at 220.



jjw

ND

 

[Big MAK]

The prod/accessories forum can probably give good feedback on this.

 

[Fast 1]

I would rather pull a heavier trailer with the wind than a light trailer into the wind. A manuall transmission with a average load pulling hard into the wind will heat up. With either the 5 or 6 speed the top gear or overdrive gear creates all the heat. The heat that the overdrive ratio makes is not a big deal once and a while but it adds up over a long duration as far as the extended life of the transmission. There is about a fourty degree difference in temps between fourth and fifth in the 5 speed or 5 and 6 in the six speed within a 30 minute time frame. The combination of an overdrive gear ratio the torque of the cummins and 4 quarts of transmission oil doesn't add up. Some people are lucky and go sometimes 200,000 miles with the combination but most of these trannys burn up at 70,000 miles and sometimes at 30,000 for the serious haulers. Bluemthals, a big transmission rebuilder told me that 90 % of the manuall transmission they rebuild are burned up from either having the wrong oil in them or being to low on oil. We understand how somebody puts the wrong oil in them but how do they get low on oil? Unless a seal is leaking, most of the time the oil expands from excesive heat and vents through the top vent a little at a time. Also if you look at Standard Transmission website the NV 4500 is the hottest selling transmission they sell.



Disclaimer: Since I manufacture the fast coolers, my apologies if you consider this a sales pitch since I am only trying to give you information about towing and temps.



www.fastcoolers.com 1-800-262-0122



Verlyn Fast

 

[rbattelle]

An NV5600 burning up in 70,000 miles? I have never heard of this. I am good friends with some people who work at the plant where they make the 5600. I find it interesting that NVG seems to be unaware of these common premature 5600 failures. Could you enlighten us more? I have never heard of anyone burning out a 5600 in 70,000 miles, and 30,000 is just ludicrous. I find it interesting that "most of these transmissions burn up at 70,000 miles", and I have heard of barely a handful.



If they are as common as you say, Fast 1, I urge you to contact NVG and tell them about it. They are very big on quality, and would be extremely interested to find out their transmissions are burning out at 70,000 or 30,000 miles!

 

[QRTRHRS]

This comes up occasionally. I stuck a probe in the oil fill plug hole by bushing down. I figured with the oil splashing around, it would be accurate enough. My readings pretty much coincide with anything I ever saw posted. Sure beats dumping the oil unless your due.

 

[Mad Bomber]

Trans temp

I have the 2001 ETH DEE and have a trans temp with the help of the fast coolers it has a 1/8th port for a gauge. Mine generally runs 150* to 200* when it's heated up and running down the road. I got the Genos dual temp so I can also monitor the rear diff temp. Eric

 

[Fast 1]

You're right rbattelle about the NV5600. The NV5600 has not been burning up in 30 to 70 thousand miles and is a very strong transmission. I had very good luck with my NV5600. I towing without any trouble, but I had the fastcoolers on it since it was new. The NV5600 is awesome with fastcoolers.



But the NV4500 is a different story. I had to replaced my 1997 NV4500 in as little as 30,000 miles a couple of times. I would bring it in to a local transmission shop and they would say (you burned up another one) or (you lost fifth gear again)!!! This all happened before I made the fastcoolers.





It would be interesting to talk to NV gear. rbattelle, could you find out whom I could contact at NV Gear?



Thanks rbattelle.



Verlyn

 

[rbattelle]

Fast 1,



Ok, 4500 failures I have heard more about. I thought you might be referring to the 4500, as opposed to the 5600.



I will get you a name of an engineer at NVG who is involved in the 5600. I think they will be interested to hear what you've been doing with the fastcoolers, if they don't already know. I will PM you when I have someone for you.



-Ryan

 

[Ladders]

Whell, to throw in my comments: I run the temp gage on the trans & rear (did on the y2k 5spd also). The trans got to 220* when loaded on the VA hills. No coolers added, just the filter kit on the right side. Probe is on the driver side low on the front of the PTO cover. This was fluid temp so suspect that the gears would have had to be hotter if what is posted above is true (and who am I to disagree ). Think I need to add a cooler to the drivers side only (anyone know where I can get 1/2 of the FASTCOOLER set?) as the filter is NOT removable. On the 5spd the filter did work wonders at keeping the oil clean and suspect that it will do just as good on the 6spd. If there was a pump in the 6spd I would use a cooler in front but a side cooler is better than nothing and would be nice with the Lexan cover.



Anyone interested in 1/2 a cooler? @ a split price (50/50 w/shipping included)?



Verlyn, maybe this is a market that you missed, those with a filter on the right side need only the left side (are they reversible - if so no problem but if they are side "specific" ... ... ... ...





PS: the site www.fastcoolers.com wasnt working a short time ago.





SOTSU!!

\\BF//