Trans temp sender location

[LRutigliano]

This post is FYI for anyone considering installing gauges on their truck.



I installed DiPricol gauges and located the trans temp sensor in the accumulator test port as recommended by Diesel Manor. Many of you replied that this is not a good temp location. I was reading up to 140F while towing or not towing and freeway speeds, with occasional spikes to 160 to 170F if idling in PARK.



I talked to a professional trans shop that rebuilds the 48RE to bullet proof specs and they recommended that I install the sensor in the pan. I want the trans to live as long as possible, so I followed their advise.



Long story short... sensor is now in pan and it reads EXACTLY the same as before. Up to 140F towing or not down the freeway, with occasional spikes to 160 to 170F if idling in PARK.



Hope this helps anyone considering the accumulator (easy to do) port for their sensor location.



Regards,

Louis

 

[Matt400]

I noted same as you, I had two sensors so did both and switched between just for fun and found them right on but never tested in reverse.

I later learned that port won't give good temps while working the truck hard in reverse.



Check here:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...experience-trans-temps-gauges.html#post990421



So after messing around with leaking adapters & such for the output line I found this is pretty slick:

ACU TEMP ADAPTER ('03-'07 DODGE)-Dodge Cummins and Ford Power Stroke Diesel Truck Accessories - Geno's Garage

 

[SierraRam]

I had the same results with my 03 47RE in the pan. The best place to place the sensor is in the leaving to the cooler line especially if you are interested in seeing the max fluid temperature. The pan gives you a good average temperature and is probably the next best location.



SR

 

[LRutigliano]

Correction

Guys, I gave some bad info on this and want to correct myself:



This weekend we took the 5er to Kahneeta in Central Oregon and I towed up a 4000ft pass and up some switch backs with lots of change of elevation.



I worked the truck and transmission pretty good and I did notice that the sensor location in the pan gave much more changes in temp than before in the accumulator port.



Towing up the largest grades in OD and 3rd gear (50 to 60mph), the trans would read 140F.



Towing on the flats in OD, it would read 125F.



Towing up the switch backs in 2nd or 3rd gear (with AC on and 25 to 40mph, it would read up to 160F)



Parking the trailer in the RV park (backing up, pulling forward, etc), it got up to 190F right now.



Additionally, with all of my mods and no SMARTY, I had alot of power. Before, I was mashing my right foot thru the floor. Now I have throttle to spare. EGTs were always below 1200F, even when right foot was all the way to the floor going up the grades (just to see how hot it would get). It was a fun drive with smiles all the way. I could not see any smoke coming out of the tailpipe and the truck/trailer were clean with no soot at all.



I also noticed some "chugging" when towing up the grades in OD. Truck speed was approx 55mph and 1400rpm, then it seemed like the turbo wastegate was opening ... chug... chug ... chug ... then it would drop out of OD and be fine. I didn't think to check the boost pressure, but the engine rpms didn't change during the chug (I don't think its the TC).



Bottom line for me is that the injectors, exhaust and intake are really working well together. I'm afraid to try SMARTY while towing due to smoke issues that have been discussed and I don't want to spend $5k on a new transmission yet...



Thanks,

Louis



Thanks,

Louis

 

[AH64ID]

Its too bad they told you to put it in the pan. . . the absolute best place to put it is in the line leaving the transmission for the cooler... This will tell you the max temp the fluid sees, you know the transmission is going to be the same or cooler... The fluid will reach failure temps before the transmission will, and if the fluid cooks then it will damage your transmission... Temps in the outlet line can be 70* hotter than the pan temps.

As far as towing with smarty I would tow on level 1 over stock, not for the power but for the EGT's... . while your EGT's aren't as high with an 03 as an 04. 5 the timing can't hurt...