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anyone set up a temp gauge for the trans and or diff?

Old 04-30-2012, 08:51 PM
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Default anyone set up a temp gauge for the trans and or diff?

just curious what temps you see? thinking I might do a cooler down the road but not until I know I need one with a temp gauge.
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Old 04-30-2012, 08:56 PM
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I want to know where people are installing trans temp sensors. I am thinking of drilling out the drain plug and tapping it for a temp sensor.
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Old 04-30-2012, 09:06 PM
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You might ask Hustler, he seems to really like those temp strips. I know Savington has also posted in the past about trans and diff temps.
Originally Posted by shuiend
I want to know where people are installing trans temp sensors. I am thinking of drilling out the drain plug and tapping it for a temp sensor.
Some people seem to like the oil temp sensor in the drain plug for the engine, its probably easier than drilling and tapping a hole in the trans for one. It'd be interesting to see what the temps are either way.
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Old 05-01-2012, 12:25 AM
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temp strips? like the ones Alcon makes for brakes?
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Old 05-01-2012, 02:54 AM
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I got 2 Aim temp sensors just waiting to be installed. Will report back after some hot summer track days.
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Old 05-02-2012, 12:52 AM
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baller. get em in
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Old 05-02-2012, 08:44 PM
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I have a spare diff drain plug drilled and tapped for 1/8 npt for ages and never got around installing it and hooking it up to my gauge. Someone come up with an idea to feed 2 temp signals to one gauge and make them switchable.
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Old 05-02-2012, 08:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Oscar
I have a spare diff drain plug drilled and tapped for 1/8 npt for ages and never got around installing it and hooking it up to my gauge. Someone come up with an idea to feed 2 temp signals to one gauge and make them switchable.
Um, is there any reason a SPDT toggle switch would not work?



L1 = trans temp sender
L2 = (other source) temp sender
COM = gauge

...profit?
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Old 05-03-2012, 02:05 AM
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why not just buy a duel gauge i think they cost 30%-50% more. who wants one more thing to deal with, plus how will you know which display is which source. you could add lights, not a big deal but I cant send the signal thorough the light so you need a relay, seems like more effort then it is worth when you can get a duel gauge or even one of those fancy deals, where you can display like 10 things on one gauge if you want.
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Old 05-03-2012, 02:45 AM
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Originally Posted by EO2K
Um, is there any reason a SPDT toggle switch would not work?



L1 = trans temp sender
L2 = (other source) temp sender
COM = gauge

...profit?
This is so simple, why haven't I thought of this?
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Old 05-07-2012, 12:39 AM
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Originally Posted by psreynol
why not just buy a duel gauge i think they cost 30%-50% more. who wants one more thing to deal with, plus how will you know which display is which source.
Switch down is one sensor. Switch up is the other sensor. Use some blue tape and a sharpie if you are easy to confuse. I've priced dual gauges and they are more than twice the cost of two individual gauges. I've never seen gauges duel unless they were fighting over a signal or something...
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Old 05-07-2012, 01:13 AM
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http://www.veisystems.com/d1-otfwtf-m.html

starting at 89 dollars depending on color, plus 36 dollars for two temp senders.

125 for a dual gauge is pretty good I think, compared to roughly 50-70 per gauge for autometer:
http://www.summitracing.com/search/B...c&autoview=SKU


Disclaimer: The vei gauge I posted is for oil temp/water temp. I assume you could use two oil temp senders to make it work for diff+trans, but I'm not positive.
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Old 05-07-2012, 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by wittyworks
Disclaimer: The vei gauge I posted is for oil temp/water temp. I assume you could use two oil temp senders to make it work for diff+trans, but I'm not positive.
You are correct. I've got 3 VEI gauges sitting on my workbench currently. The senders are the same for all fluids: oil, coolant, trans, etc. Internally, the gauge is a generic temp readout and the little icon on the face will tell you what you are looking at.
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Old 05-07-2012, 03:52 PM
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I have the VEI oil/water temp gauge. I am planning on moving the water temp sensor to my trans so it really reads oil and trans temp. I am just not sure if there is a better place to install the sensor in the trans then the oil drain bolt.
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Old 05-07-2012, 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by shuiend
I have the VEI oil/water temp gauge. I am planning on moving the water temp sensor to my trans so it really reads oil and trans temp. I am just not sure if there is a better place to install the sensor in the trans then the oil drain bolt.
I think that's the only place. I put Thermax temp strips (like Alcon) on the trans. It seems that at 250whp, trans oil hovers around 310*f.
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Old 05-07-2012, 04:01 PM
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I think the drain plug is fine for a temp reading however it is nearly a low point on the car so I would be concerned about hitting it if you go off. I have not seen the plug out of the car trans but perhaps a relief cut would get the sensor out of harms way. if the pug is thick enough that would be a easy solution
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Old 05-07-2012, 05:01 PM
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Drill and tap the case. It is good enough for engine oil pans...
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Old 05-07-2012, 05:45 PM
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Originally Posted by psreynol
I think the drain plug is fine for a temp reading however it is nearly a low point on the car so I would be concerned about hitting it if you go off. I have not seen the plug out of the car trans but perhaps a relief cut would get the sensor out of harms way. if the pug is thick enough that would be a easy solution
No 6-speed, no care.
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Old 05-07-2012, 05:45 PM
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310? that way hot? the fluid is breaking down right? why not run a cooler? see the end of my noob post

https://www.miataturbo.net/showthrea...769#post874769'

Last edited by psreynol; 05-07-2012 at 06:34 PM.
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Old 05-07-2012, 06:40 PM
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red line said it does not really break down till around 400f but they clearly state the viscosity between 200 and 300is about 1/4, so its like a 3x lighter weight oil at 300 versus 200f.

@ 195 viscosity is 19.5 ( est recommended high temp)
@ 300 viscosity is 6.5 ( this is well into the range you should have a trans cooler)
@ 330 viscosity is 5.5

the 300 temp was based on husler temp sticker, which I presume is a brake temp sticker which simply darkens as each temp benchmark is met. his temp and our temps may be higher
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