Need a method of measuring Transmission Temp

I looked at apps like DashCommand, but unfortunately they are not able to read enhanced data through the OBD2 yet for 2016 Toyotas. Any other ideas?

 

this is my best guess....
https://mobiledistributorsupply.com...er-oem.html?gclid=CMLo9qj25dICFQyffgodMaMJJg#

 

Lets have a peek at what transmission coolers do
TRANSMISSION COOLERS
If you do not have a transmission cooler on your truck and you plan to tow or haul heavy loads or you are in heavy stop and go traffic and use 4X4 low a lot , consider purchasing a cooler . The cooler thats built into your rad is designed to cool the transmission with the weight of just the truck by itself .When you are in 4x4 low , your torque converter is usually in the stall stage and creates a tonne of additional heat .You dont have much air flow going through your rad when you are in low range 4x4 .
160 - 200 are considered normal temps providing your engine radiator is functioning properly . If your engine overheats , your transmission will also overheat
Normal fluid temperature in transmission to be 175 deg. F.

Rate of oxidation to double for each temperature increase of 20 deg F above normal (175 deg F). As oxidation rate doubles, useful life of fluid is cut in half.

At 175 deg F life is 100,000 miles
At 195 deg F (20 deg above 175) life is 50k miles
At 215 life is 25k miles
At 235 life is 12k
At 255 life is 6,250
At 275 life is 3,000
At 295 life is 1500
At 315 life is 750

At temperatures much above 300 deg F the metals in the transmission will tend to warp, twist etc. high temperatures causes the formation of varnish deposits which impair or pre vent transmission operation.

At a fluid temperature of 415 deg F fluid life is 30 minutes!

Source: Empire Lubricants Inc.
Consider a scan guage http://www.amazon.com/ScanGauge-Comp.../dp/B000AAMY86
Here is the best information for the scan guage http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...-pressure.html

Ultraguage is now offering transmission temps http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/318340-ultragauge-transmission-temp.html

You could also use the Torque app with an Android phone as a cheap alternative to watch your temps http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/per...d2-reader.html

This is how Low Pressure Drop technology works::
When Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is cold it is viscous. The unique Tru-Cool design allows the colder, thicker ATF to flow more efficiently through two open bypass channels positioned at the top of the cooler. As operating temperatures increase, the ATF becomes hotter and thinner, It's then directed through the core where it is cooled. Tru-Cool's highly efficient cooling technology combines improved protection against lube failure with optimal heat transfer.
http://www.amazon.com/Long-Tru-Cool-.../dp/B005XZXB1M
Long Tru-Cool Oil Coolers offer advanced cooling protection for many towing applications. The advanced technology out performs TUBE & FIN Designs, Delivers up to 15 times less flow restrictions, 30% more cooling delivers maximum heat transfer, Self-Regulating for maximum lube flow protection through start-up, varied temperatures and driving conditions, heavy loads and towing.
Here is Toyotas fluid flow guide ...Look at page 8 on this PDF http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/pdf/A750E.pdf
And here is a guy who recently installed a cooler correctly http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st...agram-pic.html

cooler and fan install http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...n-install.html

HERE is the Tacoma World Towing Bible https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/

 

I bought a Scan Gauge II a few months ago because I wanted to monitor the transmission oil temp while towing. This gauge read the pan temp and converter temp. I am very concerned because average driving on the highway in 50 degree weather the tranny is running 190 at the pan and 190-195 at the converter. I have the factory tow package. This seems hit to me to not be towing. I'm going to check my tranny fluid myself even though Toyota said they checked and I have no documentation that they did. I'm wondering if the fluid could be low. Has anyone else used the scan gauge and what readings are you getting?

 

These are the exact same readings I have been getting with my scan gauge. My exterior thermometer was reading 94f in Phoenix today and I was running 190-195 trans temps. I've been noticing when it's cooler outside or at night it runs a bit cooler at about 185-190. I actually just installed a 11x11 cooler with a 10" 950 cfm fan this evening. I'm gonna plumb the lines and top off the fluid in the AM once the fluid is cool. I plan on running it in tandem with the OEM setup. I do quit a bit for towing so hoping I get some improvement!! Sorry for the crappy pic. I'll get some better ones once I finish.

BTW the dash engine temp game has never budged from the middle nornal range regardless of towing or easy highway driving.

 

Do the third gens have a transmission heat exchanger and thermostat? Those temps are pretty much in line with coolant temps.

 

If they do, you can probably pin the thermostat open and get lower temps like the tundras.

 

Yes they do. Pretty much the same setup as the second gens. I thought I was getting water temps at first but there is a noticeable difference in readings when the truck is cold i.e. the engine warms up much faster than the trans.

There is definatly a thermostat on the oil sending unit. I plan on pinning it open when I add fluid tomorrow morning.

The above info is great to have!!! Considering the temps im running I'm definatley having the tranny serviced at 50k!

 

I'm not taking about the exchanger in the radiator, I'm taking a stand alone warmer with coolant hoses running to it, basically a heater core for your transmission. My second gen rarely gets above 150°, I saw the tc outlet at 200° once towing hard at low speeds, that's the hottest I've seen mine.

 

Yah it's this dinky thing on the drivers side, it passes through the radiator first.
This is thermostat on the sending unit for anybody whos interested.

 

There you go. That's the heat exchanger. You could just disconnect and couple the heat exchanger hoses together and bypass the thing all together. If you do that and pin the thermostat open you'd probably be running around 150°. It might trigger a CEL though. The second gens cooling loop just runs through the radiator then to the cooler in front of the condenser(if you have the towing package) and back to the pan. My tranny almost never gets over 100° in the winter. I've actually considered adding a thermostat, maybe even a heat exchanger, to help it warm up. Hotter trans temps (within reason) will help boost mpgs. The hotter temps do degrade the atf faster though.

 

That heat exchanger is what's heating your fluid up, no amount of extra coolers are gonna cool your fluid down unless you:
A: pin the thermostat open, or
B: disable the heat exchanger
Even with the heat exchanger bypassed the fluid will still get up to the thermostat opening temp, it will just take longer.

Edit: @Lord Humongous I love your truck and winch/bumper setup. I want an inferno orange so bad, maybe one day. Lol

 

Thanks!! I haven't had any temp problems yet but just want the cooler on there for the sake of overkill. I was thinking about bypassing and running a remote cooler to the bed or something but I'm gonna leave the oem stuff until the warranty is up. If I have a catastrophe failure it'll be easy to remove the aftermarket cooler and send it to the dealer for work

 

You'll be fine, just change the fluid at 50-60k. 200° isn't hurting anything. I'd be curious to see what the temps were towing at full capacity on a hot day on a steep hill or through mountains, basically a worst case scenario. Since you have a thermostat, you can add all the coolers you want and not make any significant difference in temp, with the exception of an extreme event, such as towing in the manner I described above.

 

Don't know if you're aware, but a pull fan is much more effective than a push fan. I forget what the numbers were on efficiency, but it's pretty significant. I think I was reading about it on a jeep forum one time.

 

Under the SAE J2807 standard, the vehicle (at max tow) must go up AZ SR68 (or eq) ~3000 ft over ~11.4 miles at a minimum of 100F ambient temp with AC on full never dropping below 40mph without any warnings/CEL.

Anyone know what temp gives a ATF warning?

 

2nd gen is at 302°F I believe

 

my 2017 AC runs around 190 also. haven't tried towing yet. I had a 2015 which ran about 160.

 

Did you come out of the stock tranny cooler and run into your 11x11 and then back to the tranny?