Reading trans temp on 1st gen

So I’ve heard a lot of story’s about people running 285s on stock gearing and their trans take a poop from overheating trying to move those babys. I can’t find if mine does have a temp reader I do have the A/T dash light that works never turns on of course. But I would like to know does it usually run similar to coolant temp or hotter? And is there a way to get the trans temp

 

I don’t think you can read transmission temperatures through the OBD system before 1999. I couldn’t on my 1998, and 1999 was the first confirmed year I’ve seen it done. You’d need to add an in-line sensor and a gauge.

 

I like the Overland Under Budget guy (assuming you're referencing his recent post about how he blew up his trans) but he isn't under budget. I literally don't understand how he wasn't monitoring his trans temperature. Especially since he had it "easy" and just needed to plug in the proper OBD II device. Now you guys with the older trucks like @BartMaster1234 mentioned need to follow the video below.

 

Yes I mainly got the idea from overland under budget. But I also heard another person had the same issue. It was odd that he didn’t know the temp for his trans. It’s making me want to get 265s and not 285s unless I regear

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...l-toyotas-write-up-with-many-pictures.526283/

 

I follow OverlandUnderbudget and really like his rig. But yeah in the beginning there was a lot of “under budget” mods which are great. But I think in order to keep posting content he’s no longer in that realm.

Plus it’s easy to be “under budget” when you find four Pelican cases for $40 on CL that would otherwise run you $800.

Or the fact that manufacturers send you free merchandise so that you can post about it on IG.

Me, you and the rest of the regular schmoes aren’t getting free gear

 

Yeah I bet he crossed over into social media influencer territory awhile ago. Not judging the guy, hell he gets to wheel and mod his truck more than I do so good for him. And to get to that point with a first gen and not a 3rd gen is actually kind of impressive. But he should probably change his username lol

 

And not to get on Micah, because honestly like you said the guy wheels/mods/camps far more than I do and he's a really nice guy. But this post of his from the other day is what always makes me question "overlanding"

"overlandunderbudget
Things this truck is really bad at:
1# Going up hills on the freeway
2# Driving Into the wind
3# Getting good gas mileage"

My two truck builds so far have capability, driveability, comfort and range always in mind. These trucks are fully capable off the production line so not much is needed to add to it, IMO. So range and mpg is always important to me.

When you start adding all this overlanding gear to the truck it weighs it down a ton and it becomes a pig. I would think that fuel economy should be a decent part of the "overlanding" philosophy.

Building pigs for dedicated wheelers/crawlers is understandable.

 

I like the overlanding idea, but not all those accessory's are a need more then a want. Honestly if your worried about mpg don’t drive a truck cause they aren’t made for good mpg

 

Regear. I paired 35s with 4.56 on my 1st gen 3.4 auto and love it. Its turbo too, no issues.

 

Mpg is directly related to fuel management and when those systems were being developed 25 mpg for a passenger car was decent. The fact that they were designed so long ago is the thing making them such gas hogs. Newer 3rd gens are bigger with more surface area and weigh more and have a slightly larger engine but get 20/23 out the gate.

 

I disagree. I'm not advocating for a truck to have "good" (arbitrary value) mpg. I drive a Prius for that

But my truck is, in part, meant for adventures. Only having 150-175 mile range on a tank of gas is not conducive to going out on adventures IMO. I don't want to have to stop and fill up three times just to get to a destination. Then go off the beaten path. Especially when you find yourself 50-80 miles away from the nearest gas station.

 

One of the main reasons why I’m considering going back to a 2nd gen. Even though my 05 Trd sport was a 4.0l it still got better gas mileage than my 2004 v6 3.4l.

 

Yeah I’m always deliberating about moving up into a 2.5 gen. But I just can’t afford it unless I sell both 1st gens. Which is hard for me to pull the trigger on.

I’m averaging 19 mpg in both my 1st gens. That’s good enough for me for what these trucks are.

 

i envy you I’m doing 12-15mpg with 200 Mile range on the tank on my first gen. I have a 2inch lift, AT tires and an arb bump. Got rid of the k&n and cleaned everything but this truck drinks gas like a hummer.

 

That seems way under normal. What size tires? I’m on 265/75r16

When I bought the 04 it was getting 16-17 mpg. I change the spark plugs, wires and cleaned the MAF and have been getting 18-19.5 since.

Have you tried that?

 

I got the same size tires but they each weigh like 60lbs.

did the maf, new sparks, checked the oxygen sensor, cleaned the throttle body, new wires, fuel filter, new intake, sea foamed, new trans, dif and rear and new brakes pads.

 

1st gens do burn a lot of gas of course the fuel efficiency will be better with a newer truck

 

Range is super important. I go to Baja from time to time and gas stations can be far apart if you want to stay off pavement. Also, if you can carry enough fuel easily fuel planning and management is no longer a thought.

It’s all relative mpg’s wise.
I have a 1,000 pound camper, armor and 255 85 16 mud terrains on Steelies.
Oh, and a super charger.

For a truck my fuel economy is crap...13mpgs.
For a camper than can go just about anywhere it’s amazing!

As far as range goes I can carry 32 (was 37 but something is up with the venting) gallons of gas with a 2nd gas tank from a Ford F-150 I added so my range is still really good.

My dream is a 1KZ diesel swap with a veggie oil burning system built in. I’m a chef and have access to unlimited used fryer oil.
So, in addition to adding roughly 10mpgs (they say stock swapped trucks get 30mpgs, guessing I’d get around 23) I’d have as much free fuel as I can carry and resupply when away from home and the kitchen I work in.

If I were to keep my current 32 gallon fuel capacity I’d have a highway range of over 700 miles.

 

I have a scan guage that reads trans temps.
I recently added a transmission cooler which lowered my temps by about 30 degrees b