Drag Racing Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Trans Temp Sending Unit Location

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 9, 2010 | 10:34 AM
  #1  
sweetbmxrider's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,768
Likes: 3
From: jersey shore
Default Trans Temp Sending Unit Location

Where would you guys recommend installing the sending unit?

I have searched and read too many threads and just want some honest opinions now. What makes the most sense to me is the cooler pressure line leaving the trans and heading to the cooler. I have heard the pressure port doesn't actually see significant trans fluid so it really just gives a case temp reading.

I appreciate the replies
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2010 | 11:21 AM
  #2  
Z28/2002's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,799
Likes: 5
From: Your girl's back door giving her the long stroke while you're at work
Default

I've got mine in the pan
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2010 | 12:55 PM
  #3  
JL ws-6's Avatar
Race your car!
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (50)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15,421
Likes: 18
Default

My old Th400 I just put it in the side of the case where there was a hole for it. I've heard of people putting it in the pan, the cooler pressure side, etc.

To me, in the case is fine, or in the pan is fine. I don't think I would put it in the pressure side of the cooler line, just because that's one more place that's high pressure that could leak.

In the case or pan it's not exposed to the pressure, making for less chance of a leak, so to me, that makes. more sense.

Overall it's a preferance thing, everyone you talk to will have a different place and a reason for their choice. The temp ga. is just there to maks sure, that you aren't getting it too hot. Doesn't need to be killer accurate, just let you know when the temp's up there so you know to let it cool off for a while.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2010 | 10:17 AM
  #4  
sweetbmxrider's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,768
Likes: 3
From: jersey shore
Default

Yeah good point. I'll probably just stick it in the case for ease now and possibly move it to the pan at another time. Thanks.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2010 | 10:41 AM
  #5  
tee-boy's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 0
Default

i bought the manifold for mine and plumbed it b/w the transmission and the cooler. It's mounted on the passenger frame rail.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2010 | 11:00 AM
  #6  
slow67's Avatar
Gingervitis Addict
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 3
From: DFW
Default

The port in the side of the case is more case temp than trans temp, as it gets heat soaked. I prefer the pan.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2010 | 11:55 AM
  #7  
Firehawk441's Avatar
8 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (41)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,120
Likes: 12
Default

The pan is where the sending unit belongs...
You need to know fluid temps before it goes back into the pump. This is will tell you the efficiency of the cooler.
Installing it elsewhere is like not having a gauge at all.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2010 | 12:15 PM
  #8  
tee-boy's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 0
Default

heat rises, if you put it in the pressure line, you will be reading the hottest temp of the fluid. If you put it in the pan, you're getting an average temp of fluid not in circulation. If you put it in the pan, you may have to braise around the sender to seal it. I think the senders are brass, pans tend to be aluminum. don't know how well that works out. I would avoid silicone to make a seal as it could get into the valve body.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 11, 2010 | 12:21 PM
  #9  
slow67's Avatar
Gingervitis Addict
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 3
From: DFW
Default

Originally Posted by tee-boy
heat rises, if you put it in the pressure line, you will be reading the hottest temp of the fluid. If you put it in the pan, you're getting an average temp of fluid not in circulation. If you put it in the pan, you may have to braise around the sender to seal it. I think the senders are brass, pans tend to be aluminum. don't know how well that works out. I would avoid silicone to make a seal as it could get into the valve body.
Brass sending units are tapered pipe thread which requires thread sealant.

FYI hottest the trans fluid will ever be is the cooler line exiting the transmission, as it is right out of the converter.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2010 | 01:05 PM
  #10  
JL ws-6's Avatar
Race your car!
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (50)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15,421
Likes: 18
Default

Pan will heak soak as well, so that isn't a 100% checking the fluid temp either.

End of the day no matter where you put the temp sender, it's going to be exposed to some level of heat soak.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2010 | 01:33 PM
  #11  
tee-boy's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 0
Default

FYI hottest the trans fluid will ever be is the cooler line exiting the transmission, as it is right out of the converter.

right, that's why mine is on the pressure line and not the return.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2010 | 02:43 PM
  #12  
JL ws-6's Avatar
Race your car!
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (50)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15,421
Likes: 18
Default

One on the pressure side, and one on the return (providing both read the same) would be a good way to see if the cooler is effective..
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2010 | 05:25 PM
  #13  
00silver6's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
Default

i put mine in the drain plug spot
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2010 | 07:29 PM
  #14  
sweetbmxrider's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,768
Likes: 3
From: jersey shore
Default

yeah this is what i found when searching. i'll just flip a coin
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2010 | 10:34 AM
  #15  
ssvert99's Avatar
LS1Tech Premium Sponsor
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 5
From: Central Illinois
Default

I have data logged both the cooler line(hottest point after the converter) and the pan temps... the pan will usually read about 125 degrees less than the cooler and is the correct place to read from if only reading one spot.
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2010 | 12:22 PM
  #16  
tee-boy's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 0
Default dfddfd

Originally Posted by ssvert99
I have data logged both the cooler line(hottest point after the converter) and the pan temps... the pan will usually read about 125 degrees less than the cooler and is the correct place to read from if only reading one spot.
I'd imagine the pan is recieving cooled fluid from the cooler.
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2010 | 01:01 PM
  #17  
slow67's Avatar
Gingervitis Addict
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 3
From: DFW
Default

Originally Posted by tee-boy
I'd imagine the pan is recieving cooled fluid from the cooler.
Depends on the transmission. 97+ 4L80Es it lubes the rear planets before returning to the pan.
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2010 | 03:30 PM
  #18  
tee-boy's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 0
Default interesting.

Originally Posted by slow67
Depends on the transmission. 97+ 4L80Es it lubes the rear planets before returning to the pan.
interesting.

Is your pan plug hole tapered? mine ain't.

Last edited by tee-boy; Oct 12, 2010 at 04:19 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2010 | 04:25 PM
  #19  
slow67's Avatar
Gingervitis Addict
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 3
From: DFW
Default

Originally Posted by tee-boy
interesting.

Is your pan plug hole tapered? mine ain't.
I don't think it is. I welded a fitting to the pan for the sending unit.
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2010 | 04:43 PM
  #20  
Skinny's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: Orange Park, FL
Default

My B&M pan has a tapered bung in the side of it for a temp sender. Put mine there.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:36 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE