hi I bought a blue driver scan tool but found out it lacks the ability to show trans temp, so looking to supplement it with something that does. I am trying to do a accurate fill of my trans oil but the dipstick requires it to be within a temp range for accurate reading, in the past I just put in what comes out but being that I have done is several times now I worry that I am building up error of repetition and want to insure the level is were it should be
Also adding @Dan to the discussion
If my $2 tool from China can show my trans temp, then the Bluedriver should too. If it doesn't, then that means it's not supported by the vehicle. (which you didn't mention, by the way. Always provide vehicle details when asking for technical help).
What is the temp range on your dipstick? It should just be the temp of a fully warmed up vehicle. So check it next time you return from a drive.
What $2 tool does this?
sorry its a 2014 Mazda 3 i thought that if the dipstick had a temp range requirement it would go without saying it had a thermostat or else how would the techs at the dealership know how much to fill? the temp range is 50C (122F)
@geriscan
I don't endorse using these cheap things. They CAN damage your car. I just wanted to make the point that trans temp is a basic mode 22 parameter, which can be read by basic tools on many vehicles that have the temp sensor.
Point taken.
@robmar1937
That's a single temperature, not a range. Did you mean above 50C? That just means the trans needs to be warm. Not every car has transmission temperature sensor. The dipstick is used for making small adjustments, not filling up after a drain. I think you mean a thermometer. A thermoSTAT is something performs an action when a certain temperature is reached.
According to some people on the internet, your car might have the sensor, so try asking Bluedriver tech support.
The Innova 3160RS Pro for $200 on Amazon reads transmission temp on our 2018 Honda Odyssey.
You going to need a very high level scan tool for that and some cars don't even have the ability for that unless there's a sensor on the transmission for the fluid temperature. The cheapest one I have that reads that is $5,000
pity thanks anyway scotty
That is not true Scotty. The Innova 5160 you had previously recommend reads transmission temperature. My $400 Autel MX808 reads it as well. So you don’t have to spend $5,000 to get that feature.
There could be other scanners cheaper than the Innova 5160 and my Autel one that also read transmission temperature, but I just don’t know which ones.
@DayWalker I had a $140 FoxWell that allowed me to view all of the car’s systems. all sensor in the transmission (even readings from the Hall effect sensors) and even all sensors in the climate control systems including flap positions.
I have an XTool D7 ($383 on CyberMonday) that reads transmission oil temperature, if there's a sensor. I was able to read my transmission oil temperature on my 2008 Camry LE with this bidirectional model.
All of the above are the best arguments I have ever heard to get a MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
no thanks. I like to drive civilized cars. If I wanted more levers to pull I'd get a tractor.
Do you wash your clothes manually too?
There's no argument here. Most vehicles do not require you to know the temperature to check the ATF.
No, my wife washes them. Civilized? Seriously?
Thanks, Joe - HA!
I used the manufacturer's directions to do a fluid/filter change on my 2016 4Runner. None of my decent (~500-700$) scan tools would show it. Crazy, and there are actually two sensors!!! In my case, had to use a Carista dongle and the OBD Fusion App which together were about 125$ or so... I just decided that since I will be changing the fluid pretty regularly it was a small investment taken over the long term.
I have no idea why so few tools show trans temp.
You might see if OBD Fusion has a download for a scan dongle that will read your temps, or see if anyone on Youtube has a video doing a full change using temp as a guide, and see what they are using.
Good luck!
ATF temp is not a standardized OBD parameter. That means it's going to be implemented differently depending on the vehicle brand, model and year AND scan tool. That's why you see such inconsistent results.
why not just use a meat thermometer?
yeah! you just need an extension that fits all the way down the dipstick tube 😆
{pear}:veryhungry: {pear}:laughingoutloud: {pear}:wink:
Buy an infra red temperature sensor and climb under the car and when its running shoot it at the transmission pan. That should tell you the temperature.
That would show you the temp of the metal, which would be pretty close. But those IR thermometers have issues with reflective surfaces so you would need to paint it black first.
My junk one from Wal-Mart shows it but only on certain models. For instance an audi the same year as my truck will have it's own tranny sub-menu. I believe I paid $35 for that.
If it's an ongoing concern, install a trans temp gauge. I was actually kinda ticked my truck came with that instead of a charge meter so now I have to install one.
Hold on;
No one has offered this answer.
It's a given that most of my auto knowledge is pre 1999 but didn't auto trans have fluid lines that ran through the radiator?
And as such, the fluid temp of the tranny would never be higher than the coolant temp in the radiator?
Or is that another thing the designers omitted to cut costs?
first of all, yes the radiator cooler does cool the fluid. But nothing is perfect. The transmission can get very hot
second, most people are interested in the temperature of fluid inside the transmission, not the cooler. I'm sure you can image that the fluid can take on different temperatures at various points in the circuit. The factory sensors typically measure the temperature of fluid as it's drawn from the pan.
my 97 caddy had an auxilliary trans cooler, looked like a little radiator mounted in front of the big rad. are they still available?
aftermarket? Yes. Many.
Ok, after all the above info, if you had a temp gauge for the tranny and it read on the high side, what can you do about it short of not driving the car?
Drive slower. Downshift. Blast the heater on full.
The transmission should not be overheating if everything is working as it should and you're driving like a normal person. Get some fresh fluid in there which is going to cool better. If you tow a lot, get an aux cooler. If it's still overheating a lot , then the tranny pump or other internal parts could be failing.
now thats a good answer