Gauges or ScanGauge II or OBDII Wi-Fi or Bluetooth Readers?

Edge Insight CTS, love l mine and it reads everything.

There are 4 readout positions on the ScanGaugeII, and I have mine set like this:

(1) Trans Fluid Temp - needs to be programed in via instructions on the scangauge website. Once you figure it out once, you're set. Most useful. I monitor trans temp and stop to cool on the rare occasion when it gets higher than I would like.

(2) Coolant Temp - mostly uninteresting as long as the thermostat is working correctly. I guess it could be a great warning that something in the cooling system is going bad but I haven't experienced that yet

(3) RPM - again, mostly just for my amusement.

(4) MPG - amusement again, I already know it's low....

The ScanGauge does have some miles per tank and remaining miles estimation capability but I don't use it. The generator uses fuel and throws everything off. I don't really want to ever be close to E anyway.

I have had excellent results using the Scan Gauge. It simply plugs into the OBD port and mounting it on/in the dash is 5 minutes and couple of pieces of velcro. The Scan Gauge gives you so much data, trans fluid temp being number one on my list, and can display 4 different readouts simultaneously. You can scroll through a couple of dozen more depending on what you want to see.

The trans fluid temp readout is great to remind you to shift into Tow Haul mode (where you should be most of the time). This will often drop your trans fluid temp 12 to 15 degrees in just a few miles. Without the Scan Gauge you will not be aware of the increasing temperature which can easily lead to damage or a catastrophic failure.

In addition, the Scan Gauge functions as a built in code reader, very handy when your engine trips a trouble code. I initially installed it in my F-150 when I was towing our TT. When we upgraded to the Class C (6.8L v-10), I just reprogramed it for the larger engine and reinstalled it in the motorhome.

Last time I looked the Scan Gauge goes for around $140 - $150 on Amazon. I can't imagine running a truck or RV without one.

:C

Chuck (the OP),

Interesting topic and what a coincidence ... as I just spent an hour researching this before reading your post above!!

You might want to continue some research into this OBDII gauge too:

http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/

It appears that getting at Ford 5R110W transmission temperature in real time - easily and inexpensively through just plugging in a cable and sticking a guage on the dash - may be a bit tricky (we're not into mobile phones). I definitely like the Ultra-Guage price and information/links on their WEB page ... but some time on the phone with them might definitely be in order before ordering one for your 5/6-speed transmission.

I think I've decided, instead, to merely drive our E450 V10 motorhome a LOT MORE - if not permanently - with it's TOW/HAUL mode turned ON. The fluid color in our failed 5R110W transmission was still a nice healthy pink color - indicating that maybe not a lot of over-heating had taken place prior to failure. Our remanufactured 5R110W transmission up-shifts and down-shifts when in TOW/HAUL mode a lot smoother than the original 5R110W transmission did when in TOW/HAUL mode, so it's more responsive and smoother to drive now in this mode at all times. In this mode down-shifted gears when going up grades are held longer, so heating from the torque converter slippage is probably going to be reduced from the regular mode that I used most of the time previously ... just in case heating had anything to do with why my transmission failed prematurely. I also now will go up grades by keeping engine RPM below around 3800 ... no more of the 4500 RPM stuff. Even though the V10 may not care ... the transmission may not like it!

I'll follow this thread to see what others recommend. Automatic transmissions are no longer inexpensive.

NOTE!!!: I just checked under the hood of our 2005 E450 6.8L V10 Class C and it's smog sticker stated it was OBDI compliant .... no mention of OBDII. This might be very important when shopping for a guage to capture 5R110W transmission temperature.