Scan Gage Upgrade

[JohnB]

I have been wanting to do this upgrade for some time and I finally made it.

Fords stock gages are really lacking for letting one know what is going on in the truck when you are towing with it. The GM gages on my prior 2500 Suburban where usable and responsive.

I really wanted to know transmission pan temperature and engine water temp. So for the first time since I have owned this truck I can now see them and believe the number....

The Scan Gage II allows me to read certain transmission codes. I have an engine scanner but it does not read the transmission codes. Here is a link to the Linear Logic web site ScanGauge - Trip Computer + Digitial Gauges + ScanTools

So here it is. I can have up to 4 custom gage items displayed at once and can change them to other on board sensors. I have HP and transmission slip up for now as my 2 extra ones. By using the slip number I can tell when the torque converted is locked. This torqe shift tranny for sure works different then my prior GM's did. It does it's job well and now I can watch it do it.... The horsepower number is more for just fun info. On the last campout I only used less then 1/2 this engine... Doing a standard acceleration from a stop to 55 mph with tow haul on pulling the camper takes 150 to 160 HP to get 17,200# up and going. Once at 55mph it is only needing 100 hp to keep it rolling. I use 10 hp just sitting and idling....





Since towing in November does not create a lot of heat where we camp... I'll have to wait until warmer weather to see how hot this truck does get pulling under load.

Thanks

John

[Sunline Fan]

Glad to see you're finally in the 'club'!!

I certainly love mine. It will actually be going out to them in the next couple weeks for a repair...it won't come on when it has been in the vehicle and it's been really hot or really cold out. They said it is a problem and gave me the address to send it to for a repair.

I'm interested to hear about your trans temps. When cold, mine won't shift into overdrive until it reaches 53, otherwise it stays out and then reves higher to warm up. Running on the highway in the summer empty is 130-140. Last trip home yesterday, it got to 125 and stayed there, and most of the winter will be 120-130 depending on wind/load. It has gotten close to 200 towing before, but I really haven't towed the 286 with it much since getting the SG since the F-450 has been around.

Water temps: 173-181 highway. Lower end in the winter, upper end in the summer, empty. Towing, it'll average around 190 but can climb toward 200+. I haven't found anyone who can figure out why mine are so cold. The '05 Excursion, like yours here, runs at 190 in general all the time. Ours will go between 188 and 191 most of the time.

Towing with the '05 this summer, while not the loads of the 286 but still a significant load, had water temps 193-203 (mostly stayed around 197) and trans temps in the 180s. This was highway of course. Trans temps did make it into the low low 200s at one point I recall. I had it get up above 220 once a couple years ago which prompted me to change the trans fluid before it was pulled back out again.

I do have one picture of the SG after pulling the 286 on some rural roads for about 15 miles, with six start-ups from a stop. After that, idling in park just after arriving to the destination, water temp was at 191 and trans at 176.

[Gene]

I just had to mention that John B is a bad influence here.

After seeing his post I went to the mall to sit on Santa's lap and ask for a Scan Gauge II. I don't think Santa is too much in favor of having Senior Citizens sitting on his lap trying to look cute but he suggested that DW should check out Amazon for a good price. There was a package under the tree Christmas morning with a Scan Gauge II. The only X-Gauge available for my 4Runner is transmission temp which is what I want to know on those long uphills in New Hampshire in the heat of summer. Can't wait to try it out.

[JohnB]

Gene,

LOL, So Santa was good to you....

Yes, it is good to see what is going on. I was primary after engine water temp and tranny temp. The X Gage does get other Ford codes on this vintage truck. Right now I'm still watching HP and torque convertor slip when the TC locks up. There are other codes too that later I'll experiment with.

Sorry to be a bad influence.... LOL....

John