Don't Kill your transmission when towing Tech Tip #1

Tech Tips #1 Heat kills transmissions and most vehicles don't let you monitor how hot your transmission is getting. We show you how to monitor this easily (and cheaply)
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[@gdog1443]

I too am a mechanic in Hastings, I thought what also would of been useful is advice on using sport mode when towing as this is what ford recommends and steep sections using the tiptronic to lock it in gear as a lot of heat is created when shifting occurs. Just subscribed and enjoying your channel, 2018 3.2 ranger and snowy river src22s caravan, 2.6 ton and a 900 kg load capacity. Very envious of you both, enjoy your your freedom.😊

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea true story with the sport mode thing i really need to up date… nice rig thanks for watching see ya out there

[@craigdaw9174]

Hi Greg, thanks for you info, I have a 2019 Mazda BT50 4WD (purchased new) which has all the same running gear as the Ranger. I spoke to a transmission specialist who quoted me over $2k to get a second cooler fitted. His comment was the biggest reason for autos failing was people towing in too higher a gear. Like your idea of the obd and have purchased a scanguage 2 which has very good reviews. Have just sold our 6.1m southernstar and awaiting a new 6.8m to be built with the intention of retiring on going fulltime on the road April 23. Craig. Ps great posts you are putting up

[@KiwiWanderers]

Hi Craig….. yea it’s expensive to get an aux cooler as I think they have to disassemble half the transmission to modify the thermostat…. Appreciate your comments. Thanks for watching

[@RadRoadAdventures]

Hi Greg, I actually watched this video a week or so ago, I have had my transmissions get hot a few times in the past, usually a head wind towing at 95km/h. Great idea as I already have OB2 device. Shannon

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks For watching

[@julianclothier4830]

Thanks for a great idea. Having expensively wrecked 2 trannies while towing, I will be looking for similar system for my Santa Fe. I have been told by mechanics at 2 repair shops that at 126C the fluid burns and is destroyed. I now tow in manual shift and lock out top gear. My engine runs easier, fuel economy is much better. Thanks for your effort.

[@KiwiWanderers]

Wow thats not good 2 trans failures. yea if you can see what temp the trans is at least is you can do something about it...good luck and happy motoring

[@mikekindon3923]

Julian, I've got a 2019 Kia Sorento and I'm towing a Swift Charisma single axle van, how does this compare to your situation?

[@Booma69]

Hi Greg I have only just found this video and very informative indeed. I am across the ditch in Queensland and we do a lot of towing with our van and my 2014 Ranger XLT. I also had temp problems with my tranny so I had a cooler fitted. Also I fitted a ScanGauge2 and programmed it for the PX Ranger transmission. Also only tow in manual/sports mode and keep below 100k/h. Very good advice and I love your van.

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yes keeping the temp down is the key when your towing near max weight Thanks for watching..

[@hamoditahan4891]

is it better to tow with manual or automatic

[@KiwiWanderers]

Personal preference really manual require more driver input but is usually less maintenance auto is easy and better for learner driver.. thanks for watching cheers Greg

[@hamoditahan4891]

ok but u can tow with auto also

[@TheTransmissionman]

Good info, you could add to the temp getting high is to drop down a gear or two,

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea very true I think I need to do another Video on this subject it gets lots of interest. Thanks for watching Cheers Greg

[@mika1084]

Hi Guys Just watching your great videos, especially interested in Ranger Trans o’heat and your suggestion to use a cellphone to monitor. I reckon you could do another cracka video on how you got to the stage of displaying a variety of gauges, seems a mine field. Keep up the good work.

[@KiwiWanderers]

Ok good point I will do another video on the Forscan software it can do all sorts of stuff,, thanks for the comments Cheers Greg and Sandy

[@Mosesk1988]

Just spend the 1800 at a shop and get am external trans cooler fitted along with the thermostat bypass inside the trans done. Temps towing 110kms+ are 85degress in mine in 6th gear convertor locked up at 2000rpm cheers 🍻

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea its on my list But I would probably do it myself ....On long steep hills we have to Slow right down otherwise the trans would be off the clock. thanks for watching

[@Mosesk1988]

@@KiwiWanderers thats crazy, defo easy enough to do yourself! i only tow a fordwardfold camper 2T max bit diff to a full size van. Rangers still pretty much stock 265 tyres etc.

[@paulmcgaw8870]

Hi Mate, enjoyed the vid. I'm interested in getting the OBD2 scanner you're using but the manufacturer's site doesn't list my 2018 Mazda BT50. It only mentions a 2007 model. That said, my BT and the Mazda have the same running gear so is this OBD2 scanner likely to work on my car? Keep up the great vids! Cheers Paul

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea I would be very surprised if it didn’t work on your vehicle. It sure has saved my trans I’m sure. Thanks for watching. Cheers Greg

[@paulmcgaw8870]

@@KiwiWanderers I'm also seriously looking at some transmission upgrades (including a trans cooler).

[@KiwiWanderers]

@@paulmcgaw8870 yea we don’t have a cooler and on the 6speed ranger to fit it you need to remove the valve body and modify the thermostat…so it’s a bit of a major …but a good upgrade

[@MrFatkat68]

done exactly the same 👍

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea worthwhile doing ....Thanks for watching

[@Liquimix]

Hi Greg. Love your channel and am Subscribed. I live in Brisbane and am planning a long trip down to South Australia in my 2016 Ford Ranger PX2 and 2018 21' Jayco Silverline OB. Brilliant idea about monitoring automatic transmission oil temperature using OBDLinkMX+ paired with FORScan Lite. However...I have not been able to get the two to connect with each other. I have an Android Pixel 5 phone. In your video, you skip the actual pairing process which I personally would like to see. I notice several other viewers also have trouble with the same thing. Any ideas?

[@KiwiWanderers]

Hi Neil I have a very old android phone on the dash for my setup. I have had the very occasional problem connecting the things I do when it wont connect are 1st turn off blue tooth then turn it back on (some phones only allow 5 bluetooth connections ) then if that doesn't work I reboot the phone and then lastly unplug the OBDlink and push the button to put it back into-pairing mode.. with the hundreds of trips we have made I have only had trouble 3 or 4 times hope this helps. I know the Forscan guys have great help if you email them they might be further help Cheers for watching

[@geoffscott5720]

Good info to share with all, I am assuming your Ranger is a 3.2L? I moved from one to a V6 amarok, as I was having engine temp management issues. Have you fitted a trans cooler? I found that in the ranger, with the 6 speed trans torque converter being a fairly loose lockup, it was getting quite hot ( I was using an obd2 dongle to watch it also ). I tow a 23' jayco, without water or supplies its 2.6T, full its just over 3T. If you're able to, the other critical temp to monitor is your exhaust gas temperatures - I could not get my obd2 software to show it but I have since been informed that was a limitation of my software, not the ranger, and that really shows you just how hard that motor is working. The EGT can appear to be unrelated to the coolant temperature, but will show how much abuse you're subjecting your head, exhaust valves and turbo to. The amarok apparently derates from 800 degrees upwards, I believe the BiTurbo ranger is similar, I am not sure about the 3.2. Keep up the good work.

[@KiwiWanderers]

Great idea Geoff EGT is monitored on lots of heavy vehicle for this very reason I will see if I can view it with my setup.. Appreciate you watching Regards Greg

[@morewanders]

Hi Greg - is installing an aftermarket transmission cooler much of a priority for you, or has your OBD2 monitoring and driving approach meant it's probably a nice to have? We're running a similar Ranger / Caravan setup, so doing some diagnostics first sounds like a good start. Cheers Brent

[@KiwiWanderers]

I think I will fit a cooler at this stage. With the trans temp gauge I can see I’m not damaging the trans… fitting a cooler is a bit of a major on the ranger you have to pull half the trans to bits to modify the thermostat….. thanks for watching

[@gibbiestwo622]

@@KiwiWanderers Thanks for the reply Greg. Mechanic’s just indicated $5-600 for a quality large size cooler incl labour and fluid, so will make sure I check re any Ranger complexities!

[@gavinhiggins8081]

Hi guys great info I have a 2014 6 speed auto Ranger would the OBD link work on my vehicle

[@KiwiWanderers]

yea same trans as in my vehicle should be no problem

[@leopardsgowild]

Is easing off the transmission a matter of lowering Reve's?

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea, if you back off the throttle you can see all the temps come back almost instantly, But it only gets up to the max when your on a large climb like the Taihape deviation. or Kaimai's

[@Wolfsbane115]

Hi there Greg, who did you buy your OBDlink MX pro from in NZ, cheapest I've found is over $200

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea I did on Trademe. Not sure why they have gone up in price … there might be alternatives

[@peterinthegong9437]

Hi Greg, thanks for your videos . I have the Ford Everest with the 3.2 diesel and 6 speed box. After watching your video I ordered the same OBDlink and the FORScan app. I now have the device monitoring my TFS , thanks ! May I ask, how did you get the other gauge displays on the same screen? What’s the trick? I have tried everything. Any tips would be appreciated

[@KiwiWanderers]

Hi Peter Are you using forscan ??

[@peterinthegong9437]

@@KiwiWanderers , yes.

[@KiwiWanderers]

@@peterinthegong9437 I am away from the vehicle atm will message you tomorrow I remember it being a bit tricky

[@KiwiWanderers]

Ok vehicle needs to be connected then select "table" then push on the plus and you can type in what you want to monitor eg Boost , then put a tick beside the parameter you want to monitor , when you go back and then select the display screen it should be on there ...see how ya go

[@peterinthegong9437]

@@KiwiWanderers , thanks . I will try tomorrow morning

[@brycemeredith5143]

Greg- where is the best place to buy the OBD2 Mx+ and will they work on an iPhone?

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea I got mine off trade me they will work on iPhone but they are built around the android os so some things don’t work. Like programming etc .. if you just after the gauge side of things it will be fine…thanks for watching let me know how ya get on. Cheers Greg

[@KiwiWanderers]

Yea I got mine off trade me they will work on iPhone but they are built around the android os so some things don’t work. Like programming etc .. if you just after the gauge side of things it will be fine…thanks for watching let me know how ya get on. Cheers Greg

[@mikekindon3923]

so what are the permitted limits on the transmission temp?

[@mikekindon3923]

dang should have watched the whole thing sorry guys.

[@leopardsgowild]

Hey again... Just watched this for the 3rd time... Does this work the same if the vehicle is a manual? Our truck is a manual...

[@KiwiWanderers]

No manual gearbox way stronger than auto and not susceptible to overheat. late model Toyota's are pretty bullet proof

[@leopardsgowild]

@@KiwiWanderers Awesome thats what we want to hear thanks for that. Great having a mechanic, tech guy on this channel. Glad you got your door fixed with no issues.

[@brendanmason2908]

you should have just bought a MU

[@KiwiWanderers]

Thanks Brendon… your input always so valuable.