Drive Axle Oil Temperature Gauges
Physical instruments are listed here in alphabetical order. Some are optional and therefore not found in every vehicle. Digital instruments and gauges are described in their ICU section.
Notice: A sudden increase in oil temperature that is not caused by a load increase may indicate mechanical failure. Bring the vehicle to a safe stop and investigate the cause to prevent further damage. Do not operate the vehicle until the cause has been determined and corrected.
During normal operation, the drive axle oil temperature gauges should read as follows:
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160 to 220°F (71 to 104°C) for Detroit® Classic Model 2, 4, and 6 axles.
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160 to 329°F (71 to 165°C) for Detroit® New Final Drive (NFD) axles.
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160 to 329°F (71 to 165°C) for Detroit® Adaptive Tandem 6 X 4 axles.
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160 to 275°F (71 to 135°C) for Meritor drive axles.
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180 to 200°F (82 to 93°C) for Dana Spicer® drive axles.
Under heavy loads, such as when climbing steep grades, temperatures that exceed the normal oil temperature range for a short period are not unusual. If the temperature returns to normal when the load decreases, there is no problem. See Fig..
