I have a '96 F350 460 w/ E4OD crew cab long box, I use it to tow a 31' 5th wheel and other lesser work. Some time ago I had a 28k trans cooler installed by a local shop, the guy there bypassed the cooler in the radiator telling me I wouldn't need it (the guy is a legend in my area so I trust him)

Just recently I installed a trans temp gauge (sender in the test port) and have towed a few times with it. Towing temps have ranged between 180 on cooler days to 200 on warmer days. I am pretty pleased with these numbers actually.

I have been considering re routing things so the fluid runs through the radiator cooler like it used to, my thinking is it's there, so why not use it. I want to put an external filter on and am planning on putting it on the driver's side if I use the radiator cooler, but would put it on the passenger side if I don't.

I don't know if a transmission can run too cold or if running both coolers it would get too cold, that's what I want some opinions about. What do you think?

 

Running through both will give you better bang for your buck.

Radiator cooler first then external.


You do not need to worry about too cold unless you are in -45 temps.


Then just cover the external cooler or install a bypass system.

 

That's what I was thinking, I live in the Willamette valley in Oregon, winter temps get into the +20s, but rarely lower than that and I've never seen it below zero. I was going to put the external tranny filter between the radiator cooler and the auxilliary cooler.

When I go back to the radiator cooler, should the line in be at the top or the bottom of the radiator? I've heard that it's better to push the oil up through the cooler than have it go from top to bottom. I don't know how it was done from the factory since it's been a while since it's been hooked up.

Thanks for the info

 

ok,now your just bragging.

 

Lol maybe

Did anyone have any opinion on whether to route the tranny fluid from bottom to top or top to bottom in the radiator cooler? Would it even make a difference?

I'm thinking the lines would be easier to route if I put the line in at the bottom, out the top and put the auxiliary filter in the gap between the radiator and the driver side headlight/grill before running it down to the other cooler.

 

He's wrong. You should have the radiator cooler. It makes a large difference in cooling the ATF. Ford didn't spend the money to put it there just for fun. It makes a big difference.

It can run too cold, but not in +20F ambients. You can also cover the aux cooler in the winter to help it warm up faster. When I lived where it got cold I put a piece of cardboard in front of my aux cooler in the winter. Now I rarely see ambient temps below +50.

 

Mark and Stuart, I am definitely tracking with you and had suspected it would be better to run with it. The logic was that the external cooler that was installed was so much larger than the factory external cooler that it was able to do the job of both. I think that if another cooler is there, why not use it. I had concerns about over cooling it, I'm glad to hear that won't be an issue.

I will put it back in use when I change fluid next time. I'm still wondering if there is a correct way to route it, should the fluid flow from the top of the radiator down or from the bottom up or does it make a difference at all?

I'll add that he did cap off the radiator cooler when he bypassed it to prevent contamination.

Thanks for the replies guys

 

I don't know that it matters which way the fluid flows through the cooler.

 

Lets look at the coolest part of the radiator.
Where does the engine pull coolant from?

Lowest part of the rad.



That is where transmission fluid should exit the rad cooler on its way to the external cooler. Fitting closest to the lower rad hose.

If you are afraid of cold weather install a bypass system.

 

Stuart, thanks for the input. That makes sense to me.

I was reading on another forum that there is a school of thought against putting an aftermarket trans fluid filter on the cooler lines, is there any harm there? I just wanted to add some extra filtration and a little more capacity.

I have landed on a Wix 51622 as the filter of choice with the assistance of a Wix tech that I called a bit ago asking about which filter would be best.

 

Chrysler Corporation installed in line filters a long long long long time ago.

Small cannisters in the line leading to the rad cooler. Replaced whenever fluid and internal filter were done.

Gas engines have fuel filters, diesels have even more.


Makes " poifekt" sense to me.

 

Would seem prudent to do a flow test with three items in the cooling circuit, yes?

That might give you your answer as to whether it is a good idea to have the filter.

Just a thought.

 

Geez. Here we have the value of zip.



Sigh.

 

I would run the inlet on the bottom and out of the top - this will help get all the air out of the cooler vs. trying to push it all down and out through the bottom fitting. The cool side of the radiator is probably pretty even in temperature from top to bottom, but if it is significantly cooler at the bottom, having the inlet at the bottom is better from a heat transfer perspective also.

 

So you are saying that the factory cooler, an aftermarket cooler at least twice the size of the factory aux, and a filter in a circuit not designed for one has ZERO chance of being too much restriction?