I am having my transmission worked on and put a new aux cooler unit on. I found that the transmission did not run through the radiator. Is this normal? The lines from the tranmission did not have any fittings to screw into a radiator. They looked factory made for the rubber hoses that were attached to the old cooler that was definitely factory. The transmission guy tells me the new cooler he sold me isn't big enough by itself.

 

The '99 and early '00 trucks did not have a cooler in the radiator. Ford learned that this wasn't sufficient and added the radiator cooler mid-year 2000.

You can either change the radiator to one with a cooler or change the small cooler you have for a cooler from a 6.0L truck. Those coolers are HUGE and will do the job by themselves. It also will bolt right into the existing mounts. You will need some parts from a hardware store to adapt the 1/2" lines on the cooler to the lines on your truck, which are smaller.

 

Thanks for the info Mark. That helps a lot with the mechanic. I think I would rather use the 6.0 radiator instead of buying a new radiator.

My old cooler was OK. Do you think if I had if flushed, then used both coolers together it would be sufficient?

 

do not flush the factory original cooler. Ford released a TSB for our model year that specifically states that due to internal design flaws the original cooler can't be flushed (it'll clog). The TSB (99-7-4) gives the part number for the updated replacement cooler, but this cooler is the same size as the original just different internal design. The TSB which talks about the severe duty upgrade (changing radiator to one with a cooling jacket, cooler lines, updated OTA cooler and installing an in-line filter is TSB 00-24-4. I know alot of guys are putting the cooler designed for the 6.0 and swear by it, but whatever you do either putting the 6.0 cooler on or an aftermarket one in-line with the factory cooler make sure whoever does it performs the flow test on it to make sure it meets the flow rate specified by Ford; if it doesn't you'll have all kinds of heat transfer going on and still burn up the transmission.

 

Thanks, good information.

 

I put the 6.0 cooler in my early 99, and I love it. I used to run 185-210* on a hot day, and with the new cooler, it'll stay around 140-185. I had to wollow out the mount holes on the new cooler about 1/4" outwards, but other than that, and a few fittings from Lowes and 1/2" hose (I got fuel hose from West Marine), it was done in about an hour.

 

What was the cost of the 6.0 cooler? Did you have to get if from Ford?