6.0 Trans cooler Why?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 0
I wish we could get a chart like that specific for the 4r100 as it pertains to the 7.3, but a good chart nonetheless. I will talk more in depth with the only mechanic I know and find out more information, see if I can't find some science.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 971
From: Walpole, MA
Based on this looks like the 4R100 doesn't like ATF temps over 250-280*F...
dieselmann's editorial
As far as my experience overheading 4R100, a few years ago my father's 2000 F350 got high sided when plowing. Trying to get it unstuck the trans temp hit 325*F. Transmission made it another 7k before it fried out.
Had a pair of 4EODs go out about the same way but never had a trans gauge on them.
Not to fuel any flames but I had the misfortune of getting high sided today in my 02, which is basically a clone of my father's truck at the time but with a 6.0 cooler.... trans temps never cracked 160* despite my winter front still being on and closed.
Most of the time plowing the trans was between 120-140... almost too cool.
What I had to deal with 28 inches of untouched powder..
Trans gauge...
dieselmann's editorial
As far as my experience overheading 4R100, a few years ago my father's 2000 F350 got high sided when plowing. Trying to get it unstuck the trans temp hit 325*F. Transmission made it another 7k before it fried out.
Had a pair of 4EODs go out about the same way but never had a trans gauge on them.
Not to fuel any flames but I had the misfortune of getting high sided today in my 02, which is basically a clone of my father's truck at the time but with a 6.0 cooler.... trans temps never cracked 160* despite my winter front still being on and closed.
Most of the time plowing the trans was between 120-140... almost too cool.
What I had to deal with 28 inches of untouched powder..
Trans gauge...
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,910
Likes: 2
From: Hat Creek Ca
So specific to "one" of you questions. I bought my '01 from the original owner who had a 10.5' cab-over camper fully contained with generator and all. Probably not even close to the weight of a small TT He had no gauges just stock XL. Transmission done at 36K - one way diode clutch failure.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 0
Mine's an '01, the diode is an issue on them as mine went out as well. Having said that I guess Ford built one special 7.3 truck who's tranny lasted over 300k miles towing heavier than what you guys tow probably combined before any tranny malfunction.
I dunno any longer.
I dunno any longer.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 2
From: Bend Oregon
Around 86K I lost the original, I have 300K on the rebuild with the 6.0L cooler in front of it for a total of 386K on the whole truck.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 836
Likes: 9
When talking trans temps, outside air temp does not seem to come up. I read that transmission temp on normal driving will run about 70 degrees higher than outside air temp. I live on the Oregon coast where in the summer it will be in the upper 60's to low 70's. Some guy in Texas will have outside temps in the tripple digits. I have never heard of anyone blowing a tranny because the tranny temp was too low. So, I like the 6.0 cooler and with my trans temp gauge I don't worry as much about it anymore.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,717
Likes: 2,642
From: SE Florida
It was an older van with a 351 and a C6. I was towing a Ranger on a trailer with an outside temp of about -30°F. The fluid gelled in the cooler and the trans didn't get lube. It overheated, puked fluid which started a small fire, and died. One rebuild later it was back on the road.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,392
Likes: 0
From: NW Arkansas
Mine's an '01, the diode is an issue on them as mine went out as well. Having said that I guess Ford built one special 7.3 truck who's tranny lasted over 300k miles towing heavier than what you guys tow probably combined before any tranny malfunction.
I dunno any longer.
I dunno any longer.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 0
Tell me that's the one you're talking about, please.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,392
Likes: 0
From: NW Arkansas
Sorry to disappoint but it was my blue truck. Actually my green one was the problem child. Boss had to have it cuz it was green. Come to find out it was a flood truck out of Florida. Always had some weird issue tho.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,717
Likes: 2,642
From: SE Florida
You'd lose that bet! Rebuilding transmissions was never my thing. I've rebuilt very, very few transmissions. I was never a trans tech, they rebuild A LOT of transmissions.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
WOW!!! Sorry gentlemen my question was very simply if you thought you needed to keep your trans cooler why a $300 6.0 cooler and not a add on from the parts store.
I have 373k on my stock truck (e99 350) I dont tow all the time but do have trailers and campers I pull it is a DD but I live in the Dallas TX area and was just looking to get some longevity out of what I have. The answer I came up with is get gauges and if I feel it nessacery to cool it down a bit any cooler would probably help I dont want the trans thermastat so if it does get hotter than I like I might start with a $50-60 one from the parts house. Thanks for all the good input I did defiantly learn something.
I have 373k on my stock truck (e99 350) I dont tow all the time but do have trailers and campers I pull it is a DD but I live in the Dallas TX area and was just looking to get some longevity out of what I have. The answer I came up with is get gauges and if I feel it nessacery to cool it down a bit any cooler would probably help I dont want the trans thermastat so if it does get hotter than I like I might start with a $50-60 one from the parts house. Thanks for all the good input I did defiantly learn something.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,717
Likes: 2,642
From: SE Florida
The cheap cooler from a parts house may make your trans hotter.
Cheap coolers are usually tube and fin, not stacked plate. Tube and fin can be identified by one tube that snakes back and forth. Stacked plate has one tube on each side with several connections between them.
A tube and fin is much more restrictive and has less cooling capacity. If there is enough restriction it will open the transmission's pressure bypass and reduce the flow of oil to the cooler. Combine that with the tube and fin's lower heat transfer capability, and you could be worse off than if you didn't change anything.
Cheap coolers are usually tube and fin, not stacked plate. Tube and fin can be identified by one tube that snakes back and forth. Stacked plate has one tube on each side with several connections between them.
A tube and fin is much more restrictive and has less cooling capacity. If there is enough restriction it will open the transmission's pressure bypass and reduce the flow of oil to the cooler. Combine that with the tube and fin's lower heat transfer capability, and you could be worse off than if you didn't change anything.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 0
From: South Shore, MA
The cheap cooler from a parts house may make your trans hotter.
Cheap coolers are usually tube and fin, not stacked plate. Tube and fin can be identified by one tube that snakes back and forth. Stacked plate has one tube on each side with several connections between them.
A tube and fin is much more restrictive and has less cooling capacity. If there is enough restriction it will open the transmission's pressure bypass and reduce the flow of oil to the cooler. Combine that with the tube and fin's lower heat transfer capability, and you could be worse off than if you didn't change anything.
Cheap coolers are usually tube and fin, not stacked plate. Tube and fin can be identified by one tube that snakes back and forth. Stacked plate has one tube on each side with several connections between them.
A tube and fin is much more restrictive and has less cooling capacity. If there is enough restriction it will open the transmission's pressure bypass and reduce the flow of oil to the cooler. Combine that with the tube and fin's lower heat transfer capability, and you could be worse off than if you didn't change anything.
I dealt with this exact situation about a year ago. I bought my truck used and the PO deleted the radiator cooler and stock air-to-oil cooler, replacing them with a cheap tube and fin "parts store cooler".
My trans would heat up much higher than it should of. I started by replacing the tube and fin cooler with a stacked plate Tru-cool cooler - dropping trans fluid temp by nearly 50*. Later I replaced the radiator, putting the internal cooler back into play. Here are some of my threads:
EDIT: (With lots of help from Mark, thanks again!)
(see post #30)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ghts-mark.html
and another on the topic:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ew-cooler.html
Last edited by grec-o-face; Feb 11, 2013 at 12:32 PM. Reason: Thanks Mark!!