I have a 2000 F250 SD 4x4 CCSB as seen in my pictures. It has 160k mi now and I am trying prolong the life of the transmission. I am a believer in good fluid, filtration and maintenance in general. I am about to service the transmission and hopefully install a John Woods valve body. I also have an external canister style trans filter assembly and derale thermostat(Thanks Muck) just hanging out in the shop. During the winter my tranny never breaks 150 degrees. In the summer it heats up fine(180-200). I have read a few complaints of the derale not allowing enough flow during hot seasons. So in attempt to fix this and add my external tranny filter, I have drawn this diagram of my proposed system up.
This will allow me to block the t-stat bypass lines in the winter, forcing fluid through the t-stat so the tranny will heat up well and burn any condensation off. Then in the summer, i can bypass the t-stat all together keeping it cool at that time of year. All with the simple 90 degree turn of 2 small levers. In addition, I can change my filter quickly and easily to keep said fluid clean as a whistle. And that is how the hard knock university engineer on my shoulder is thinking.

On my other shoulder is the keep it simple stupid engineer telling me to change the fluid and leave it be. It has worked for 13 years and I would be creating alot of areas for leaks. I would be hard piping all this but even that leaks sometimes.

I welcome your opinions and critiques.

Please dont shoot me in the face Mark.

Ryan

 

Ryan, do you tow heavy? If not, I think the valve body will be sufficient. What you're proposing looks to me like a lot of unnecessary work and you could introduce more problems. Just my opinion.

 

I don't tow heavy often right now. I would like to eventually get a camper though. I don't like how cool my Trans runs in the winter or in pan transmission filters.

Ryan

 

Seems reasonable to me.

 

Shooting me in the face or my plan?

Ryan

 

Your plan. The shooting sounds fun, though......

I actually was thinking of doing something very similar. I had a better idea, though. I moved to Florida instead.

 

I have been thinking about similar idea but just unhooking my tru-cool cooler in the winter. I never tow in the winter and barley break 140. Thought about a bypass valve but would like to keep it simple. Keep us up to date if you do it and how it works.

 

I also thought about doing this, will be watching the thread to see how it turns out.

 

I am waiting to hear back from Woods on the valve body. Apparently there is an issue getting cores.

Ryan

 

I'm sorry but I'm not a big fan of modifying the trannys lube/cooling system on these
model years.

I bought "Hercules" new in 12/00, put 900 miles on him and started pulling 15,000 lb fiver. Since then, the trlr has had 193,000 miles on its wheels while Herc has accumulated 295,000 miles, with the STOCK lube/cooling system, and a 60hp towing tune.

ONLY ONCE, in 2002 while in Alaska, up hill at 10mph, dirt road, line of traffic, overcast & drizzling & muddy, did the temps get to 225. Pulled over, made a sandwich and continued on at normal temps.

Religiously change the fluid, with the proper type, avoid pedal to the floor shifts, and tow away.