Cooling the tranny
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Puna, Big Island, Hawaii
Cooling the tranny
My setup: I had my E4OD tranny rebuilt "bullet proof". Two add on tranny coolers were installed in front of the a/c condensor, radiator tranny cooling eleminated (shop will not warranty tranny when using radiator as internal leak could put water into tranny). Truck has the extra capacity radiator for cooling. Stock clutch fan.
My issue: The tranny normally runs very cool, can drive all day and tranny temp will not exceed 140*. I have never had an overheat issue with the engine, even when pulling heavy loads up hill. But, the tranny temp will rise, and will exceed 200* when pulling heavy loads up hill at slow speeds. The engine temp will barely rise, so I don't think the fan clutch is engaging for added cooling at the slow speeds. If I get up to hwy speeds, or down hill, the tranny temp will drop again (more air flowing through the coolers).
Solution? Is it possible to replace my clutch fan with a 6.0 electric clutch fan and wire it to a tranny temp switch to engage when the tranny temp rises?
I've found what looks like the wiring diagram for the electric, but it looks like it's not a simple power input to lock up the clutch. These are apparently computer controlled. Any way around that?
Thanks.
My issue: The tranny normally runs very cool, can drive all day and tranny temp will not exceed 140*. I have never had an overheat issue with the engine, even when pulling heavy loads up hill. But, the tranny temp will rise, and will exceed 200* when pulling heavy loads up hill at slow speeds. The engine temp will barely rise, so I don't think the fan clutch is engaging for added cooling at the slow speeds. If I get up to hwy speeds, or down hill, the tranny temp will drop again (more air flowing through the coolers).
Solution? Is it possible to replace my clutch fan with a 6.0 electric clutch fan and wire it to a tranny temp switch to engage when the tranny temp rises?
I've found what looks like the wiring diagram for the electric, but it looks like it's not a simple power input to lock up the clutch. These are apparently computer controlled. Any way around that?
Thanks.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,419
Likes: 197
From: AZ
My setup: I had my E4OD tranny rebuilt "bullet proof". Two add on tranny coolers were installed in front of the a/c condensor, radiator tranny cooling eleminated (shop will not warranty tranny when using radiator as internal leak could put water into tranny). Truck has the extra capacity radiator for cooling. Stock clutch fan.
My issue: The tranny normally runs very cool, can drive all day and tranny temp will not exceed 140*. I have never had an overheat issue with the engine, even when pulling heavy loads up hill. But, the tranny temp will rise, and will exceed 200* when pulling heavy loads up hill at slow speeds. The engine temp will barely rise, so I don't think the fan clutch is engaging for added cooling at the slow speeds. If I get up to hwy speeds, or down hill, the tranny temp will drop again (more air flowing through the coolers).
Solution? Is it possible to replace my clutch fan with a 6.0 electric clutch fan and wire it to a tranny temp switch to engage when the tranny temp rises?
I've found what looks like the wiring diagram for the electric, but it looks like it's not a simple power input to lock up the clutch. These are apparently computer controlled. Any way around that?
Thanks.
My issue: The tranny normally runs very cool, can drive all day and tranny temp will not exceed 140*. I have never had an overheat issue with the engine, even when pulling heavy loads up hill. But, the tranny temp will rise, and will exceed 200* when pulling heavy loads up hill at slow speeds. The engine temp will barely rise, so I don't think the fan clutch is engaging for added cooling at the slow speeds. If I get up to hwy speeds, or down hill, the tranny temp will drop again (more air flowing through the coolers).
Solution? Is it possible to replace my clutch fan with a 6.0 electric clutch fan and wire it to a tranny temp switch to engage when the tranny temp rises?
I've found what looks like the wiring diagram for the electric, but it looks like it's not a simple power input to lock up the clutch. These are apparently computer controlled. Any way around that?
Thanks.
Edit: Like adam said, get a 6.0 trans cooler.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,797
Likes: 10
My setup: I had my E4OD tranny rebuilt "bullet proof". Two add on tranny coolers were installed in front of the a/c condensor, radiator tranny cooling eleminated (shop will not warranty tranny when using radiator as internal leak could put water into tranny). Truck has the extra capacity radiator for cooling. Stock clutch fan.
My issue: The tranny normally runs very cool, can drive all day and tranny temp will not exceed 140*. I have never had an overheat issue with the engine, even when pulling heavy loads up hill. But, the tranny temp will rise, and will exceed 200* when pulling heavy loads up hill at slow speeds. The engine temp will barely rise, so I don't think the fan clutch is engaging for added cooling at the slow speeds. If I get up to hwy speeds, or down hill, the tranny temp will drop again (more air flowing through the coolers).
Solution? Is it possible to replace my clutch fan with a 6.0 electric clutch fan and wire it to a tranny temp switch to engage when the tranny temp rises?
I've found what looks like the wiring diagram for the electric, but it looks like it's not a simple power input to lock up the clutch. These are apparently computer controlled. Any way around that?
Thanks.
My issue: The tranny normally runs very cool, can drive all day and tranny temp will not exceed 140*. I have never had an overheat issue with the engine, even when pulling heavy loads up hill. But, the tranny temp will rise, and will exceed 200* when pulling heavy loads up hill at slow speeds. The engine temp will barely rise, so I don't think the fan clutch is engaging for added cooling at the slow speeds. If I get up to hwy speeds, or down hill, the tranny temp will drop again (more air flowing through the coolers).
Solution? Is it possible to replace my clutch fan with a 6.0 electric clutch fan and wire it to a tranny temp switch to engage when the tranny temp rises?
I've found what looks like the wiring diagram for the electric, but it looks like it's not a simple power input to lock up the clutch. These are apparently computer controlled. Any way around that?
Thanks.
I am by no means a tranny guy, but from experience you see a lot of what does and does not work. Mark K. over on the SD section was a transmission design engineer for FORD for nearly 20 years i believe. If there is any answer to be true, it would be one of his. Might be worth shooting him a PM and explaining your situation and components you currently have.
The best cheap mod for your 7.3 is to run a 6.0 cooler 26 row or 31...the 26 is the newer design and should be preferred.
I'm not sure what you are towing in regards to heavy. But we have multiple fleet 7.3 trucks that pull double tandems and range anywhere from 22-28k gvw and can not push the trans over 200 degrees. Around town they are around 145. 200 is not going to hurt a thing!
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,722
Likes: 2,648
From: SE Florida
Solution? I don't even see the problem. Getting over 200F on a hard, slow pull is absolutely normal.
I wouldn't do that. The trans guy is partially right. I wouldn't warranty a new trans that used the same cooler as the old trans, either. Junk from the old trans is in the old cooler, both and air to oil and the cooler in the radiator. There is NO effective way to get all of the junk out of the coolers. Sooner or later something is going to come loose and end up in the new trans, possibly causing a failure.
The best solution to have the best trans cooling is to replace the radiator with one that has a trans cooler, and to replace both coolers you now have with a cooler from a 6.0L truck.
The best solution to have the best trans cooling is to replace the radiator with one that has a trans cooler, and to replace both coolers you now have with a cooler from a 6.0L truck.
Trending Topics
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,419
Likes: 197
From: AZ
I can relate to that Mark, I blew up a trans and the transmission guy said to buy a new radiator. He said that he couldn't get it flushed good enough, even flushing both ways it was full of junk. I wasn't very happy but bought a new radiator.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 774
Likes: 25
From: Reno, Nevada
Mark,
I have another of those questions you've probably answered 500 times. Is there any advantage to installing an external transmission fluid filter? One of the alleged guru's told me it's a waste of time and money since the transmission already has an internal filter. He said that any wear material in the fluid is going to be magnetic and a magnet in the pan is better than a filter. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks
I have another of those questions you've probably answered 500 times. Is there any advantage to installing an external transmission fluid filter? One of the alleged guru's told me it's a waste of time and money since the transmission already has an internal filter. He said that any wear material in the fluid is going to be magnetic and a magnet in the pan is better than a filter. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,722
Likes: 2,648
From: SE Florida
Most of the wear material is clutch friction material. It isn't magnetic. A filter is a good thing as long as it doesn't increase restriction enough to cause a problem. And no, I don't know how much is too much.
Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
I just installed a new Mishimoto radiator and TruCool cooler. To protect them, I installed a B&M filter kit that uses a screw-on filter. The new filter gets oil directly from the tranny on the way to the coolers. Hopefully, if my tranny crashes, the new filter will catch all the debris. For 50 bucks or so, plus a $5 filter once in a while, it seems like a good investment.
Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Mark, are you saying the tranny has an internal cooler bypass valve that routes the oil back to the tranny if the line going to the radiator/cooler has a restriction that exceeds a certain level? That's interesting to know.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,722
Likes: 2,648
From: SE Florida
Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. It's actually on the outside of the trans. It's the tube between the two cooler lines on the side of the trans. I don't remember what year it was added. I know all 4R100s had it, I don't know about the E4OD.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,590
Likes: 382
From: Texas
Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky
Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. It's actually on the outside of the trans. It's the tube between the two cooler lines on the side of the trans. I don't remember what year it was added. I know all 4R100s had it, I don't know about the E4OD.