Transmission Cooler
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 180
Likes: 2
Transmission Cooler
A couple weeks ago I was getting my truck in order for a trip to southern Mississippi from S. Indiana. About 620 miles. Rear shackles, rear shocks, front shocks, tie rods and ball joints, new tires and alignment. Drives like a new truck now! I was headed down for a deal on some Honda ATVs. This was my first trip in the truck since I bought it a couple years ago.
The issue I had running empty was my tranny's temp was around 230. Of course it was the same running back. I had to watch my speed on the way back to keep the temp for going higher. The previous owner had installed a tranny cooler with fan under the driver's seat (outside) running horizontal. It has a switch to turn the fan on and off. However due to its location I believe the fan doesn't work anymore due to dirt blowing up on it.
I want to get rid of this and get a 6.0 cooler installed. I have a banks IC up front already. I've read posts on this but will this fit with the the IC on. Does it go between the AC coil and rad. Or the AC coil and IC? If the latter there is the post going up the middle.
How do I move forward ?
The issue I had running empty was my tranny's temp was around 230. Of course it was the same running back. I had to watch my speed on the way back to keep the temp for going higher. The previous owner had installed a tranny cooler with fan under the driver's seat (outside) running horizontal. It has a switch to turn the fan on and off. However due to its location I believe the fan doesn't work anymore due to dirt blowing up on it.
I want to get rid of this and get a 6.0 cooler installed. I have a banks IC up front already. I've read posts on this but will this fit with the the IC on. Does it go between the AC coil and rad. Or the AC coil and IC? If the latter there is the post going up the middle.
How do I move forward ?
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 609
From: evansville in
A couple weeks ago I was getting my truck in order for a trip to southern Mississippi from S. Indiana. About 620 miles. Rear shackles, rear shocks, front shocks, tie rods and ball joints, new tires and alignment. Drives like a new truck now! I was headed down for a deal on some Honda ATVs. This was my first trip in the truck since I bought it a couple years ago.
The issue I had running empty was my tranny's temp was around 230. Of course it was the same running back. I had to watch my speed on the way back to keep the temp for going higher. The previous owner had installed a tranny cooler with fan under the driver's seat (outside) running horizontal. It has a switch to turn the fan on and off. However due to its location I believe the fan doesn't work anymore due to dirt blowing up on it.
I want to get rid of this and get a 6.0 cooler installed. I have a banks IC up front already. I've read posts on this but will this fit with the the IC on. Does it go between the AC coil and rad. Or the AC coil and IC? If the latter there is the post going up the middle.
How do I move forward ?
The issue I had running empty was my tranny's temp was around 230. Of course it was the same running back. I had to watch my speed on the way back to keep the temp for going higher. The previous owner had installed a tranny cooler with fan under the driver's seat (outside) running horizontal. It has a switch to turn the fan on and off. However due to its location I believe the fan doesn't work anymore due to dirt blowing up on it.
I want to get rid of this and get a 6.0 cooler installed. I have a banks IC up front already. I've read posts on this but will this fit with the the IC on. Does it go between the AC coil and rad. Or the AC coil and IC? If the latter there is the post going up the middle.
How do I move forward ?
I have the trucool and my trans is 160-165 even towing or driving in the mountains.
It mounted easily to the back of the bumper.
Where in southern in are you?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 256
Likes: 33
From: South East Michigan
Looks like my F350 OBS. I have a Big Hayden Swirl Kool mounted in front of the rasiator. Actually, Ford SVO, Dearborn mounted it years ago plus a B&M Deep sump finned aluminum pan.
Not fond of mounting a trans cooler underneath unless there is no other option.
Not fond of mounting a trans cooler underneath unless there is no other option.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 180
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by fordman67
The 6.0 cooler is nice. No doubting that all. You will have to see where the ic lays if you can go out front or inbetween.
I have the trucool and my trans is 160-165 even towing or driving in the mountains.
It mounted easily to the back of the bumper.
Where in southern in are you?
I have the trucool and my trans is 160-165 even towing or driving in the mountains.
It mounted easily to the back of the bumper.
Where in southern in are you?
Originally Posted by SidecarFlip
Looks like my F350 OBS. I have a Big Hayden Swirl Kool mounted in front of the rasiator. Actually, Ford SVO, Dearborn mounted it years ago plus a B&M Deep sump finned aluminum pan.
Not fond of mounting a trans cooler underneath unless there is no other option.
Not fond of mounting a trans cooler underneath unless there is no other option.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 256
Likes: 33
From: South East Michigan
It's been on there since 1998 so it ain't pretty no more. It's oxidized. Mine has the temperature sender boss but I never hooked it up. I change my fluid and filter every fall, it's always just fine.
The deep sump pan adds an additional 4 quart capacity, least mine does. Dexron-Mercon is cheap. I buy it in 5 gallon pails.
My Hayden works well. I can feel the temperature difference between the inlet side and the outlet side just with the truck sitting in the drive...hot.
Former transmission engineer... My BIL is a powertrain design engineer at SVO Dearborn. Not former...still there. In fact they redid the transmission, added the pan and the cooler for me when I bought the truck in 1997...new. Not a stock E4 by a long shot.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,741
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
The pan doesn't cool the trans.
Have you measured air temps around the pan? I have. When the engine is working hard, which is when you need trans cooling, the air temps are hotter than the transmission. The air from the radiator passes by the trans, plus the exhaust is giving off A LOT of heat. So how will air hotter than the trans cool the trans?
I don't even need to go into the boundary layer effect that is going on inside the pan, limiting heat transfer. That's actually a good thing because it limits how much heat that larger pan can transfer into the transmission.
Have you measured air temps around the pan? I have. When the engine is working hard, which is when you need trans cooling, the air temps are hotter than the transmission. The air from the radiator passes by the trans, plus the exhaust is giving off A LOT of heat. So how will air hotter than the trans cool the trans?
I don't even need to go into the boundary layer effect that is going on inside the pan, limiting heat transfer. That's actually a good thing because it limits how much heat that larger pan can transfer into the transmission.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 256
Likes: 33
From: South East Michigan
The pan doesn't cool the trans.
Have you measured air temps around the pan? I have. When the engine is working hard, which is when you need trans cooling, the air temps are hotter than the transmission. The air from the radiator passes by the trans, plus the exhaust is giving off A LOT of heat. So how will air hotter than the trans cool the trans?
I don't even need to go into the boundary layer effect that is going on inside the pan, limiting heat transfer. That's actually a good thing because it limits how much heat that larger pan can transfer into the transmission.
Have you measured air temps around the pan? I have. When the engine is working hard, which is when you need trans cooling, the air temps are hotter than the transmission. The air from the radiator passes by the trans, plus the exhaust is giving off A LOT of heat. So how will air hotter than the trans cool the trans?
I don't even need to go into the boundary layer effect that is going on inside the pan, limiting heat transfer. That's actually a good thing because it limits how much heat that larger pan can transfer into the transmission.
Where did you go to school at?
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,741
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
So you've never made a clear pan and observed the boundary layer. I have. I've also measured the temperatures just inside the pan and observed it in the temperature stratification.
You are assuming fluid is always moving in the pan. I've proven that isn't true.
And you didn't answer how the pan can help at all while the air around it is HOTTER than the transmission. I've measured this, too. Have you? Or is all of your experience here in thought experiments? Those are where you reason what would happen if you actually ran tests. I DID run them. That was my job.
You are assuming fluid is always moving in the pan. I've proven that isn't true.
And you didn't answer how the pan can help at all while the air around it is HOTTER than the transmission. I've measured this, too. Have you? Or is all of your experience here in thought experiments? Those are where you reason what would happen if you actually ran tests. I DID run them. That was my job.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 256
Likes: 33
From: South East Michigan
My only comment was, not is. My BIL still is. The whole thread is about transmission coolers not pans anyway. Ford sees fit (or at least did in 1997) to place a wimpy 2 pass cooler in front of the radiator and SVO discarded that and replaced mine with a big Hayden thats been there since, they did internal modifications as well, what exactly, I have no idea and it didn't cost me a dime. BTW thanks BIL.
I know a bit about thermal layering and stratification but it's not germane and I really don't care about temperature differentials. I do care about the added fluid capacity and if it's good enough for the techs at SVO, it's good enough for me.
I know a bit about thermal layering and stratification but it's not germane and I really don't care about temperature differentials. I do care about the added fluid capacity and if it's good enough for the techs at SVO, it's good enough for me.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 609
From: evansville in
I suppose I could be easily convinced to not use the 6.0 cooler. Just seemed what everyone used with success. What model trucool cooler did you buy? A easy install would be nice. I never have enough time. I live in Charlestown, IN, across the river from Louisville, KY. What about yourself?
Id like to get finned pan, but like to see what temperature a working cooler gets me. The PO did the install. I'm sure it worked well when the fan worked but not now. I haven't taken it down to determine what kind of cooler it even is. I'll have to read up on the cooler you have.
Id like to get finned pan, but like to see what temperature a working cooler gets me. The PO did the install. I'm sure it worked well when the fan worked but not now. I haven't taken it down to determine what kind of cooler it even is. I'll have to read up on the cooler you have.
I'm over in evansville
Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
I put a "Tru-Cool Max LPD4739 40,000 GVW Low Pressure Drop Transmission Oil Cooler" on my 96, from Amazon. I used the same mounting place as the little original OEM cooler. It does take more room of course, but it easily fit by using one or two of the original factory pieces plus, I believe, one of the mount arms provided in the kit. It's a very easy install, and it makes a big difference. I'm now running in the 160-180s instead of the 220s towing.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 180
Likes: 2
Due to the anticipated ease of installation and cost, I believe I'm going to try the trucool option. I've read about them but everyone seems to be using the 6.0 cooler so I had assumed it was the only "good" option to go with. Thanks for providing the real world use so I could make a better decision.
More Turbo
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 542
Likes: 1
From: New Milford, CT
I as well have the Tru-cool 40k cooler.
I used one factory mounting point with a bolt, and then a zip tie on the other side. Has been in there for 40k plus miles and the zip tie is holding fine.
I haven't ever seen above 160* temperatures. The hottest I ever got it was in Arizona towing a 8-10k pound camper up some big hill. That's when it hit 160*.
Towing around here I'm normally in the 140* range.
I used one factory mounting point with a bolt, and then a zip tie on the other side. Has been in there for 40k plus miles and the zip tie is holding fine.
I haven't ever seen above 160* temperatures. The hottest I ever got it was in Arizona towing a 8-10k pound camper up some big hill. That's when it hit 160*.
Towing around here I'm normally in the 140* range.