Votes for the most practical remote or inline transmission filter for my F150? Goal is to see over 200k with minimal troubles. Just did a Mercon LV fluid exchange at 80k, installing an aux cooler and considering placing a remote or inline filter at the same time.

1. Remote filter kit such as Derale 15728
2. Magnefine 1/2 inch inline filter (R012M)
3. Motorcraft Ft-184 inline filter

I like the easy of install of the Magnefine and Motorcraft, plus the fittings they come with will also solve a minor plumbing dilema I've been thinking about. As nice as that is, its not enough to really sway the vote. With the Derale kit I have the ease and effectiveness of a spin on with little to no risk of extra leaks.

My only reservation is that the cooler line is controlled by an internal thermostat and thus doesn't see flow all the time. Possibly reducing the benefit of any of these filters...

 

Let me see if I can get some pictures of my current setup for you. I was in the same situation and nobody had done this before. I can tell you to make sure sure and use quality components. I used parker 1/2" push loc hose to replace all the factory hoses. I used a high capacity high flow cooler that has 1/2" in/out (most have 3/8" be careful). I then used a standard napa 1551 hydraulic filter and the appropriate filter head mount. Works very well and I also added the AFE deep trans pan.

 

Yup, I plumbed in a filter base from Napa along with a napa platinum (wix XP) oil filter. Put it between the cooler output and the return line.

Right now I'm using a cut down piece of the cooler output line to maintain my factory return line connectors but I am seriously considering cutting the return line and just using a compression fitting to NPT adaptor mated to a NPT to barb.

 

My filter is directly off the radiator cooler outlet and is before the aux cooler. The only reason I did this was to make sure the cooler was not under excessive pressure from the filter. The factory hose ends are garbage, 1/2" compression to parker 1/2" barbs are what I used. Cost about 40.00 for both and I don't have to worry about the quick connects leaking.

 

Hey, just out of curiousity for those with external filters... My trans doesn't get up to 195 degrees to open the cooler thermostat until the very end of my commute (about 10 miles). Every heard of a way to tweak that thermostat?

 

So the thermostat does flow at all times but at a very low flow rate. Yes there is a a way to modify the thermostat and I have done it recently but before I mention how I want to put some more miles on it to prove it before someone else tried to do it with bad results. So far though trans temps with my setup are way down over 30 degrees.