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Old Mar 20, 2018 | 08:12 PM
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Exclamation Transmission cooler

Opinions needed. I have 2001 F150 screw 4x4 5.4 with only 85k on the clock. I pull a 6k 27’ Travel trailer 8-10 times in the summer. I have a Edge tuner so keep an eye on the trans temp pretty closely. I only pull with OD off and it typically runs about 180-185 on flat ground. The truck has the tow package, 3:55 gears and a factory cooler.

We have a trip planned for northern Michigan this summer and it gets pretty hilly up there.
I was thinking about adding a second cooler or a 7” electric fan to factory cooler with a simple toggle switch in the cab.
Thoughts?
 
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Old Mar 20, 2018 | 08:30 PM
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A second cooler may add enough restriction that it will lower your cooling capacity. Don't do that. A small electric fan will help at low speeds, but usually lowers the airflow at highway speeds.

In my opinion, your temperatures are great. If it were mone I wouldn't change anything. I've towed extensively throughout Michigan. I don't believe there are any hills that will cause you a problem. You can go as high as 220°F all day long with no problems. You can go up to 250°F for up to a half hour at a time without causing any problems. You should have no problems.
 
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Old Mar 20, 2018 | 09:46 PM
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Hey I was reading your response to this thread and I see you specialize in transmissions on Fords and thought I would ask you about your comment. I installed a B and M trans cooler last summer on my truck and I cut the top line that feeds the stock trans cooler, so it goes into the B and M cooler first then to the stock trans cooler and back to the transmission. I realized I cut the wrong line after I installed it and got worried. I called a few shops and they said as long as their is a complete loop it should be fine. What should I do in your opinion, should I just use the stock cooler and delete the one I installed or just use the B and M cooler and not use the stock cooler along with it. It seems like its been doing ok but I don't have any way to tell. I installed it because I tow a travel trailer occasionally and I wanted to keep my transmission cool.
 
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Old Mar 20, 2018 | 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky
A second cooler may add enough restriction that it will lower your cooling capacity. Don't do that. A small electric fan will help at low speeds, but usually lowers the airflow at highway speeds.

In my opinion, your temperatures are great. If it were mone I wouldn't change anything. I've towed extensively throughout Michigan. I don't believe there are any hills that will cause you a problem. You can go as high as 220°F all day long with no problems. You can go up to 250°F for up to a half hour at a time without causing any problems. You should have no problems.
Thank you for the quick reply. This is what I was looking for. We usually don’t go to far from home when we camp maybe 1-2 away at most. In July we’re going on a 5 1/2 hr drive to Burt lake state park and some of those long hills on i75 got me questioning my cooling ability. I baby this truck so I’ll just keep a close eye on the temp. Again. Appreciate it

 
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Old Mar 21, 2018 | 08:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Dgriff804
Hey I was reading your response to this thread and I see you specialize in transmissions on Fords and thought I would ask you about your comment. I installed a B and M trans cooler last summer on my truck and I cut the top line that feeds the stock trans cooler, so it goes into the B and M cooler first then to the stock trans cooler and back to the transmission. I realized I cut the wrong line after I installed it and got worried. I called a few shops and they said as long as their is a complete loop it should be fine. What should I do in your opinion, should I just use the stock cooler and delete the one I installed or just use the B and M cooler and not use the stock cooler along with it. It seems like its been doing ok but I don't have any way to tell. I installed it because I tow a travel trailer occasionally and I wanted to keep my transmission cool.
Some B&M coolers are good, some not so good. Did you bypass a cooler in the radiator? If so, that was a BIG mistake. You need that cooler. If you have one of the good B&M coolers the best way to cool the trans is to go from the transmission to the radiator cooler (if your truck has one) then to the B&M cooler, then back to the trans. If you don't have a cooler in the radiator then from the trans to a good cooler then back to the trans.
 
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