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I was messing around under the hood of my 2012 F-250 (6.2L-Flex) and noticed the area between the radiator and transmission oil cooler (see photo) was packed full of bug parts, which I imagine could greatly affected the cooling efficiency of my engine and transmission. I never had an overheating issue, but I could see where there would be potential for one on a real hot day. The attached photo is after I cleaned it out, regrettably I didn't take any photos before cleaning or of the pile of bug parts that came out when I cleaned it. I cleaned mine by pulling the front grill off, then loosening both the AC condenser which sits tin front of the transition cooler and the transmission cooler itself to where I could pull them both forward enough to where all the bug parts fell out, but I imagine you could clean it out just as well with a water hose. So, I encourage you to take a look at yours, and see if you have the same issue.
Last edited by madsonp; Jul 14, 2019 at 06:27 PM.
Reason: Spelling
Yeah, I checked mine a while ago and it has very little junk sitting there. The good thing is that you can easily clean it out, unlike on some other engines.
On all my vehicles I add the smallest welded wire mesh screen I can find in front of all the coolers.
It catches most of the bugs so they don't get into the cooler fins.
The main reason is to stop debris from damaging the AC condenser.
After having to replace our condenser the AC shop was telling me how their business spiked when the nearby freeway was repaved.
On all my vehicles I add the smallest welded wire mesh screen I can find in front of all the coolers.
It catches most of the bugs so they don't get into the cooler fins.
The main reason is to stop debris from damaging the AC condenser.
After having to replace our condenser the AC shop was telling me how their business spiked when the nearby freeway was repaved.
Thought about doing that when I bought the truck brand new, just never got around to it. It would be nice if someone made something like that in some sort of frame so it could easily be inserted and removed for cleaning.
Yeah, I checked mine a while ago and it has very little junk sitting there. The good thing is that you can easily clean it out, unlike on some other engines.
Yep, I should have just used a water hose, but I wanted to see just how much was in there, and you wouldn't believe the amount of bug parts that came out of it.
Last edited by madsonp; Jul 14, 2019 at 10:09 AM.
Reason: Spelling
common problem... since the late 1960's... when AC became common.
All Brands...
Actually, this has nothing to do with the AC, the area between the AC condenser, and the oil cooler was fine, it was the area between the radiator and oil cooler where the issue was. I've never had this issue on any of the other many vehicles I've owned over the years. I think on these trucks, the spacing between the oil cooler, and radiator is just wide enough to allow the bug parts that hit the upper part of the radiator to fall down in between it and the oil cooler, and accumulate. I could see that if there was a larger gap between the radiator and oil cooler, this wouldn't happen, but it is what it is, so I'll just keep checking it and cleaning it as necessary.
That's a good one.
