Trans cooler question
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Trans cooler question
I am upgrading my transmission cooler to my F350 7.3. I have read alot of stuff on the web. One of them really sticks out. Stability of temperature. I really like this idea. The way he did it, was to come out of the transmission, into the cooler, out of the cooler, into the radiator, out of the radiator, then back to the transmission. Here is where my question is. Do you think it would be better to go to the radiator first, then to the cooler, or would I loose my stability?
P.S. I live in AZ and pull a 37ft toy hauler
Thank you,
Lyn
P.S. I live in AZ and pull a 37ft toy hauler
Thank you,
Lyn
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,706
Likes: 12,845
From: Wyoming
I can only tell you about what happened on my '07 Titan when the installer took the transmission output hose to the radiator first, then to the OEM cooler and the aftermarket cooler then back to the transmission. The transmission never came anywhere close to operating temperature in cool ambient temperatures on the highway. The catch may be that the transmission on the Titan didn't have a thermostat.
I believe the consensus on earlier transmissions was that heat killed them. The newer transmissions run at far higher temperatures, but on different fluids and components.
You're probably better off asking this question in the 7.3L diesel subforum.
I believe the consensus on earlier transmissions was that heat killed them. The newer transmissions run at far higher temperatures, but on different fluids and components.
You're probably better off asking this question in the 7.3L diesel subforum.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
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From: Southern OH
100% correct, that's how every vehicle I have seen came from the factory, and that is the way I do it whenever I add an aftermarket cooler to a vehicle. Doing it the other way has caused overheating problems on some vehicles.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,706
Likes: 12,845
From: Wyoming
That's not how Nissan did it. The OEM routing goes transmission -> cooler -> radiator -> transmission. In that case, the radiator is used as a "warmer" to bring the transmission fluid up to temp.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,030
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From: East Central Ia
I don't know weather I'm right or wrong but if I add extra I send to the cooler 1st and then radiator. Just my theory that if the added cooler is doing it's job it's taking some of the load off the radiator and the radiator should stabilize and it shouldn't get to much over water temp. Suppose it would depend on if transmission had a thermostat. Flat plate coolers kind of self regulate I always thought, fluid takes the least path of resistance but serpentine coolers have to flow through the whole thing. I don't have anything scientific and if not sure I guess you could just follow the routing of the factory smaller cooler.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
I don't know weather I'm right or wrong but if I add extra I send to the cooler 1st and then radiator. Just my theory that if the added cooler is doing it's job it's taking some of the load off the radiator and the radiator should stabilize and it shouldn't get to much over water temp. Suppose it would depend on if transmission had a thermostat. Flat plate coolers kind of self regulate I always thought, fluid takes the least path of resistance but serpentine coolers have to flow through the whole thing. I don't have anything scientific and if not sure I guess you could just follow the routing of the factory smaller cooler.
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,730
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From: SE Florida
Yes, it matters A LOT which way you route it. The correct way is trans to radiator to cooler and then back to trans. The COOLER in the radiator is not a warmer and it will NOT moderate the trans temp.
The COOLER in the radiator is in the cold side of the radiator. That side of the radiator is anywhere from 20°F to over 100°F cooler than the hot side of the radiator. It is the larger difference in cold weather. In fact, in actual testing, in very cold weather the cold side of the radiator stays within 10-20°F of ambient temperature. So if it's -20°F outside the cold side of the radiator will be no warmer than 0°F. How well will that warm the trans fluid?
Another reason that you want the radiator cooler before the aux cooler is that the radiator cooler is MUCH more effective. It will make a huge temperature drop. The aux cooler, even the 6.0L cooler can only dream of such temp drops.
There are reasons that they are plumbed in the order that they are in. It is based on heat transfer analysis and A LOT of testing to prove that the analysis is correct. It amazes me that so many people think they can make it better, but have NO DATA to make decisions. They just make guesses at how things work. It's amazing.
The COOLER in the radiator is in the cold side of the radiator. That side of the radiator is anywhere from 20°F to over 100°F cooler than the hot side of the radiator. It is the larger difference in cold weather. In fact, in actual testing, in very cold weather the cold side of the radiator stays within 10-20°F of ambient temperature. So if it's -20°F outside the cold side of the radiator will be no warmer than 0°F. How well will that warm the trans fluid?
Another reason that you want the radiator cooler before the aux cooler is that the radiator cooler is MUCH more effective. It will make a huge temperature drop. The aux cooler, even the 6.0L cooler can only dream of such temp drops.
There are reasons that they are plumbed in the order that they are in. It is based on heat transfer analysis and A LOT of testing to prove that the analysis is correct. It amazes me that so many people think they can make it better, but have NO DATA to make decisions. They just make guesses at how things work. It's amazing.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 89
From: TN
What Mark said!
I replaced my trans cooler on my V10 with a 6.0l cooler. Before when towing trans temps would spike to 220 degrees + when towing up considerable grades even on high 80 degree days. After the cooler replacement, I have yet to see 200 degrees even when towing in temps above 110 degrees.
I bought the cooler and the hose/clamp/barb kit and just did a swap. Very easy to do and took about 1 1/2 hr. And that was because I eyeballed everything about 10x before doing each step. **** I think is what my wife said!!
I replaced my trans cooler on my V10 with a 6.0l cooler. Before when towing trans temps would spike to 220 degrees + when towing up considerable grades even on high 80 degree days. After the cooler replacement, I have yet to see 200 degrees even when towing in temps above 110 degrees.
I bought the cooler and the hose/clamp/barb kit and just did a swap. Very easy to do and took about 1 1/2 hr. And that was because I eyeballed everything about 10x before doing each step. **** I think is what my wife said!!
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