Another Transmission Cooler Question
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 171
From: SoCal
Another Transmission Cooler Question
Hello all,
I looked around and see lots of questions around transmission cooler problems, using a 6.0 cooler, Mishimoto cooler, and I'm sure there are more. I don't tow heavy but I do drive quite a bit in Los Angeles traffic. I understand stop-n-go traffic can be hell on the 4R100. I want to add that extra protection for my city travels and towing up the Grape Vine that's 40 miles at an average grade of 4.5%, and gets up to 6% at an elevation of 1500-ft.
I want to be ready so....My question is, which one is the most reliable and best performing?
I looked around and see lots of questions around transmission cooler problems, using a 6.0 cooler, Mishimoto cooler, and I'm sure there are more. I don't tow heavy but I do drive quite a bit in Los Angeles traffic. I understand stop-n-go traffic can be hell on the 4R100. I want to add that extra protection for my city travels and towing up the Grape Vine that's 40 miles at an average grade of 4.5%, and gets up to 6% at an elevation of 1500-ft.
I want to be ready so....My question is, which one is the most reliable and best performing?
Got Data?
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,247
Likes: 1,381
From: Lake Stevens, WA
Many of us upgrade to the 6.0L transmission cooler when towing heavy. Your 2001 should already have the OTW cooler in the radiator and a small OTA cooler - these can be adequate for city driving and light to moderate towing. You could monitor your transmission temps using your phone, FORScan Lite, and an OBDII dongle - see where your temps hover.
A pre-emptive installation of the larger OTA cooler is not a bad idea. Documented my work on this in the thread below, starting at post 625:
BWST's F350 maintenance/upgrade thread - Page 42 - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums (ford-trucks.com)
A pre-emptive installation of the larger OTA cooler is not a bad idea. Documented my work on this in the thread below, starting at post 625:
BWST's F350 maintenance/upgrade thread - Page 42 - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums (ford-trucks.com)
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 6,854
Likes: 2,332
From: WV
Yeah what BWST said.
Important aspect in stop and go is to make sure to include the OTW cooler before the OTA cooler. The water cooler should be more effective than the OTA especially while fan speed is slow.
Either the 6.0 (Dorman) or Mishimoto would work for adding in the larger capacity OTA. The 7.3 version is like 1/3 the size of the 6.0 cooler. Huge difference.
Important aspect in stop and go is to make sure to include the OTW cooler before the OTA cooler. The water cooler should be more effective than the OTA especially while fan speed is slow.
Either the 6.0 (Dorman) or Mishimoto would work for adding in the larger capacity OTA. The 7.3 version is like 1/3 the size of the 6.0 cooler. Huge difference.
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,809
Likes: 1,334
From: Elk Grove, CA
Yeah any of the 6.0 style coolers are way better than OEM.
Put a Magnefine filter between the radiator and the new cooler. If/when the trans lets go of some debris the filter will save the new cooler from getting clogged.
Put a Magnefine filter between the radiator and the new cooler. If/when the trans lets go of some debris the filter will save the new cooler from getting clogged.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 171
From: SoCal
Thank you guys!
I went with the Mishimoto and had it installed last week. This past weekend I drove from Huntington Beach California to Friant / Millerton Lake with a 57 Chevy on a U-Haul trailer. Since I didn't have a transmission temperature gage I can't report any improvements but it made it over the Grapevine with no events. I've since just received a Isspro EV2 transmission temp gauge from Riff-Raff Diesel and hoping to have that in real soon.
When the shop shoed me the old cooler, I didn't realize that it had been upgraded to the 6.0 style by the PO. Had I known, I wouldn't have spent the $$. Seeing both in person I can say that the Mishimoto is about double the size of the 6.0 cooler so there's comfort there.
The only quest left is to where the the temp sensor should go, before the cooler or in the test/inspection port. Any suggestions are welcome.
I went with the Mishimoto and had it installed last week. This past weekend I drove from Huntington Beach California to Friant / Millerton Lake with a 57 Chevy on a U-Haul trailer. Since I didn't have a transmission temperature gage I can't report any improvements but it made it over the Grapevine with no events. I've since just received a Isspro EV2 transmission temp gauge from Riff-Raff Diesel and hoping to have that in real soon.
When the shop shoed me the old cooler, I didn't realize that it had been upgraded to the 6.0 style by the PO. Had I known, I wouldn't have spent the $$. Seeing both in person I can say that the Mishimoto is about double the size of the 6.0 cooler so there's comfort there.
The only quest left is to where the the temp sensor should go, before the cooler or in the test/inspection port. Any suggestions are welcome.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 5,061
Likes: 1,414
From: Oologah, OK
When the shop shoed me the old cooler, I didn't realize that it had been upgraded to the 6.0 style by the PO. Had I known, I wouldn't have spent the $$. Seeing both in person I can say that the Mishimoto is about double the size of the 6.0 cooler so there's comfort there.
but..... watching TFT from Price, Utah to Oologah, Oklahoma pulling 8,000 lbs over Loveland Pass, it never got above 180*
when I got into Kansas it got up to about 190ish, and that is way below the nominal 220* that the 4R100 is designed to operate at, all day long.
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Florida
When the trans works hard, you can see temperatures over 300°F in the cooler line. Many people won't believe this, but that's normal. That's why there are coolers in the cooler line.
I recommend putting the sender in the test port. I've tested this with many thermocouples located throughout the transmission, cooler lines, and coolers, and determined that the test port gives a good average temperature of the transmission. The cooler line gives the highest possible temperature, the pan the coolest possible temperature, and the test port a good average of what the transmission is really seeing for temperature.
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Thank you guys!
I went with the Mishimoto and had it installed last week. This past weekend I drove from Huntington Beach California to Friant / Millerton Lake with a 57 Chevy on a U-Haul trailer. Since I didn't have a transmission temperature gage I can't report any improvements but it made it over the Grapevine with no events. I've since just received a Isspro EV2 transmission temp gauge from Riff-Raff Diesel and hoping to have that in real soon.
When the shop shoed me the old cooler, I didn't realize that it had been upgraded to the 6.0 style by the PO. Had I known, I wouldn't have spent the $$. Seeing both in person I can say that the Mishimoto is about double the size of the 6.0 cooler so there's comfort there.
The only quest left is to where the the temp sensor should go, before the cooler or in the test/inspection port. Any suggestions are welcome.
I went with the Mishimoto and had it installed last week. This past weekend I drove from Huntington Beach California to Friant / Millerton Lake with a 57 Chevy on a U-Haul trailer. Since I didn't have a transmission temperature gage I can't report any improvements but it made it over the Grapevine with no events. I've since just received a Isspro EV2 transmission temp gauge from Riff-Raff Diesel and hoping to have that in real soon.
When the shop shoed me the old cooler, I didn't realize that it had been upgraded to the 6.0 style by the PO. Had I known, I wouldn't have spent the $$. Seeing both in person I can say that the Mishimoto is about double the size of the 6.0 cooler so there's comfort there.
The only quest left is to where the the temp sensor should go, before the cooler or in the test/inspection port. Any suggestions are welcome.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 5,061
Likes: 1,414
From: Oologah, OK
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 171
From: SoCal
That depends on whether you want to know how hot the fluid can really get and scare yourself, or if you want to know the actual temperature of the transmission.
When the trans works hard, you can see temperatures over 300°F in the cooler line. Many people won't believe this, but that's normal. That's why there are coolers in the cooler line.
I recommend putting the sender in the test port. I've tested this with many thermocouples located throughout the transmission, cooler lines, and coolers, and determined that the test port gives a good average temperature of the transmission. The cooler line gives the highest possible temperature, the pan the coolest possible temperature, and the test port a good average of what the transmission is really seeing for temperature.
When the trans works hard, you can see temperatures over 300°F in the cooler line. Many people won't believe this, but that's normal. That's why there are coolers in the cooler line.
I recommend putting the sender in the test port. I've tested this with many thermocouples located throughout the transmission, cooler lines, and coolers, and determined that the test port gives a good average temperature of the transmission. The cooler line gives the highest possible temperature, the pan the coolest possible temperature, and the test port a good average of what the transmission is really seeing for temperature.
I believe Mark said it very well here. Thank you Sir..
At least it makes the most sense to me. I definitely do not want to scare myself and the actual transmission temperature is probably the best indicator. Plus, the test port is the easiest install. I have the Isspro trans temp gauge ready to install. Now I just need to have it installed and mount the gauge over the rear view mirror.
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