E 150 trans cooler size
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Decatur
E 150 trans cooler size
CAN A TRANS COOLER BE TOO BIG? I HAVE A C-6 IN A SWB E 150 VAN. THE A/C COMPRESSOR HAS BEEN REMOVED. I WAS GOING TO RUN THE FLUID THROUGH THE OLD CONDENSOR CORE WHICH IS STILL IN PLACE IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR. MOST COOLERS ARE SMALLER THAN THESE. IS THE FLUID PUMP IN THE C-6 ADEQUATE? IF ANYONE HAS SUCESSFULLY DONE THIS I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT THERE PARTICULAR APPLICATION, (OR IF IT DOESENT WORK). ANY INFO WILL BE HELPFUL AND APPRECIATED.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
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From: So Cal
A cooler can be too big. Some better quality xoolers have a thermostat in them to preven over cooling.
Most autos run best in a specific temperature range. Too hot, we all know what happens. Too cold is less often thought of. Running too cold can cause sluggish shifting and other problems.
I notice that on all three of my mid 90s vehicles, when it is cold, they all shift at a higher RPM and or don't lock up until I have driven several miles. I am guessing this is the manufacturers attempt to warm up the fluid quicker by delaying the shifts.
A few years back, I was from the "Bigger is better" school of cooling. After reading and after talking to a tranny shop I have changed my mind. When I had to rebuild my tranny for stupid reasons, I asked the shop if the auxiliiary factory cooler on my 250 was adequate for towing my 8,000# trailer. Since he stood to sell me some parts I figured he would jump at it. He said, "No, the factory cooler is large enough for any towing I would do within spec's." If I went too large it would casue small problems and perhaps decrese life over the long run. This is especially important where it gets belwo freezing a fair part of the year. Guys whol tow in the Southwest , Tx, Fl etc probably could use a cooler. Guys who live in Alaska probably don't need one for a grocery getter.
So I still use the factory cooler with my 94 F250 E4OD that tows thru nasty conditions. I later put on a temperature gauge and so far so good, it never gets too hot. I will get a real test maybe this summer when I tow thru the Blue Mountains where the temperatures can be over 100 and at best I can maintain maybe 40mph up hill for something like 20 minutes. If I loose momentum, I will be lucky to get past 30mph and doing it longer.
If you tow and see harsh conditions and especially if you see signs of excessive heat, I would look at a largecooler. If all you do is normal freeway driving and putting around, I might go with a compact sized cooler.
Choose a cooler that is rated for the total weight of both vehicles plus maybe some fudge factor. Don't go with a 30,000 GCWR cooler if all you are doing is driving around town.
Just my opinion, I am no tranny expert but have blown up or wounded a few trannies in my life. Course this also means I am stoopid, so take the advice FWIW.
Jim Henderson
Most autos run best in a specific temperature range. Too hot, we all know what happens. Too cold is less often thought of. Running too cold can cause sluggish shifting and other problems.
I notice that on all three of my mid 90s vehicles, when it is cold, they all shift at a higher RPM and or don't lock up until I have driven several miles. I am guessing this is the manufacturers attempt to warm up the fluid quicker by delaying the shifts.
A few years back, I was from the "Bigger is better" school of cooling. After reading and after talking to a tranny shop I have changed my mind. When I had to rebuild my tranny for stupid reasons, I asked the shop if the auxiliiary factory cooler on my 250 was adequate for towing my 8,000# trailer. Since he stood to sell me some parts I figured he would jump at it. He said, "No, the factory cooler is large enough for any towing I would do within spec's." If I went too large it would casue small problems and perhaps decrese life over the long run. This is especially important where it gets belwo freezing a fair part of the year. Guys whol tow in the Southwest , Tx, Fl etc probably could use a cooler. Guys who live in Alaska probably don't need one for a grocery getter.
So I still use the factory cooler with my 94 F250 E4OD that tows thru nasty conditions. I later put on a temperature gauge and so far so good, it never gets too hot. I will get a real test maybe this summer when I tow thru the Blue Mountains where the temperatures can be over 100 and at best I can maintain maybe 40mph up hill for something like 20 minutes. If I loose momentum, I will be lucky to get past 30mph and doing it longer.
If you tow and see harsh conditions and especially if you see signs of excessive heat, I would look at a largecooler. If all you do is normal freeway driving and putting around, I might go with a compact sized cooler.
Choose a cooler that is rated for the total weight of both vehicles plus maybe some fudge factor. Don't go with a 30,000 GCWR cooler if all you are doing is driving around town.
Just my opinion, I am no tranny expert but have blown up or wounded a few trannies in my life. Course this also means I am stoopid, so take the advice FWIW.
Jim Henderson
