Transmission cooler lines.....

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Dec 11, 2004 | 03:58 PM

ptt

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Transmission cooler lines.....

The vehicle is a 1995 Ford E150 Tuscany conversion van w/170K+ miles. The transmission lines to the transmission fluid cooler have rubber hose ends where they go in/out of the transmission cooler. They both have a slight leak. The fluid level only goes down when driven long distances, usually a quart over 5-600 miles. Are these a special type hose/fitting? They appear to have standard worm drive hose clamps holding them on the cooler. Being the 2nd owner I have no idea what has been redneck-engineered on this van. I believe the transmission fluid cooler is factory or at least part of the Tuscany conversion package. It is in the upper drivers side of the grille opening in front of the Rad/condenser. Thanks for any thoughts.

Last edited by ptt; Dec 11, 2004 at 04:02 PM.

Dec 11, 2004 | 08:00 PM

trike1946

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From: NJ where fun comes to die

Try pulling one off. They might have been threaded fittings at one time. Is it leaking around the rubber hose or through it?

Dec 11, 2004 | 09:13 PM

ptt

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Lines.....

The leaks look to be coming through the hoses. The rubber hoses have crimped ends (like power steering hoses)where they join the hard lines coming from and going to the tranny and are hose-clamped onto the nipples on the tranny cooler. It doesn't make sense to have a hose clamp on a pressure type line. What is the line pressure at the cooler anyway? Is it so high as to need a pressure rated hose? But then if so why would someone use hose clamps on them then? Strange riggings!

Dec 12, 2004 | 01:24 AM

pfogle

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From: Oak Harbor, OH

Okay, it sounds like you need to go buy new lines. You can get factory replacements, is the cooler in front of the radiator about a 6"x10" rectangle? If so then it's the factory one, if it's bigger then it's an aftermanket unit that very well could have been afro-engineered.

Dec 12, 2004 | 12:15 PM

ptt

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Lines........

It appears the cooler is factory or it's at least part of the vehicles factory Tuscany Conversion package. Question is are these lines supposed to be attached at the cooler by regular hose clamps? The rubber hoses at the cooler are only a few inches long and seem to be where the leaks are originating and I can trace the fluid trail all the way down the hard lines to a point under the radiator at the lines lowest point. Like I said the rubber hoses at the cooler appear to be those types that have crimped fittings at the hard lines....(like pressure hoses on a power steering pump!)....And just hose clamped on the cooler end. That doesn't appear to be "factory" crafted. What would a set of new lines cost, any idea? Thanks!

Dec 12, 2004 | 03:08 PM

Leo_T

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From: eastern Ma

Hi Ptt, I was just under my 96 Mark III, and noticed the same thing. I've repaired many sections of rotted tranny cooler line with high pressure rubber hoses, and double clamps on each end. I used to drive a car carrier, and they fixed leaks in the hydraulic lines with rubber hose all the time. I don't remember the pressure, but I know It was up there.
The hose on the van did look flimsy though. Didn't look much thicker than the ones you got with an in line fuel filter for a carb equiped vehicle.
I was curious about getting some of these odd ball conversion parts myself. Please post if you find out.

Also, I've been trying to find out what that lower radiator hose with the two heater hoses attached too it is all about. I haven't got any replies about it...maybe you have had experience with it. I suppose it could be a Mark III part.