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Safe Automatic Transmission Temperature?

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Old Sep 2, 2006 | 01:49 PM
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Safe Automatic Transmission Temperature?

Does anyone know whta the safe operating temperature on my 2003 F250 7.3L, Automatic Transmission.?
 
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Old Sep 2, 2006 | 04:03 PM
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I wouldn't go above 240....I have a gauge in my 05 PSD 4X4 and even towing my 30' 5th wheel, I've never seen anything above 185-190.
 
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Old Sep 2, 2006 | 05:54 PM
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How much does your 5th wheel weigh?

How much does your 5th wheel weigh?


Originally Posted by BPofMD
I wouldn't go above 240....I have a gauge in my 05 PSD 4X4 and even towing my 30' 5th wheel, I've never seen anything above 185-190.
 
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Old Sep 2, 2006 | 09:26 PM
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My GCVW is about 16k I do believe....scale sheet is out in the trailer and it's too late to go look it up.
 
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 07:07 AM
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Ford's specs are a maximum of 221°F continuous, and 248°F for less than 30 minutes. A cooling engineer that works on these trucks frequently posts these temps at another forum that I visit.
 
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 11:07 AM
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Personally keep it under 200 F. Best to rely on an aftermarket temperature guage. I have seen 195F pulling about 16K dump trailer, that is pushing the GCVW.
 
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 02:55 PM
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WHere do I cut in to attach after market cooler?

I see that there is actually already 2 coolers for the tranny. It seems that initially it gos through the radiator and out of the radiator to a small long cooler in between the intercooler and the A/C condensor. After it leaves the radiator it seems to go from compression fittings and then starts using spring clamps and barbed fittings. Any help is much apreciated!



Originally Posted by Casey
Ford's specs are a maximum of 221°F continuous, and 248°F for less than 30 minutes. A cooling engineer that works on these trucks frequently posts these temps at another forum that I visit.
 
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Old Sep 5, 2006 | 11:13 AM
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Originally Posted by trandan
I see that there is actually already 2 coolers for the tranny. It seems that initially it gos through the radiator and out of the radiator to a small long cooler in between the intercooler and the A/C condensor. After it leaves the radiator it seems to go from compression fittings and then starts using spring clamps and barbed fittings.
Found this on the TCI Automotive site.

Should I use an external transmission cooler in conjunction with the oil cooler supplied in the radiator?

Answer: Unless operating in an environment where the outside temperature is below 0°F, you should cap off the radiator cooler line openings and run your cooler lines directly to a new cooler mounted in front of the radiator. This allows the transmission to have its own cooling system and doesn't allow the engine water temperature to heat the fluid.

What is the correct size cooler for my application?

Answer: Unlike a lot of items you buy for your vehicle, bigger is predominately better when it comes to transmission coolers. The answer would be as big as you can get or to run multiple coolers in series, again staying away from the factory radiator cooler lines.

Where should I mount a transmission cooler?

Answer: TCI® highly recommends mounting your external transmission oil cooler in front of the radiator. This allows for adequate airflow. If this is not possible then you should mount it in a location where the cooler can receive airflow. In extremely tight quarters, you may also mount the cooler and build an air dam that would allow the cooler to have air pass through it.
 
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Old Sep 5, 2006 | 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Crash687
Found this on the TCI Automotive site.

Should I use an external transmission cooler in conjunction with the oil cooler supplied in the radiator?

Answer: Unless operating in an environment where the outside temperature is below 0°F, you should cap off the radiator cooler line openings and run your cooler lines directly to a new cooler mounted in front of the radiator. This allows the transmission to have its own cooling system and doesn't allow the engine water temperature to heat the fluid.
There's some really bad advice.

The thing in the radiator is a cooler, not a trans fluid warmer. If you bypass it you lose a lot of cooling capacity. That capacity is especially useful in low speed situations where there isn't much airflow over the other cooler, such as backing a trailer.

But then, I'm just some guy that posts on the internet, where they are just some company that wants to sell coolers.
 
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Old Sep 5, 2006 | 12:47 PM
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Old Sep 5, 2006 | 02:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Casey
There's some really bad advice.

The thing in the radiator is a cooler, not a trans fluid warmer. If you bypass it you lose a lot of cooling capacity. That capacity is especially useful in low speed situations where there isn't much airflow over the other cooler, such as backing a trailer.

But then, I'm just some guy that posts on the internet, where they are just some company that wants to sell coolers.
If the temperature of the tranny fluid is above the coolant temperature, it's a COOLER.

If the temp of the tranny fluid is LOWER than the coolant temp, it's a HEATER.

It's both, depending on how hot the tranny is
 
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Old Sep 5, 2006 | 04:13 PM
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Question I have a fan on my cooler. Does this make a difference?

My cooler has a fan on it that I wired with a thermostat as well as an overide switch. Does this make a difference regarding where to tie it in. Yes to the radiator or no?)




Originally Posted by krewat
If the temperature of the tranny fluid is above the coolant temperature, it's a COOLER.

If the temp of the tranny fluid is LOWER than the coolant temp, it's a HEATER.

It's both, depending on how hot the tranny is
 
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Old Sep 5, 2006 | 04:32 PM
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My opinion on this is, yes, use the "cooler" inside the radiator too.

I believe the fluid goes from the tranny to the cooler in the radiator, then to the external cooler, and back to the tranny. (check this before doing it)

There is a reason they make aftermarket thermostats for tranny fluid when you don't have the radiator-based "cooler" and use an external one. The thermostat goes in-line between the tranny and the external cooler, and bypasses fluid back to the tranny if the temperature is below the cutoff point. This warms up the fluid faster and gets the tranny to operating temp much quicker.

Aftermarket external coolers also recommend keeping the radiator-based cooler, at least the ones I've read the instructions for

Our trannies don't lockup the torque converter until the temperature is up to a certain point. Whether this is to warm up the fluid even faster by letting the TC slip, or because they don't want to lockup the TC until the temp is "normal" because of the lockup shudder issue, I'm not sure.
 
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Old Sep 5, 2006 | 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Casey
Ford's specs are a maximum of 221°F continuous, and 248°F for less than 30 minutes. A cooling engineer that works on these trucks frequently posts these temps at another forum that I visit.
Great info. Do these #s apply to 6.0L as well?

I've always heard majority of tranny damage happens above 200*
 
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Old Sep 5, 2006 | 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Customz
Great info. Do these #s apply to 6.0L as well? *
Yes they do.

Originally Posted by Customz
I've always heard majority of tranny damage happens above 200*
You'll hear that all the time from people selling coolers and posting outdated charts like the one a couple of posts above. That chart was useful back in the days of Type F trans fluid, but it is not at all correct for modern fluids or materials. It's just plain wrong, and used to sell coolers and fluids.
 
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