Well, when I moved from my 01 F250 to my 00 F450 I swapped out a bunch of the parts. One of the things I moved was the 6.0 and Tru-Cool tranny coolers. Even so, the tranny was running at 180-200 degrees, way too hot to be running empty with all that cooling. So, after flushing coolers, replacing all the hoses in case they had softened or swelled, it still was running hot.

So, remembering a similar event with the F250 I went to the dealership to buy a coolant by-pass line and valve. First, they did not know what I was talking about and had to go to some lengths to figure out the part number.

Then, when they found the part number they went back to the service area to ask the tranny specialists about whether or not the part would help with cooling. He said no, it had nothing to do with cooling, that the transmission either had a restriction in the cooler or internal problems.

I bought the part, took it home and put it on, and guess what? My tranny now runs cool like it's supposed to. I took it out last night and could not make the tranny overheat with the truck empty. It warmed up to about 150, about 75-80 degrees above ambient, and that's all it did. This is one more example of how this forum's mechanical advice beats heck out of the old dealership.

 

I thought that was probably your problem
Dealer techs aren't always the most knowledgable,been there done that

 

good to know, thanks for sharing

 

pastormike- I'm afraid the dealer was right. You have internal trans problems, please drive the truck back to the dealer and fork over large sums of cash so that they can sell you a new trans that you don't need. While your at it, have them replace other parts that aren't worn out or broken. Make sure to take some KY or Vaseline with you.
Glad you got it fixed!

 

Superduty - you're a funny guy. What, you got stock in the dealership or something?

 

No, I'm just all too familiar with how most of them "work." It's too bad there are so dang many crooked a-holes out there.

 

pastormike- how's about sharing the P/N for that bypass valve?!

 

An F450, eh? Sounds like a nice rig.
What are your plans for it?
Just curious.
Glad you got the tranny fixed, too.

 

Superduty, the P/N for the Valve Assembly is 7H322. The total number on the invoice is 2C3Z*7H322*BA. I don't know that the prefix and suffix is important, the middle numbers are what was listed on the dealer computer.

Kwik - how ya doin? It was your suggestion several years ago to check the bypass on my F250 that got me pointed in the right direction. As for the F450, my wife and I have sold the house and are full-timing in our fifth wheel. As we get all the transitions dealt with we'll be moving to a residential quality RV and I needed something a bit heavier to pull the heavier rig. Would have preferred a 550 rig but took what I could find - RV rigs with a 7.3 in a 550 or 450 are hard to find.

Anyway, that's the scoop on that. thanks

 

The transmission bypass valve and tube is supposed to go into "flow" mode when the fluid back pressure reaches a certain pressure. It's to save parts in the rear of the trans that depend on the return fluid for lubrication.

Sometimes these valves stick OPEN, causing the fluid to come out of the trans and return directly back into it, effectively eliminating any flow through the coolers.

Replacing the valve and tube restored your flow out to the coolers.

Success!

Good on YOU! Bad on that dealer tech!

As I've said before, this forum is a better maintenance school than all the "factory-trained" Ford techs get.

Score one more for FTE!

Pop

 

That is the same plan that Kriss and I have some day too. Have you chosen which RV you are going to buy?
And that 450 should be up to the task just fine. The 550 rides so stiff at times I am worried about cracking the frame on the pin box for the trailer.

 

Hey Kwik - really haven't decided which RV we're going to yet. I'm doing a lot of homework and looking around. We've looked at Heartland, Travel Supreme and Mobile Suites as well as a couple of others. The full-timers RVs are way heavy and expensive and since we live in a mild climate we may go with more of a snowbird type RV - one of the Heartlands, a couple of the K-Zs, or the lighter Mobile Suites.

You have any thoughts or experience with that?

 

I have a Crossroads Cruiser and some of the folks that have the same model full time in it. You might want to look at their Seville model which is their top of the line.

 

Nothing to offer for you on those, never heard of them before and never really did any research like you are doing.
My Dad had a really nice Alpenlite that he snowbirded in but it was only 24', WAY too small for full timing.
I'll be interested in hearing what you end up getting.

 

Oh, and I'll bet you have 4:88 rear axle ratio?
Give some SERIOUS thought to a US Gear OD box.
It's going in mine before we "hit the road".
Bfife has one in his 550 and he told me that he gained 2mpg just from that mod alone.
These are the pictures that he sent me after the job was done.

PICTURES OF BFIFE'S INSTALL.