Sudden trans temp increase
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 679
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From: NW Burbs of Illinois
Sudden trans temp increase
As of yesterday morning my trans temps have skyrocketed. I plow snow and normally my temps never go past 150. Yesterday was the first SUPER cold day here and other than my fuel gelling up and having to have it towed to a shop to thaw out my trans temps climb easily to 210 just driving around. That is in the stock tune! It will get about 10* hotter in 60 tow which I normally plow in. The trans was rebuilt this past spring under warranty for a different issue. I am going to call in the morning to see what they say but since we are too expect 6-12" of snow in 36 hours, I am VERY concerned about this problem. Does anyone have any ideas as to why my temps rose so much overnight? They were fine one day and now way too high the next when the temps have dropped below zero, nevermind windchill. I am going to let it sit in my shop with a massive heater under it today hoping that its just snow packed in somewhere but im really not too sure. I just dont know where to start and am panicing 
I appreciate your help as im in desperate need of it!!!!!!!
I appreciate your help as im in desperate need of it!!!!!!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Could be a stuck bypass valve, or a plugged up cooler. Are all the radiators clean up front?? I know they can get packed with junk and can cause overheating issues.
Here's the best description on that valve I've seen (and it keeps me from having to type it all out myself.
):
http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?...ROD&ProdID=172
Since the tranny has a fresh rebuild, I'd definitely have them look at it though. Is the tranny rebuild still under warranty?? I know your '03 is probably out of its original warranty...
Here's the best description on that valve I've seen (and it keeps me from having to type it all out myself.
):http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?...ROD&ProdID=172
Since the tranny has a fresh rebuild, I'd definitely have them look at it though. Is the tranny rebuild still under warranty?? I know your '03 is probably out of its original warranty...
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 679
Likes: 0
From: NW Burbs of Illinois
Could be a stuck bypass valve, or a plugged up cooler. Are all the radiators clean up front?? I know they can get packed with junk and can cause overheating issues.
Here's the best description on that valve I've seen (and it keeps me from having to type it all out myself. ):
http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?...ROD&ProdID=172
Since the tranny has a fresh rebuild, I'd definitely have them look at it though. Is the tranny rebuild still under warranty?? I know your '03 is probably out of its original warranty...
Here's the best description on that valve I've seen (and it keeps me from having to type it all out myself.
):http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?...ROD&ProdID=172
Since the tranny has a fresh rebuild, I'd definitely have them look at it though. Is the tranny rebuild still under warranty?? I know your '03 is probably out of its original warranty...
Great! Thanks for the info. I called the trans shop and they said its most likely the cooler though? They have 19 cars that need to get done by end of day wed and there is no way they will look at now. The dealer cannot find that part in the link though. Anyone have a part #?
Im going to go buy the trans cooler in a few and put that in. Are there any writeups as to how? I just hope I wont need any special tools
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,708
Likes: 5
From: Kiowa CO
Great! Thanks for the info. I called the trans shop and they said its most likely the cooler though? They have 19 cars that need to get done by end of day wed and there is no way they will look at now. The dealer cannot find that part in the link though. Anyone have a part #?
Im going to go buy the trans cooler in a few and put that in. Are there any writeups as to how? I just hope I wont need any special tools
Im going to go buy the trans cooler in a few and put that in. Are there any writeups as to how? I just hope I wont need any special tools
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,245
Likes: 1
From: IL, USA
If you get a new cooler.....get the 6.0 cooler.
Just need the cooler and some 1/2" hose and some 1/2" to 3/8" barbed fittings and hose clamps to do the swap.
Just need the cooler and some 1/2" hose and some 1/2" to 3/8" barbed fittings and hose clamps to do the swap.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: NW Burbs of Illinois
not sure, he said thats a common problem and the dealers always stock that part. I asked him if its that line on the pass side of the trans with the valve on it and he said no, its the cooler. The dealer has the cooler in stock but he cant find the bypass tube and since i have no part# the guy just keeps telling me he cant find it after looking ofr a mere 30 secs.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Can anyone explain why he would have a plugged cooler? I could understand it if his clutches were shedding material, but it seems he would then begin to feel it slip.
I believe Mark Kovalski indicated last week or so that extreme cold would NOT cause the oil to thicken to the point that the bypass would open.
If you mean that the cooler's fins are clogged with snow, and not allowing air flow, that's a completely different issue, but some cooling should still occur in the lower radiator tank's cooler.
I believe you may be getting a mis-diagnosis from those "pros", and the bypass is indeed staying open.
A good way to tell if the coolers are plugged is to remove the return line that goes back to the trans and start the engine. Is there a puddle of red under the truck? If so, you have at least some flow and it's not the coolers plugged. The bypass valve is opening for some other reason, like its spring has become weak.
There are FTE Supporter sites that sell replacement bypass assemblies, including a couple of Ford parts departments.
Pop
I believe Mark Kovalski indicated last week or so that extreme cold would NOT cause the oil to thicken to the point that the bypass would open.
If you mean that the cooler's fins are clogged with snow, and not allowing air flow, that's a completely different issue, but some cooling should still occur in the lower radiator tank's cooler.
I believe you may be getting a mis-diagnosis from those "pros", and the bypass is indeed staying open.
A good way to tell if the coolers are plugged is to remove the return line that goes back to the trans and start the engine. Is there a puddle of red under the truck? If so, you have at least some flow and it's not the coolers plugged. The bypass valve is opening for some other reason, like its spring has become weak.
There are FTE Supporter sites that sell replacement bypass assemblies, including a couple of Ford parts departments.
Pop
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: NW Burbs of Illinois
Do you have on laying around? Im pretty low on cash until I get PAID from all this plowing later this week. Just trying to do what I can for now for the tues-weds storm
^^^^ Nevermind, I was thingking you were talking about something else. My brain is fried with all the headaches i have been going though.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,245
Likes: 1
From: IL, USA
I do agree that I wouldn't think it was the cooler unless they never replaced the cooler when they did the rebuild....could have gotten full of crap.
When they towed the truck was it on a flat bed or wheel lift?
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: NW Burbs of Illinois
the truck was towed on a flatbed with the plow hanging off the back end. It was doing this first thing yesterday morning, soon as the cold hit. I may head to the selfwash and use the warm water pressue washers to try and blast out the front end, then go to my shop and let the heater cook it. Id like to find a part # though for the bypass tube, thats something ill be able to replace while I wait in the shop for the truck to warm up.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 1
From: Northern Colorado
Brian always changes the cooler when rebuilding his trannys. He doesn't want to take the chance that the new tranny will get contaminated. Could be that the tranny shop knew that the old transmission was circulating junk that could plug the cooler but did nothing. Now they know they should have.
If that's the case, how much of that junk has made it's way back to the rebuilt unit?
If that's the case, how much of that junk has made it's way back to the rebuilt unit?
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
I just found this by Mark in another forum, in part:
"Extreme cold, like below 0F, can plug a cooler. Debris in the cooler can do that, too. In either case the bypass will open when the pressure in the line to the cooler gets too high. If you don't have the bypass and the cooler plugs you don't get any flow to rear lube, and the rear half of the trans will self destruct. You'll see this in the temperature gauge AFTER the damage has been done."
So, has it been down around zero degrees?
And,
For all those professional trans guys who haven't been able to find this part, look here:
http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?...ROD&ProdID=172
Pop
"Extreme cold, like below 0F, can plug a cooler. Debris in the cooler can do that, too. In either case the bypass will open when the pressure in the line to the cooler gets too high. If you don't have the bypass and the cooler plugs you don't get any flow to rear lube, and the rear half of the trans will self destruct. You'll see this in the temperature gauge AFTER the damage has been done."
So, has it been down around zero degrees?
And,
For all those professional trans guys who haven't been able to find this part, look here:
http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?...ROD&ProdID=172
Pop
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,245
Likes: 1
From: IL, USA
I'm waiting on a call back from my guy at Gurnee Ford (he was delivering parts), I'll see if I can get a part number and if he has one.
Don't go nuts with a pressure washer and bend the fins on the cooler though. I'd think that the heat would melt any snow that got in there. The Boss mount covers up the front end where the trans cooler is pretty good too.
Don't go nuts with a pressure washer and bend the fins on the cooler though. I'd think that the heat would melt any snow that got in there. The Boss mount covers up the front end where the trans cooler is pretty good too.