Cooler for automatic transmission
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 111
From: SW Va
I agree & so said in post 10, that a thermostatically controlled, flat plate cooler is a good aftermarket option for a tranny.
How many cooling btu's we'll need is governed by a whole host of things, like engine size, running gear ratio, tire size, cooling system size, vehicle weight, aero-dynamics, trailer size, weight & shape, towing terrain, climatic conditions, time of year, tow speed, traffic, are some things that come to mind.
Seeing as how Ford has to warranty a vehicle for up to 8 years, it doesn't seem to me it would be wise, from a warranty pay out stand point, for them to undersize a tranny cooler.
I don't know what parameters they designd to, but whatever it was, seems to me there is a high probability they took worst case conditions into account, when designing & specifing the system build, fluid spec & vehicle tow rating.
Would be interesting to know the vans cooling system condition, how it & the trailer were loaded, where you were towing & how & where you were monitoring the tranny fluid temp, before & after the cooler rework.
About 190 deg F is as high as we should run our tranny fluid, so it sounds like you sized your aftermarket cooler about right & it'll sure add life to your tranny, keeping the fluid temp within the ranges you posted.
Our fluid is routed from the tranny, to & through the cold side of the radiator tank, then to the factory aux fluid to air tube & fin cooler, then back to the tranny.
So it would be interesting to know how & where in that loop, or within the tranny, you are monitoring the tranny fluid temp????
How many cooling btu's we'll need is governed by a whole host of things, like engine size, running gear ratio, tire size, cooling system size, vehicle weight, aero-dynamics, trailer size, weight & shape, towing terrain, climatic conditions, time of year, tow speed, traffic, are some things that come to mind.
Seeing as how Ford has to warranty a vehicle for up to 8 years, it doesn't seem to me it would be wise, from a warranty pay out stand point, for them to undersize a tranny cooler.
I don't know what parameters they designd to, but whatever it was, seems to me there is a high probability they took worst case conditions into account, when designing & specifing the system build, fluid spec & vehicle tow rating.
Would be interesting to know the vans cooling system condition, how it & the trailer were loaded, where you were towing & how & where you were monitoring the tranny fluid temp, before & after the cooler rework.
About 190 deg F is as high as we should run our tranny fluid, so it sounds like you sized your aftermarket cooler about right & it'll sure add life to your tranny, keeping the fluid temp within the ranges you posted.
Our fluid is routed from the tranny, to & through the cold side of the radiator tank, then to the factory aux fluid to air tube & fin cooler, then back to the tranny.
So it would be interesting to know how & where in that loop, or within the tranny, you are monitoring the tranny fluid temp????
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert AZ
Yes the after market or the 4x4 cooler's at your local 4x4 supply shops does the trick quit well, my buddy who tows a boat had a 4x4 shop do his and he was quit pleased with the results and he pulls his boat in the dreaded summer here is AZ up to the mountains and has never complained.
The stock one is not adequate for hauling in AZ in the summer your vehicle when run hotter than normal until fall/winter arrives so for 5 months out of the year you will be sweating it out wondering if it's going to overheat or no AC on for the drive.
The stock one is not adequate for hauling in AZ in the summer your vehicle when run hotter than normal until fall/winter arrives so for 5 months out of the year you will be sweating it out wondering if it's going to overheat or no AC on for the drive.
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