Debating adding a Transmission Cooler

PDACPA · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:46 am

We are heading to the Florida Key's towing the boat with our 2002 Ford Sporttrac. We are well under the maximum towing weight on the truck with the boat and trailer (I estimate that to be around 3200 pounds). Obviously we will have a bunch of gear and 3 of us in the truck.

The trip is 400 miles each way. Florida is flat and I typically trailer at about 70 - 75. We usually have to stop for gas or restroom breaks. Is that enough to let things rest and cool down?

I am debating whether I need to add a transmission cooler or not to the truck.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:17 am

PDACPA wrote:

We are heading to the Florida Key's towing the boat with our 2002 Ford Sporttrac. We are well under the maximum towing weight on the truck with the boat and trailer (I estimate that to be around 3200 pounds). Obviously we will have a bunch of gear and 3 of us in the truck.

The trip is 400 miles each way. Florida is flat and I typically trailer at about 70 - 75. We usually have to stop for gas or restroom breaks. Is that enough to let things rest and cool down?

I am debating whether I need to add a transmission cooler or not to the truck.

Always run an external cooler on any tow vehicle. Factory "coolers" are just heat exchanger in the radiator. Their purpose is mainly to heat up the fluid to operating temperature, not cool it down. Transmission fluid heat is the #1 killer of transmissions. They are designed to last 100k miles between rebuilds from the OEM @ 175* fluid temp. Make that fluid temp 215*, and you're down to 25k. Sure, in real life it might last longer but that's the general rule of thumb.

So in other words....... run the biggest cooler you can fit stuck on the front of the radiator. My car has 2. Use these:
http://www.bmracing.com/PRODUCTS/Automa ... perCoolers

If you tow a lot, I'd also add in a temp gauge to the tranny oil pan. $150 worth of kit is much cheaper then a $3000 transmission

PDACPA · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:45 am

Uhaul sells them installed for $151 + tax

They claim it is heavy duty and covers 2500-5000 pounds (my tow limit is 5000 lbs).

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:26 pm

PDACPA wrote:

Uhaul sells them installed for $151 + tax

They claim it is heavy duty and covers 2500-5000 pounds (my tow limit is 5000 lbs).

If it's a stacked plate style and you don't feel like getting your hand's dirty, go for it:

If it's a tube/fin style run away, they're worthless. All they do is route your fluid in a cool S pattern, returning it back to the transmission at the same temperature.

Most small mechanic shops charge around $60 for an hour of labor. Bring em the good cooler with like 10ft of hose, 2qt's of transmission fluid and you'll walk out of there with a total combined cost around $150 and you'll have the good stuff installed.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:44 pm

It's my belief that any vehicle with an automatic transmission should have an external cooler, whether its used for towing or not.

PDACPA · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:35 pm

No time before I leave Friday or I would tackle it. I think they have 3 versions available for my truck. Hopefully one is the stacked version!

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:50 pm

you live in tampa, there's tons of car modification shops that probably have em in stock/install too

DaleG · **Posted:** Wed Jul 20, 2011 3:20 pm

Don't debate the cooler -- I live in Florida and would not two without one ---get it

PDACPA · **Posted:** Wed Jul 20, 2011 3:25 pm

I feel dumb. Looked all over the truck, original window sticker, brochure etc. Take it to the shop, it has one. Was right in front and totally missed it looking in the engine compartment.

Lucked out on that one. Even has an extra fan to keep the power steering fluid cool too.

I did find out I have the 4.10 Limited slip gear ratio vs the 3.73 which was standard. My sticker does not mention a tow package, but maybe it had one. I had to have the hitch put on, but it had the wiring for the trailer lights.

Glad to know I have one!

Flying Sushi · **Posted:** Fri Jul 22, 2011 11:25 pm

powellcrazy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:47 am

My Ford came with a trailer package from the factory, has the external trans oil cooler, but this is not enough for true real world towing! I have installed a Hayden 678 cooler along with autometer gages to monitor temps of trans oil, motor oil, exhaust gas temp, and turbo boost. This way I can adjust on the fly how I am towing to get the most out of the tow vehicle.

The only way you will know for sure that you are ok, is to monitor the trans oil temps. If you already have a temp gage / readout on the dash, great. Keep oil temps under 175 degs F. If you dont have a gage, get one installed. A $30 gage and a $70 external cooler, will save a $4k trans.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C3DDKO/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000C39C9A&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0TXX1FKW60V5G4NACZVG

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:04 am

my favorite gauges
http://prosportgauges.com/

www.iFourWinns.com

Debating adding a Transmission Cooler

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