Let's talk transmission coolers

[arctictraveller]

I was asked to followup on my cooler installation. I mounted it in front of the lower portion of the A/C condenser and radiator with the fan pushing air through the stack. With the fan off, while driving in temps over 100degs it seemed to lower the trans temp about 5 to 8 degrees, but with the fan running while moving under say 40mph it seemed to lower temps as much as 10 to 12 degrees, BUT, it raised the engine temps a few degrees whenever the fan was running. This is no surprise since the heat removed from the cooler impacts directly on the A/C condenser and the radiator. Average trans temps seemed to be about 180degs now, but previously temps could reach 190degs and would continue climbing when pushing over a grade at slower speeds. Over about 40mph the fan had little effect. The take away for me is that the cooler needs to be mounted somewhere other than in front of the radiator. For now though I think I'll just remove the fan, since the body of the fan certainly blocks some of the air that would otherwise flow through the coils and the cooler alone seems to help.

[carringb]

Keep in mind that the "LPD" part numbers = Low Pressure Drop. Ford has published bulletins that non-LPD aftermarket coolers can damage the transmission. The regular stacked-plate design must use thinner plates, which would cause the extra pressure drop.

[unreng]

Originally Posted by Mikerson

Keeping on the tru-cool theme, I’d like to ask the knowledgeable members here their thoughts on using the Tru-cool H7B as a transmission cooler. For me, I think the big LPD47391 is overkill. The benefits I see to the H7B are that stacked plate design is theoretically more efficient than plate/fin design, and the 11x11” size is more easily mounted. The HB7 uses 1/2” npt fittings, and 1/2” npt to 1/2” hose barb fittings are readily available.

The image below is from the tru-cool catalog.
http://media.spicerparts.com/cfs/fil...-BRO-42019.pdf

Bad Idea? Am I missing anything?

Check the Derale 15860 https://derale.com/product-footer/fl...adapter-detail

or the Derale 52508 https://derale.com/product-footer/fl...-inlets-detail

[Mikerson]

Originally Posted by carringb

Keep in mind that the "LPD" part numbers = Low Pressure Drop. Ford has published bulletins that non-LPD aftermarket coolers can damage the transmission. The regular stacked-plate design must use thinner plates, which would cause the extra pressure drop.

Yeah, that was my real concern. It has been suggested the tube/fin designs are too restrictive, but I am not sure about the stacked plate. All the LPD part numbers are plate/fin. The brochure also says the stacked plate have 5x lower pressure drop than tube/fin. I need more information. Will try to give them a call on Mon.

Originally Posted by unreng

Check the Derale 15860

or the Derale 52508

Woah, 46,000 BTU! These best even the big tru-cool that members here have had luck with. Definitely overkill for my 5.4L/13,000 gcw. Good links for those with big cooling needs.

[unreng]

Derale makes a bigger version of the stacked plate @ 67,500 btu's/hour= https://derale.com/product-footer/fl...1/54012-detail

and their biggest oil cooler is 125,000 btu's/hour - https://derale.com/product-footer/fl...8/65860-detail

with 10an fittings, these are pretty much guaranteed to be minimal pressure loss. 10an is much larger than 3/8 inverted flare.

[carringb]

Too much cooling isn’t better. I’ve seen more 4r100s fail from corrosion due to never hitting operating temps than I have seen from heat. There’s no oil thermostat like the 5r110.

[unreng]

too much cooling = that's why every one of our coolers has a thermostat and anyone considering aftermarket cooling should research if it's necessary for their application
https://www.improvedracing.com/high-...hermostat.html


https://www.mishimoto.com/mishimoto-...hermostat.html

[carringb]

Nice to see more trans cooler thermostats on the market!

When I did my Tru-Cool, I added their bypass T-stat. It did not work. Stuck the transmission at 240F on the first tow. Had to yank it in the parking lot at the Jeld-Wen factory in Klammath Falls (thankfully they gave me some fittings from their machine shop). I've run mine straight since then, but I tow most of the time, and I just run a grill insert in the winter now.

[posplayr]

Just an FYI for anybody looking for an OEM 1997-2004 towing package 13 row trans cooler. The part number is 4C2Z-7A095-AB


If looking for one, it seems to be the last two letters that are more relevant.

-4C2Z-7A095-AB
Description:*6.0l, diesel, with towing package. 4.2L, external to radiator, with towing package. 4.6 & 5.4L, external to radiator, with towing package. 6.8L, external to radiator with e4od trans, with towing package.

-4C2Z-7A095-EA
Description:*4.6 & 5.4L, 4.6l. 6.8L, external to radiator without e4od trans, without towing package.

-4C2Z-7A095-DA
Description:*6.0l, diesel, without towing package. 4.2L, external to radiator, without towing package. 4.6 & 5.4L, external to radiator, without towing package. 6.8L, external to radiator with e4od trans, without towing package.




https://www.tascaparts.com/oem-parts...IFJlc3VsdHM%3D

I don't know what my temps are running with 2WD but in AZ it can't hurt to go with the 13 rows over the 11 rows and I don't want to screw with adapting fittings LOL.

I think I can probably pick one up NOS still. Found and offer accepted on this one.

EDIT: Well Duh. Now that I count it in the daylight, I already have the 13 row cooler.
Well, that is good news which means I have been stressing the tranny less and now I don't need to install the new one the right way. I do need to get an OBDII data reader though.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154357997783