Trans Cooler ?

[Max96]

Next month we are towing our 2 bikes out to Sturgis, 1700 miles. I told my buddy we should install a trans cooler, he said no way, truck doesn't need it and it's one more thing that could cause us problems on way out.
My truck is 2001 Ranger XLT ext cab, 2wd, 5 spd auto, 3.55 limited slip axle, tow hitch, 70k miles. Pulling a single axle BigTex trailer with 2 Harley touring bikes on it.

I'm on the fence, install a cooler or leave everything as is. Would appreciate any feedback.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I've added or have a cooler to add on all of my automatics except my wife's car(s). Cheap insurance... and towing a trailer... no brainer.

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

Any automatic needs a 2nd trans cooler, car or truck, simple as that

Ford installed 2nd cooler in front of the radiator but lower down, have a look to see if you have one already.

It will be the best $60 you will ever spend on transmission maintenance

Transmission fluid should be kept between 180-200deg for best performance and longevity
The radiator trans cooler serves its purpose in cooler climates, the lower radiator should be about 160-170deg after engine warms up
Trans fluid coming out of trans should be 190-200deg
So some cooling will occur

When your engine and trans are under a load then BOTH coolant AND trans fluid get hotter, so less cooling for trans
Engine can run up to 230deg without issues(just above 1/2 on Ford temp gauge)
Transmission should NOT get above 210deg or life of trans will be sucked away for ever minute above 210deg

Hot trans fluid gets thinner, like all oil, and trans can start to slip making fluid even HOTTER, so its a lose/lose situation

As said "no brainer", should be one of the first things you do when you get any vehicle with automatic trans, way to cheap to not do it

 

[Dirtman]

Heat destroys transmission fluid... towing or not there is zero debate over the benefits of a auxiliary transmission cooler. If you have an automatic, you should have installed an auxiliary trans cooler within 20 minutes of buying your truck.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

It's a super easy job to install a 2nd trans cooler in series with the factory unit. Just be sure to buy the right type of rubber hose. I'd also recommend to mount it using some type of rubber mounts to avoid vibration damaging it. I just slid some rubber hose over my mounting bolts and used nylok nuts on the bolts so they wouldn't back off, since you don't tighten them all the way down.

 

[adsm08]

Leave the buddy at home and use the money you save on gas hauling him and his bike to add two trans coolers.

 

[Curious Hound]

. If you have an automatic, you should have installed an auxiliary trans cooler within 20 minutes of buying your truck.

Oh crap! There's something else I've screwed up in my life. I'll look later. Maybe Ford did it for me on my F150.

 

[adsm08]

Oh crap! There's something else I've screwed up in my life. I'll look later. Maybe Ford did it for me on my F150.

Ford did it for me on the Expedition.

All the rest of my stuff is manual. Even the lawn mower.

 

[Max96]

RonD, I just checked my truck and there's a 2nd cooler behind the grill! Looks like I am all set.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Start taking some measurements and see what kind of space you have available where you want it mounted. Then hit up any online parts retailer and start browsing the trans cooler section looking at dimensions and the way they're meant to be mounted. Once you've found the model you want to go with, see if you can't find the part number and start Googling it for the best prices. Or just start searching Ebay/Amazon for "10x12 transmission cooler" or whatever size it is you want to run..

 

[Dirtman]

This whole thread was a waste of time! I want my money back!

 

[Bird76Mojo]

A trans temp gauge is super easy to install on these trucks as well. After my install of a 2nd trans cooler, I noticed a huge drop in overall trans fluid temps in the summer. Especially when towing..

The factory unit is too small in my opinion.

 

[Dirtman]

There's technically already a temp guage built into the transmission, its just not hooked to anything and you can only read it with a scan tool...

 

[Max96]

This forum rocks.. thank you!

 

[Dirtman]

There's also a thermostat so dont expect to ever see temps below 160 no how big of a cooler you have.