Transmission Cooler

My only tip..
Dawn dishwashing soap works great for getting ATF out of your hair. :)

Just plan out where/how you'll mount it & run the hoses.

When I put one in my truck, I used some 5/8 heater hose as an abrasion protection cover over the new rubber cooler lines where they ran next to the radiator. Just slit the heater hose lengthways & it slips over the new hoses.

I second the Dawn recommendation, that's what I have for hand/arm/etc. soap at my garage sink. It really does cut grease!

Good Luck!

CC

Great tips gentlemen! I always have an industrial size pump of Fast Orange near by as well lol

I have read in several sources that the temperature pickup should be mounted in the transmission pan instead of the return line as many of the installation instructions tell you. It is much more accurate even though it does require some drilling and welding to install. I have always done it this way, and hopefully, saved some transmissions along the way.

Installing an after market tranny cooler is as simple as removing and re-attaching a couple hoses (may involve cutting hard lines). The heardest part is determing which line feeds the cooler, which is the return line. (run the truck the hotter of the two lines feeds the cooler, the cooler one returns to the tranny) You'll need that, BECAUSE............

The debate starts when you research whether or not the additional cooler should be placed BEFORE or AFTER original. Lots of opinions on goggle, either way has the fluid going BACK to the tranny COOLER.

If memory serves me correctly (been a few years---I am getting forgetful)...I installed mine on the old truck directly to the feed coming FROM the tranny. That way the hot fluid was pre-cooled by the additional cooler, before running through the built-in radiator cooler.

Transmission ---> OEM tank cooler in radiator (if present) ---> external fin type cooler ---> back to transmision.

Completely bypassed the cooler in the radiator on my pace arrow. Ran two stacked plate tranny coolers right out front behind the grill. Runs way cooler that way. Been that way for years.

Not only does the cooler in the radiator help cool the ATF, it helps keep the ATF up to temperature in the winter time. You can also over cool your transmission in the summer time. Ideally you want to maintain 160F-180F degrees ATF at all times. Just like your engine, your transmission has and ideal temperature range.

Richard

marcsbigfoot20b27 wrote:
Transmission ---> OEM tank cooler in radiator (if present) ---> external fin type cooler ---> back to transmision.

+1 this is how the OEM engineers place auxiliary coolers.

I would have suggested the Ford unit that came with the towing package or even the larger F150-HD cooler and all factory brackets and steel hoses.

Aftermarket is fine too. Just make sure the rubber hoses are well protected and do not rub on anything.

RLS7201 wrote:
Ideally you want to maintain 160F-180F degrees ATF at all times. Just like your engine, your transmission has and ideal temperature range. Richard

That, my friends, is the Correct Answer. As much as we want to curse "The Engineer Who..." the truth is that when we bet against the engineer we usually lose.

In the Sunny South, I might bypass that in-radiator ATF cooler. Up North, NO. Transmission needs warmth.

Why might I bypass in the South...? Transmission in a Dodge van we had, started missing on shifts, a little engine runaway here and there. Dropped the pan and it looked like mud in the bottom. Wasn't mud, it was rust and ground up transmission. That little cooler had developed pinholes and the radiator pressure cap was enough to push radiator coolant into the transmission. Cheap radiator ruined expensive transmission...

If you're considering bypassing... That Air Over Cooler has to be HUGE! Takes about a couple dozen times the surface area to transfer heat to air, than to a liquid.