Trans Cooler?

Calisdad wrote:
OK- maybe I'm kicking the can down the wrong road here.

A little history: Ford 460- common problem are the head bolts, particularly rear bolts passenger side. Several years ago I had one break and I managed to drill it out in place and re-tap it. Only I didn't get as many threads as I would have liked to. That resulted in a minor exhaust leak then finally a drip of coolant. A 2-part sealer actually stopped the leak- maybe at the cost of some cooling capacity.

So- It stays within range on grades but I don't want to fry the transmission. Of course if I had the money to put in a 20 year old RV I'd have the heads shaved, deal with the head bolts and put on headers or a Banks system.

What I'm thinking is a cooler and a triple gauge cluster so I can monitor what's going on. Waste of money?

I'm lost a little but if you think it a trans problem see below.

But on gauges, the more you can monitor something the better IMO.

Let me explain my comment "Do some more investigating before trying to out smart the manufactures". That was in response to your posting "I'm think about adding another trans cooler".

Here is what I went thru when my trans temps that went up a little bit higher than they usually do. Which "my" normal is when the gauge needle goes to 1/2 way when warmed up and doesn't move. My trans gauge has only moved on a 2 mountain passes, that includes most western states.

With higher temps I thought my trans was going out. I got out my temp gun and checked it often, I changed the fluid and filter(s) but trans still ran higher than it did couple years before.

Trans shifted fine and temps just little bit hotter than "my" normal. When I removed the external filter by the cooler the fluid dribbled out. And I mean dribble. I disconnected another line to see if fluid was stuck or maybe vacuum locked or ???

That was a clue to me that cooler was plugged or getting plugged up and slowing down the cooling process. IMO, a nice clean cooler the fluid would of spilled out not dribbled.

I talked to my Ford dealer and they recommend a transmission "flow test". At the time it sounded good but complicated and something a trained mechanic should do. (Later found out flow test is running fluid into couple buckets and timing/volume measurement.) But the cost of a flow test was about 80% of what a new trans cooler was so I came home with a new cooler and bolted it up and no more problem. My old trans cooler must of been getting plugged up and trans fluid couldn't circulate like designed.

Probably like a radiator gets plugged up after a lot of miles. My trans temps went back to where they used to be. So I believe the manufactures have it figured out pretty good what size of cooler they need. That is why I wouldn't add another cooler till you find out more.

OEM's probably put a sharp pencil to trans cooling dept. If yours starts running high than normal there is a reason. And trans don't last forever. If I would of put in additional cooler the flow of coolant still would of been slowed because of the gummed up cooler.

If your talking about water temps, I would only recommend a "high volume" water pump or maybe little bit less temp opening on thermostat.