What is involved in adding a trans cooler?

[McGruff38]

I have a 1990 Fleetwood Flair 26 footer with a Ford 460 and 3 speed auto trans. The motorhome is rated at 3500lbs towing capacity, and I am right about there with my trailer and sandrail. My concern is my check engine light comes on periodically, and when Im climbing hills it stays on. Once im not climbing, it will turn off after 30 sec - 2min or so. Sometimes my engine temperature doesnt even have a chance to start climbing before it goes on, so Im assuming my transmission is getting hot. I dont have a temperature gauge for the trans, so im relying on the check engine light. So my question is, can I add a transmission cooler/gauge to this motorhome? if so, how much should I be expecting to pay for something like that?

[SidecarFlip]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
For that vintage Ford, the engine control computer does not know anything about what is going on inside the transmission.

You may already have an auxiliary cooler installed. It would look like a small radiator and sit in from of the radiator and AC condenser.

Adding a transmission temperature gauge is a good idea.

+2.

Your check engine light is something engine, not trans related and a 1990 vintage would be a C6 and that would definitely benefit from at the minimum of a 6 pass cooler

Sounds to me like low oil pressure, low oil level, clogged pickup strainer or a failing sender unit. Idiot lights work on the principle of continuity. I'd install an oil pressure gauge and a trans temp gauge if I owned the unit.

You might try a heavier weight oil first.

[McGruff38]

Hmm. If the computer doesnt monitor the trans temp, then what else could be triggering the check engine light? Is there any way to tell after the fact?

[theoldwizard1]

For that vintage Ford, the engine control computer does not know anything about what is going on inside the transmission.

You may already have an auxiliary cooler installed. It would look like a small radiator and sit in from of the radiator and AC condenser.

Adding a transmission temperature gauge is a good idea.