Transmission cooler upgrade
07-14-2017, 01:19 PM
#41
Having towed my 38 foot trailer a couple of times this summer, I can tell you that the upgrade does not affect the temps at all, I still see spikes in the temp up too 220 while driving up hills, it quickly drops back down but I don't think it has made a difference if you guys want to know the truth.
07-14-2017, 04:57 PM
#42
Senior Member
Please add your truck and trailer to your signature so we don't have to hunt around for it.
How is your truck equipped?
What is the normal towing weight of your trailer? Not GVW but actual weight.
How is your truck equipped?
What is the normal towing weight of your trailer? Not GVW but actual weight.
07-17-2017, 11:23 AM
#43
Senior Member
I also just installed an OEM cooler. Truck does not have the tow package - so there was not cooler there to begin with.
3 parts needed - total of about $100. Driving today for about 20 miles -- the temp didn't get up to "normal" until after about 20 minutes of driving.
Surely I dont need to have the computer reflashed or anything?
Can you "overcool" a tranny?
PS -- I only lost about 1/4 cup. I didn't refill. If you're worried about it - you could plumb in the cooler and outlet, then fill with fluid before connecting in inlet (top).
3 parts needed - total of about $100. Driving today for about 20 miles -- the temp didn't get up to "normal" until after about 20 minutes of driving.
Surely I dont need to have the computer reflashed or anything?
Can you "overcool" a tranny?
PS -- I only lost about 1/4 cup. I didn't refill. If you're worried about it - you could plumb in the cooler and outlet, then fill with fluid before connecting in inlet (top).
Did you have to pull your grill to mount the cooler?
Thanks.
12-11-2018, 05:15 AM
#44
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Sustained speed of 120+
The Ford engineers don't agree with you. Beginning with the 2011 model year, the automagic tranny is designed to maintain the tranny temp at a minimum of around 190° to 195°. Adding a larger heat exchanger to the tranny cooling system will not change the computer program that controls the tranny temp.
Don't be concerned unless you actually see over about 220° tranny temp. The tranny cooling system is designed to handle trailers that can weigh enough to reach the GCWR of the truck on steep hills or mountain passes. But if you get close to the GCWR, you'll be severely overloaded over the payload capacity of the F-150. If you don't overload your F-150, then you shouldn't have any problem with an overheated tranny, even when climbing Wolf Creek Pass. But watch that gauge anyway, in case your tranny cooling system has a glitch in it.
There is no Ford part, but you can fab up a way to mount a much bigger heat exchanger. Way back in the '99 thru the first half of the 2001 model years, the F-250 diesel with 4R100 tranny didn't have a big enough heat exchanger to handle the job on steep grades. When the engineers tested the tranny cooling system to set the GCWR, they climbed steep grades at 100° or more, but they climbed at a fast enough speed to have a locked torque converter. But lots of customers climbed similar grades while poking along with an unlocked torque converter, which sends a volcano worth of heat to the tranny cooling system, overpowering the tranny cooling system.
Some folks added a huge heat exchanger under the cab, and that worked. Then Ford had a program to significantly increase the tranny cooling capacity for anyone that requested it. I requested it and they swapped out my ordinary huge radiator for one that included an oil-to-water (OTW) heat exchanger in the bottom of the radiator, plus plumbed it to use both the OTW and oil-to-air (OTA) coolers. Beginning with late-2001 models, both coolers were standard in the Ford F-250 diesels. But some folks still weren't happy, so they replaced the OTA cooler with the much bigger one from a 6.0L diesel. No more problems with tranny overheating.
I've heard no reports of anyone actually overheating the Select Shift automagic tranny in 2011-up F-150s. Some folks are concerned that the normal operating temp of 190° to 205° is high. But notice the analog idiot gauge on your dash. 205° will not get the gauge close to the yellow zone on the gauge. If you ever see the gauge jump into the yellow zone, then look at your digital gauge and you'll probably see 225° or more, then it's time to shutter down and cool off.
Yeah the idiot gauge is weird. The white zone means you're good to go. The yellow zone means your tranny is overheated. And the red zone means your tranny is probably toast.
Don't be concerned unless you actually see over about 220° tranny temp. The tranny cooling system is designed to handle trailers that can weigh enough to reach the GCWR of the truck on steep hills or mountain passes. But if you get close to the GCWR, you'll be severely overloaded over the payload capacity of the F-150. If you don't overload your F-150, then you shouldn't have any problem with an overheated tranny, even when climbing Wolf Creek Pass. But watch that gauge anyway, in case your tranny cooling system has a glitch in it.
There is no Ford part, but you can fab up a way to mount a much bigger heat exchanger. Way back in the '99 thru the first half of the 2001 model years, the F-250 diesel with 4R100 tranny didn't have a big enough heat exchanger to handle the job on steep grades. When the engineers tested the tranny cooling system to set the GCWR, they climbed steep grades at 100° or more, but they climbed at a fast enough speed to have a locked torque converter. But lots of customers climbed similar grades while poking along with an unlocked torque converter, which sends a volcano worth of heat to the tranny cooling system, overpowering the tranny cooling system.
Some folks added a huge heat exchanger under the cab, and that worked. Then Ford had a program to significantly increase the tranny cooling capacity for anyone that requested it. I requested it and they swapped out my ordinary huge radiator for one that included an oil-to-water (OTW) heat exchanger in the bottom of the radiator, plus plumbed it to use both the OTW and oil-to-air (OTA) coolers. Beginning with late-2001 models, both coolers were standard in the Ford F-250 diesels. But some folks still weren't happy, so they replaced the OTA cooler with the much bigger one from a 6.0L diesel. No more problems with tranny overheating.
I've heard no reports of anyone actually overheating the Select Shift automagic tranny in 2011-up F-150s. Some folks are concerned that the normal operating temp of 190° to 205° is high. But notice the analog idiot gauge on your dash. 205° will not get the gauge close to the yellow zone on the gauge. If you ever see the gauge jump into the yellow zone, then look at your digital gauge and you'll probably see 225° or more, then it's time to shutter down and cool off.
Yeah the idiot gauge is weird. The white zone means you're good to go. The yellow zone means your tranny is overheated. And the red zone means your tranny is probably toast.
12-11-2018, 11:44 AM
#45
Grumpy Old Man
Very accurate when used as designed.
But the idiot gauge is not analog. It jumps in about 20° increments, so you cannot see how close to overheated you are. It can be showing normal tranny temp of about 205° in the white zone, then jump into the yellow zone at 225° with no warning.
When struggling up a steep grade dragging a heavy trailer at less than 45 MPH (so the torque converter is unlocked and creating a volcano worth of heat), you must watch that gauge like a hawk. The instant it jumps from white zone to yellow zone indicates you tranny is overheated, so you must pull over and stop and allow the tranny fluid to cool off. If you also have a digital tranny temp gauge in the gauges window of your display, look at it as soon as you get stopped and you'll see over 225°. If the idiot gauge never jumps into the yellow zone, then you're good to go.
My F-150 is a Lariat with the digital tranny temp gauge as well as the idiot gauge. It's much easier to keep an eye on the digital gauge and shutter down when it reaches 225° than constantly watch the idiot gauge. However, with thousands of miles of towing both across the Rockies and east over the Smokies, I've never seen over about 210° on the digital gauge, so never has my idiot gauge jumped into the yellow zone.
But the idiot gauge is not analog. It jumps in about 20° increments, so you cannot see how close to overheated you are. It can be showing normal tranny temp of about 205° in the white zone, then jump into the yellow zone at 225° with no warning.
When struggling up a steep grade dragging a heavy trailer at less than 45 MPH (so the torque converter is unlocked and creating a volcano worth of heat), you must watch that gauge like a hawk. The instant it jumps from white zone to yellow zone indicates you tranny is overheated, so you must pull over and stop and allow the tranny fluid to cool off. If you also have a digital tranny temp gauge in the gauges window of your display, look at it as soon as you get stopped and you'll see over 225°. If the idiot gauge never jumps into the yellow zone, then you're good to go.
My F-150 is a Lariat with the digital tranny temp gauge as well as the idiot gauge. It's much easier to keep an eye on the digital gauge and shutter down when it reaches 225° than constantly watch the idiot gauge. However, with thousands of miles of towing both across the Rockies and east over the Smokies, I've never seen over about 210° on the digital gauge, so never has my idiot gauge jumped into the yellow zone.
Last edited by smokeywren; 12-11-2018 at 11:59 AM.
12-11-2018, 04:31 PM
#46
Senior Member
Since the system has a thermostat (like your engine cooling system) the temperature warms until the thermostat opens then stops rising until the cooling system runs out of capacity and the thermostat is fully open. Then the temperature starts to rise again. If you are driving under Smokey's conditions it may suddenly jump because you have greatly overloaded the cooling system.
So when stressing your truck keep a watch on the gauges and pay attention to when the TC is unlocked.
So when stressing your truck keep a watch on the gauges and pay attention to when the TC is unlocked.
12-12-2018, 02:19 AM
#47
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Since the system has a thermostat (like your engine cooling system) the temperature warms until the thermostat opens then stops rising until the cooling system runs out of capacity and the thermostat is fully open. Then the temperature starts to rise again. If you are driving under Smokey's conditions it may suddenly jump because you have greatly overloaded the cooling system.
So when stressing your truck keep a watch on the gauges and pay attention to when the TC is unlocked.
So when stressing your truck keep a watch on the gauges and pay attention to when the TC is unlocked.
12-13-2018, 03:31 AM
#49
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idk what they are rated for, they are A/Ts and tonight I timed est 1:20 at over 100 and the transmission guage didnt go up until I rapidly decelerated(slammed on the brakes) then it went up to right below yellow, I'm interested in why as I continue exploring my truck limits
12-14-2018, 11:29 AM
#50
Senior Member
Even the lower trim trucks have a digital tranny temp in the ICP module. You can find it by scrolling thru the menu options. I just cant be displayed on the dash simultaneously with the main display.