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Old 07-20-2013, 08:00 PM   #1
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Installing 2nd Transmission Cooler

Has anyone had experience installing a SECOND transmission cooler on a vehicle? I've been told that it would be a good idea and after all, it shouldn't hurt. I am assuming that it would simply fit in line with first (factory) transmission cooler and that it doesn't matter which direction of flow in put thru the cooler. Is that correct?
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Old 07-20-2013, 08:03 PM   #2
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Based on your signature you have a 2002 F53 chassis. This chassis has the V10 with a 4R100 transmission. The factory cooler is very large on these chassis and provide more than enough cooling. My 99 chassis has the same cooler and my actual transmission temps are 170-180F. An additional cooler can be installed inline with the factory cooler but I do not see any benefit to it based on the size of the factory cooler.
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Old 07-20-2013, 08:53 PM   #3
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What matters is not flow direction but flow itself. If you restrict flow, you're in more trouble than you were before.
James, since the V10 trans cooler is a popular upgrade to the 7.3s w/4R100, would a 6.0 trans cooler fit the F53 V10?
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Old 07-20-2013, 08:59 PM   #4
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What matters is not flow direction but flow itself. If you restrict flow, you're in more trouble than you were before.
James, since the V10 trans cooler is a popular upgrade to the 7.3s w/4R100, would a 6.0 trans cooler fit the F53 V10?
That is a good question that I don't have a definite answer to. I will have to check my 99 chassis but I think the 5R110W (trans with the 6.0L) cooler lines are larger than the 4R100 lines. There may have to be some mods.

Which V10 cooler are they using with the 7.3 and are you sure it is with the 4R100 and not the E4OD. I know those cooler are small and defiantly could be bigger. In 99 I believe the 4R100 was used with the 7.3 because of the increase of power and the coolers were made bigger.
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Old 07-20-2013, 09:09 PM   #5
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I hope these pics show up but they are out of the workshop manual for the pre98 superduty and motorhome chassis.



This is the 99 and newer cooler
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Old 07-20-2013, 09:12 PM   #6
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see if this works if the other ones do not.
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Old 07-20-2013, 09:25 PM   #7
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I just know that the 7.3 guys will install V10 coolers because they are bigger.
And the 6.0 coolers are way bigger. Mount in the factory bolt holes, just have to adapt lines to work, no big deal.
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Old 07-21-2013, 03:03 AM   #8
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Read this. It is all you need to know about changing the coolers. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...49478099,d.aWM

Select keep when prompted. It is a complete write up as to what you have to do and have to have to do the swap. And YES, it is worth it.
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Old 07-21-2013, 06:39 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by jamesrxx951 View Post
Based on your signature you have a 2002 F53 chassis. This chassis has the V10 with a 4R100 transmission. The factory cooler is very large on these chassis and provide more than enough cooling. My 99 chassis has the same cooler and my actual transmission temps are 170-180F. An additional cooler can be installed inline with the factory cooler but I do not see any benefit to it based on the size of the factory cooler.
I updated our signature! We've just bought a Fun Finder X215WSK TT and we're pulling it with a Ford Sport Trac 4.0 V6. Hopefully it makes more sense now!
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Old 07-21-2013, 03:40 PM   #10
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Read this. It is all you need to know about changing the coolers. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...49478099,d.aWM

Select keep when prompted. It is a complete write up as to what you have to do and have to have to do the swap. And YES, it is worth it.
After reading that article, it appears that he must have removed the cooler by pass valve also. This by passes the cooler to allow the transmission to come up to normal operating temps. 130F is cold for a transmission and this transmission has an operating temp around 170. Depending on what is going on it can go higher but should stay in the 170 range or close to that. The article also points out that this is in power improved 7.3L and one of the programmers favorite features is to keep the torque converter unlocked for a lot longer period of time during accel. This does generate more heat. It is nice to see that the 6.0L cooler is a good fit but in a stock motorhome from what I have experienced, it is really not needed. I for one will not likely be installing one of these on my motorhome as trans temps are not an issue even when towing my Escape or in the hills of Pennsylvania.

As a side note, some transmissions need to be around 210-220F before you can even check the fluid level. If it is colder than that and topped off, it will be over filled when operating temps are achieved.
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Old 07-21-2013, 04:08 PM   #11
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I updated our signature! We've just bought a Fun Finder X215WSK TT and we're pulling it with a Ford Sport Trac 4.0 V6. Hopefully it makes more sense now!

LOL, no problem. I will have to be honest that I have rebuilt a lot of these transmission over the years but never seen one that failed due to over temps or was running hot. The coolers are a decent size in the 2002 and newer Explorer but the PCM also unlocks the torque converter more often than in a superduty or motorhome chassis. I have an Explorer and tow with it but im ashamed to say I have never monitored the transmission temps. And I have all the equipment to do so. However, like the superduty and motorhome transmissions, the temp is controlled by a valve. This valve (thermostatic expansion valve) is in the valve body and cannot be removed. The valve opens at a high temp also. If I remember correctly it is around 180F. However, to check the fluid level, the temps must be around 100F.

If you feel like getting a gadget, a Scan gauge will help to determine if the transmission is running to hot when towing. But that is some coin and an aux cooler may be cheaper. Maybe you know someone with one and can borrow it. My biggest advise to change the fluid every 60K or less. I know Ford says fill for life but the fluid does seem to get nasty at higher mileage and the solenoid pack works better with nice clean fluid. I don't use any fluid exchange machine when changing the trans fluid either. To do so means you have to power brake the transmission to build up high heat to allow the thermostatic expansion valve to open and allow cooler flow. When this occurs, the transmission is to hot to check for proper level. I cant tell you how many come backs from other techs I work with that have an under filled transmission fluid level. There is a large drain plug on the bottom of the pan. I drain, fill, run, drain, fill and done. Seems to work the best for me. However filling the fluid is not easy for a do it yourselfer. There is a small hole that a special tool fits into and a siphon is used to pump fluid in. We have overhead oil and trans fluid guns that pump in fluid. I just press the gun in the hole and pump away. I grossly over fill the last time and start the engine. Allow to drain until at the correct level.
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Old 07-22-2013, 06:59 AM   #12
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Fluid Change

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I need to get the transmission fluid changed along with the trans cooler. I've heard a lot of 'bad' things about the pressurized transmission exchangers so I don't want to go that route at all. ....and with 108k miles on it, it's probably wouldn't hurt to change it anyway.
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Old 07-22-2013, 09:28 AM   #13
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After reading that article, it appears that he must have removed the cooler by pass valve also. This by passes the cooler to allow the transmission to come up to normal operating temps. 130F is cold for a transmission and this transmission has an operating temp around 170. Depending on what is going on it can go higher but should stay in the 170 range or close to that. The article also points out that this is in power improved 7.3L and one of the programmers favorite features is to keep the torque converter unlocked for a lot longer period of time during accel. This does generate more heat. It is nice to see that the 6.0L cooler is a good fit but in a stock motorhome from what I have experienced, it is really not needed. I for one will not likely be installing one of these on my motorhome as trans temps are not an issue even when towing my Escape or in the hills of Pennsylvania.

As a side note, some transmissions need to be around 210-220F before you can even check the fluid level. If it is colder than that and topped off, it will be over filled when operating temps are achieved.
Lots of people down here don't have to worry about that(except in winter), but other places do, so now several guys have started putting a Derale thermostat in line which controls the heat. It also gets the temps up to evaporate any moisture that the fluids has accumulated.
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Old 07-22-2013, 09:30 AM   #14
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Lots of people down here don't have to worry about that(except in winter), but other places do, so now several guys have started putting a Derale thermostat in line which controls the heat. It also gets the temps up to evaporate any moisture that the fluids has accumulated.

I can see that in year round hot climates. Not so much in the northern states though.
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