Tranny cooler?

[Dan]

Do our cars come from the factory with an aux tranny cooler?

Is there anything about our trannies that would make them "severe service" type trannies?

Thanks,

Dan

[RF Overlord]

Yes, the MM has a cooler...it's located between the radiator and the A/C condenser...

...and no, they aren't considered capable of severe-service as supplied from Ford...you need to do Dennis's Stage One upgrade for that...

[tmac1337]

I had Reinharts tranny cooler installed on my car a few mos. back, only because I intend to S/C and don't mind spending some extra money on my car. I see that there are a lot of cars running S/C's out there that do not have the tranny cooler installed. For me this stuff is more like a hobby and a little extra does not hurt.

[schuvwj]

I've installed a tranny temp. gauge and when it gets above 85 degs. F. outside in city driving my tranny temp rises to 180 deg. F. plus. This tells me the cooler does not have enough cooling capacity.

I am going to add a B&M tranny cooler/with fan in line with the stock cooler. The trany cooler fan will only run when trany oil is 160 deg. F. or higher.

When driving in the winter the stock cooler has more than enough cooling capacity, rarely gets above 140 Deg. F.

My 2 cents.

[Logan]

Tranny temps at 180 or below are considered normal. It's only when the fluids run 200 degrees consistently where there's an issue...

[MENINBLK]

Tranny temps at 180 or below are considered normal. It's only when the fluids run 200 degrees consistently where there's an issue...

You would be surprised how easy this can happen on a FORD.
FORD does not build QUALITY as job #1 into any of its vehicles anymore.
It hasn't done so for at least the last 10 years.
The FOCUS and the EXPLODER are the two best examples of this.

I had a transmission problem that ran the fluid temperature into the 310 deg range
and when the problem could not be found, even the Field Service Manager would not remove the transmission to tear it down.
I had no choice but to drive the car until the transmission failed and then I STILL got NO ASSISTANCE.
This was a FORD REMAN Tranmsission with only 35,000 miles on it also.
It had its oil flushed SIX TIMES during that interval at the request of FORD Technical Support.

You've read the horror stories of the absent build quality of the 4R70W tranny.
That is just one reason why keeping tranny temps down is so important.
If the tranny is built CORRECTLY and with QUALITY parts, temps are NOT a problem.

If you are sceptical, install an INLINE ATX Oil Temp Gauge kit and an Oversized ATX Air-to-Oil Cooler.
This is the ONLY way to be sure. Don't trust the OEM Equipment for anything.

[Dan]

Ok, I am getting a fairly clear message that doing a cooler is a good idea.

What is the Rienhart Stage one upgrade? Is it just a cooling unit or more?

Where are you guys putting your temp gauges?

How involved is installing a B&M filter/fan system going to be?

I know I sound like a noob. I haven't owned a car in years. I have been a truck guy for so long that I feel like I forgot more than I know. LOL.

Best,

Dan

[ultravorx]

hey dan, i did a external tranny cooler in my marauder, it took me about 30 minutes. I bought it at advanced autoparts for $50. I know its not the same quality as reinharts, but i know it works good. If you want, i can help you do the tranny cooler on your car one of these days, just give me a call.
Frank

[Logan]

You would be surprised how easy this can happen on a FORD.
FORD does not build QUALITY as job #1 into any of its vehicles anymore.
It hasn't done so for at least the last 10 years.
The FOCUS and the EXPLODER are the two best examples of this.

I had a transmission problem that ran the fluid temperature into the 310 deg range
and when the problem could not be found, even the Field Service Manager would not remove the transmission to tear it down.
I had no choice but to drive the car until the transmission failed and then I STILL got NO ASSISTANCE.
This was a FORD REMAN Tranmsission with only 35,000 miles on it also.
It had its oil flushed SIX TIMES during that interval at the request of FORD Technical Support.

You've read the horror stories of the absent build quality of the 4R70W tranny.
That is just one reason why keeping tranny temps down is so important.
If the tranny is built CORRECTLY and with QUALITY parts, temps are NOT a problem.

If you are sceptical, install an INLINE ATX Oil Temp Gauge kit and an Oversized ATX Air-to-Oil Cooler.
This is the ONLY way to be sure. Don't trust the OEM Equipment for anything.
Nice Rant.

[Gagfish]

Tranny fluid starts to drastically break down at 180 degrees so it is important to constantly keep it below that. A tranny cooler is a very good idea on the 4R70W because they tend to run hot and as posted in the summer will go over 180 degrees. This break-down will eventually lead to you experiencing torque converter shudder which feels like driving over a rumble strip for a couple seconds. For proper maintenence use a Mercon V tranny fluid.

[TripleTransAm]

And I thought this thread was about a new alcoholic fruit drink...

[Logan]

Whoever told tranny fluid brakes down "drastically" past 180 degrees needs a smack in the head. 180 degrees is NORMAL and is what a tranny SHOULD run at. 200 degrees is the commonly accepted point at which a cooler is considered necessary.

[Dan]

What is the Rienhart Stage one upgrade? Is it just a cooling unit or more?

Where are you guys putting your temp gauges?

How involved is installing a B&M filter/fan system going to be?

[MENINBLK]

Whoever told tranny fluid brakes down "drastically" past 180 degrees needs a smack in the head. 180 degrees is NORMAL and is what a tranny SHOULD run at. 200 degrees is the commonly accepted point at which a cooler is considered necessary.

Logan,

Gagfish is correct.

For every 10 deg hotter your ATX Oil runs above 180 deg, the useful life of the oil is cut in half.
An ATX Cooler, and a working ATX combination can keep ATX Oil temps below 180 deg very easily.

The FORD spec for the NORMAL ATX Temp range is 180 - 210 deg F.
This is with the OEM equipment installed in your vehicle.
Installing an aftermarket ATX Air-to-Oil cooler will bring those tempertures LOWER.

This information is readily available from most lubricant manufacturers.

I am also glad that you like my FORD rant.
It is the truth, not just a rant.

[MENINBLK]

Where are you guys putting your temp gauges?

Gauges can be installed into an A-Pillar gauge pod where they can be viewed at eye level
without obstruction your field of vision for driving.
They will also look as if they are factory installed.

[Gagfish]

Whoever told tranny fluid brakes down "drastically" past 180 degrees needs a smack in the head. 180 degrees is NORMAL and is what a tranny SHOULD run at. 200 degrees is the commonly accepted point at which a cooler is considered necessary.

I tend to take Jerry's word on the topic. And haven seen it a few times in my '95 4R70W with a 28,000 GVW plate cooler, deeper pan & temp gauge I know it happens.

"An ideal range for the transmission (4R70W) to run is in the 160-180 degrees F range. For every 20 degrees of increase in transmissin fluid temperature above 170 F the life of the fluid is cut in half. "

[Dan]

For every 20º for how long? A time value is needed to go with the temp value.

Let's be a little more finite with this, shall we?

/Dan

[MENINBLK]

For every 20º for how long? A time value is needed to go with the temp value.

Let's be a little more finite with this, shall we?

/Dan


If the average ATX Oil life expanctancy is 30,000 miles and you run your transmission at an
average temperature of 180 deg F, you should get 30,000 miles out of the ATX Oil.

If you run at a temp of 190 deg F, then 15,000 miles, 200 deg F = 7,500 miles, etc...

Since in colder climates, the average temp should be more like 150 deg,
the ATX Oil will last more than the 30,000 interval specified,
but then other things begin to break down within the oil such as the
conditioners that keep the seals and o-rings soft and pliable,
and the friction modifier that gives your clutches the right amount of grip and slip.

There was an in-depth conversation on the Contour.org site and we all agreed at the end of the conversation
that the safest point in time to service your ATX would be every 12,000 miles.
This would allow optimum use of the ATX Oil, and replace it before the oil had a chance
to deteriorate and start coating the inside of the tranny with varnish.
This went for Mercon V as well as most synthetic ATX Oils.