Upgrading stock OEM trans cooler

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Chinmasterflex

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Here's an interesting twist. Since I had my Tranny flushed only about 6,000 miles ago, I have no need to entirely replace the fluid - just replace what I drain plus add the additional fluid needed. My dealer says they use BG Full Synthetic ATF because it's recommended and superior to what I thought I was supposed to use (Mercon LV). It stands to reason that I should use the BG since I'll be adding to existing fluid - but has anyone heard of this?

I was in the same boat having just had the trans serviced before heading to TRR.
I just swapped mine out for this cooler from RPG a couple weeks ago. I just popped off the upper hose first and plugged it with a bolt. Had maybe a few drops of fluid loss at most. The fluid from the cooler wil drain back to the trans. Since the new cooler is 9 rows to the existing 4 rows. I measured out the capacity of the old cooler worth of oil and filled it through the lower cooler line. It's not super exact, but super easy. And you can just check and top it off later if needed but it ended up being filled up correctly in my case.

It's such a small amount of additional fluid that even if it's not the same brand mercron LV/trans fluid ican't imagine it making a difference. I just used mobil1 lv equivalent. Big if it really stresses you out, go get the same brand.

Easily a 20 min job if I didn't have my power steering cooler mounted to the trans cooler bracket. Oem fit and quality (because it is), goes right in the space ford had already made. No downsides I can think of, it's also cheaper than every aftermarket cooler solution I can think of. It pretty much doesn't get any easier than this to upgrade anything else on your truck.
Big thanks to RPG for finding and offering this cooler!
 
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Dane

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I was in the same boat having just had the trans serviced before heading to TRR.
I just swapped mine out for this cooler from RPG a couple weeks ago. I just popped off the upper hose first and plugged it with a bolt. Had maybe a few drops of fluid loss at most. The fluid from the cooler wil drain back to the trans. Since the new cooler is 9 rows to the existing 4 rows. I measured out the capacity of the old cooler worth of oil and filled it through the lower cooler line. It's not super exact, but super easy. And you can just check and top it off later if needed but it ended up being filled up correctly in my case.

It's such a small amount of additional fluid that even if it's not the same brand mercron LV/trans fluid ican't imagine it making a difference. I just used mobil1 lv equivalent. Big if it really stresses you out, go get the same brand.

Easily a 20 min job if I didn't have my power steering cooler mounted to the trans cooler bracket. Oem fit and quality (because it is), goes right in the space ford had already made. No downsides I can think of, it's also cheaper than every aftermarket cooler solution I can think of. It pretty much doesn't get any easier than this to upgrade anything else on your truck.
Big thanks to RPG for finding and offering this cooler!

Good info - but I'm also doing the larger AFE pan (+6-7 quarts) at the same time, so I'll be adding a substantial amount of additional fluid. The cooler itself does look like cake. I do have a Roush heat exchanger in that general area, but it doesn't appear that it should interfere as it sits forward of the tranny cooler, but doesn't occupy space below the stock tranny cooler.
 

Truckzor

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Good info - but I'm also doing the larger AFE pan (+6-7 quarts) at the same time, so I'll be adding a substantial amount of additional fluid. The cooler itself does look like cake. I do have a Roush heat exchanger in that general area, but it doesn't appear that it should interfere as it sits forward of the tranny cooler, but doesn't occupy space below the stock tranny cooler.

I just tried calling RPG to ask the same question regarding a whipple HE. No answer. I'll have to go out and look at the truck later to see what it looks like. I'd really like to add one of these.
 

Dane

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I installed my upgraded cooler over the weekend. It's seriously STUPID easy. Like on the level of a few minutes with very little knowledge. Unclip two hoses and the stock cooler comes right out (you need to catch a little oil). The new one clips right in. I trimmed the upper hose a bit to accommodate the added height of the new cooler.
Done.

Now I did do the AFE pan at the same time, so I had to add a LOT of ATF. I can't tell you how much you'd have to add with just the cooler. I CAN confirm that it's hot as hell down there by the dipstick with the motor running at operating temperature.
 

BABaracus

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I installed my upgraded cooler over the weekend. It's seriously STUPID easy. Like on the level of a few minutes with very little knowledge. Unclip two hoses and the stock cooler comes right out (you need to catch a little oil). The new one clips right in. I trimmed the upper hose a bit to accommodate the added height of the new cooler.
Done.

Now I did do the AFE pan at the same time, so I had to add a LOT of ATF. I can't tell you how much you'd have to add with just the cooler. I CAN confirm that it's hot as hell down there by the dipstick with the motor running at operating temperature.



Mine temp climbs up to 235-239 when towing my 7,200lbs travel trailer up hill. I wonder if this would be enough to keep my temp down.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Dane

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Mine temp climbs up to 235-239 when towing my 7,200lbs travel trailer up hill. I wonder if this would be enough to keep my temp down.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup, mine was getting up to around that area (right at the yellow) if I got stuck in slow moving traffic up serious Colorado mountain highways. It'll be a little while before I know for sure since I don't have one of those trips soon, but it sure can't hurt. I did the AFE pan as well though, so I won't be able to report on JUST the cooler.

My engine temp has been totally solid, just the tranny starts getting up there.
 
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