High tranny temps. Cost to install HD coolers?

[adamsdaddy]

I pulled our 3,500 lb trailer behind the Expy for the first time this weekend. The braking and power of the Expy make it a breeze.
The problem however is with the tranny temperature. It went as high as 238. When I kept it in a lower gear with higher RPMs that helped lower it down to 230. This peak temperature was when I was climbing the twisty Angeles Hwy and it was 98-100 degrees outside.

I'm interested in having the HD coolers installed-has anyone had it done and what was the cost?

 

[powerboatr]

do you have the towing package? I thought all eco boosts have the tranny cooler in the front before the radiator, its medium sized imo.
my temps run 199 to 205

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I drove back to Fort Wayne from Harrisburg PA yesterday 520 miles in 90 degree weather. my Tranny temps were right around 204. I have the HD tow package with the transmission cooler. I don't think your numbers are that bad considering the weight you were pulling.

 

[USMCBuckWild]

Its not hard to do it yourself. Just purchase a QUALITY cooler. You can add it as a supplement to the factory cooler or to replace the factory cooler.

 

[Barjrob1972]

I've had warmer-than-I-like temps in the past on tow vehicles and in nearly every situation I've found a thorough front-to-back and back-to-front cleaning of the cooling stack can reduce temps dramatically. Usually soaking with a mixture of liquid Tide and Simple Green works well for me.
I actually reduced the temps in my 2006 Duramax 2500 by nearly 20* and it would maintain about 75*-80* over OAT in the Texas heat with further maintenance cleanings. The cleaner (and straighter) the fins, the better.
Works with outside condensers on an HVAC unit as well.
Just a thought.

 

[Adieu]

Where are you getting tranny temp from? Bluetooth dongle + Torque?

 

[adamsdaddy]

@Adieu I am reading the temperature from the display . My 2016 gives many choices-MPG off-road and others.

@USMCBuckWild i installed a tranny cooler on a 2007 Odyssey a few months ago and that was pretty straight forward. From what I've read, the Expedition doesn't have a dipstick for the tranny. I'm not sure how I'd be able to add the correct amount after connecting up an auxiliary cooler.

Coming back from the river the highest temperature it displayed was 224. I thought that was reasonable given the outside temperature was 110.

I'll see if I can find some DIY videos on Expy cooler installs.

 

[drewactual]

Its not hard to do it yourself. Just purchase a QUALITY cooler. You can add it as a supplement to the factory cooler or to replace the factory cooler.

the ONLY concern a person should have is to install the cooler DOWNSTREAM of the OE cooler- pressures playing a big role in the function of a auto trans, and the only place you can install w/o concern for interrupting that is downstream of the OE cooler, where it is simply returned to the pan (and pressure isn't monitored)...

I've had warmer-than-I-like temps in the past on tow vehicles and in nearly every situation I've found a thorough front-to-back and back-to-front cleaning of the cooling stack can reduce temps dramatically. Usually soaking with a mixture of liquid Tide and Simple Green works well for me.
I actually reduced the temps in my 2006 Duramax 2500 by nearly 20* and it would maintain about 75*-80* over OAT in the Texas heat with further maintenance cleanings. The cleaner (and straighter) the fins, the better.
Works with outside condensers on an HVAC unit as well.
Just a thought.

excellent call!!!! i'd raise you a bottle of HVAC cleaner, though... stuff works magic... buy it next to HVAC air filters at hardware stores- spray it on both sides (entire can), and walk away...... it's worked for me on countless occasions. I once pulled 10.5k on state roads through the great dismal swamp on a summer eve- and watched the ticker creep up on trans temp, and went through a bottle of washer fluid for the windshield... those two are related, if you catch my meaning...

 

[Barjrob1972]

excellent call!!!! i'd raise you a bottle of HVAC cleaner, though... stuff works magic... buy it next to HVAC air filters at hardware stores- spray it on both sides (entire can), and walk away...... it's worked for me on countless occasions. I once pulled 10.5k on state roads through the great dismal swamp on a summer eve- and watched the ticker creep up on trans temp, and went through a bottle of washer fluid for the windshield... those two are related, if you catch my meaning...

I'll check out the HVAC cleaner and yeah, bugs. UGH! I always wash, spray, walk away, come back and wash some more. The gunk that comes out can be disgusting. I know do it at least twice a year on all my vehicles, need it or not. Plus, with the Texas summer it helps the AC work a little better.

 

[07xln]

OP you didn't tell us if you have the HD tow package or not? If you do then those temps are WAY to high. Anything over 220* for an extended period of time is destroying your trans fluid and easily cutting the life of it in half if not more. If you don't have the HD package then you need to look into a cooler and do it quick. Talk to a Ford tech if you need to. Should be a kit you can get from Ford

I tow my 8Klbs toy hauler pretty regularly and never see over 205*

 

[adamsdaddy]

Thanks for the replies and no, I don't have the HD tow package which is why I was hoping someone on this board might've added the HD options and the cost.

The tranny temps were helpful. I'll keep poking around until I find a way to check the ATF level. Once I can determine how much to add then I'll add the cooler myself.

 

[powerboatr]

atf level is down on the tranny. there is a plug where you think a dipstick would be.

 

[drewactual]

there is a fella named Mark Karwolkski or something like that who frequents many forums on the interwebz- and who was a transmission engineer for ford for a good many years. i think his last hands-on transmission was the 5R110W, which is one fine transmission.

anyway, i'm almost certain it was he who said aim for the middle mark- cold full, in other words... but, some transmissions don't have dipsticks or fill tubes. they don't because makers realized that the number one killer of a transmission after heat is (drum roll) foreign objects in it... tainted fluid... whodathunkit?

so.... some new 'missions have no provision for dipstick or fill tube... they'd be wanting you to go to the stealership for such things, and not to protect you so much as to protect them and warranty work from transmissions killed by well meaning owners.

 

[USMCBuckWild]

the ONLY concern a person should have is to install the cooler DOWNSTREAM of the OE cooler- pressures playing a big role in the function of a auto trans, and the only place you can install w/o concern for interrupting that is downstream of the OE cooler, where it is simply returned to the pan (and pressure isn't monitored)...



excellent call!!!! i'd raise you a bottle of HVAC cleaner, though... stuff works magic... buy it next to HVAC air filters at hardware stores- spray it on both sides (entire can), and walk away...... it's worked for me on countless occasions. I once pulled 10.5k on state roads through the great dismal swamp on a summer eve- and watched the ticker creep up on trans temp, and went through a bottle of washer fluid for the windshield... those two are related, if you catch my meaning...

Since he doesn't have HD towing package his trans cooler should just be a simple "loop" in front of the radiator (I may be wrong in this, but that is what was typical on other Fords) or the standard in-radiator cooler. Either one won't have a pressure monitor as the pressure/temperature monitors are internal to the trans. Worst case scenario is just add the aftermarket cooler downstream on the return line. Most coolers come with a note or chart as to how much fluid must be added.

 

[USMCBuckWild]

@Adieu I am reading the temperature from the display . My 2016 gives many choices-MPG off-road and others.

@USMCBuckWild i installed a tranny cooler on a 2007 Odyssey a few months ago and that was pretty straight forward. From what I've read, the Expedition doesn't have a dipstick for the tranny. I'm not sure how I'd be able to add the correct amount after connecting up an auxiliary cooler.

Coming back from the river the highest temperature it displayed was 224. I thought that was reasonable given the outside temperature was 110.

I'll see if I can find some DIY videos on Expy cooler installs.

Most trans coolers packaging include a note or chart that dictates the amount of fluid to add. As previously stated the transmission fill plug (19mm IIRC) has a small plastic dipstick inside of it. Install the cooler, level the truck, start it and pull the plug and check the dipstick. Add fluid until it is to the appropriate level. When the vehicle is running the majority of the fluid is pumping through the transmission itself (tq convertor, bands, drum, passages, valve body, etc.) and not sitting in the pan. If you pull the plug when truck isn't running you will end up with a flooded mess as the fluid has pooled in the pan and lower portion of trans.

The owners manual provides the actual sequence to check trans fluid level (get vehicle to operating temperature, ensure its level, remove plug and check level).

I swapped over to Amsoil and never looked back. Quick filter and fluid change, then another fluid change 500 miles later and the majority of oem fluid has been replaced by new fluid.

 

[drewactual]

I'm not disagreeing, but I'll offer that some folks put a cooler on with significantly smaller lines, and which causes a pressure increase way back at the pump, and causes all kinds off issues... from pushing seals to strange shifts... on the negative side (cool side) it doesn't matter... on the hot side it 'can'...

Following the directions, as you've said Marine, is the way to go...

By the way... old timer Marine here as well... 0311 primary, stack of secondaries...

 

[theoldwizard1]

ATF fluid is good until OVER about 275F before it starts to break down. Anything under 250F and you are good.

I will add, that adding the transmission cooler is ALWAYS a good idea. You can find genuine Ford coolers on eBay for a fraction of what the dealer would charge. There are several additional hoses and bracket required to complete the installation.

PS I know Mark K. He just doesn't know me by my screen name !

 

[bobmbx]

If you pull the plug when truck isn't running you will end up with a flooded mess as the fluid has pooled in the pan and lower portion of trans.

^This. Most likely that error is the first major mess created by budding shade tree mechanics.

 

[drewactual]

I only know Mark k from various forums. He knows his shizen to be sure. He may or may not recall me from our interaction over the years.

Yessir, the fluid itself is a lot different that it was even ten years ago... it's good stuff... the problem isn't the fluid, but the material that sluffs at certain temperatures... especially in a band type transmission... all that clutch material will start to varnish at a few minutes above 240, and be in full meltdown above 280 or so... it should be changed immediately if that temp is reached... not because the fluid has exhausted but because it's been seriously contaminated at that point... bad juju...

 

[07xln]

ATF fluid is good until OVER about 275F before it starts to break down. Anything under 250F and you are good.!

This is absolute BS. A simple google search will bring up multiple articles as well as graphs showing anything over 220* and the fluid starts degrading rather quickly. At 250* the fluid life is easily cut down to 10k miles or less. At 275* the fluid will turn to tar in no time. All said articles will reference that the normal operating range for atf is 195-205* which by the way is what just about every person who's commented so far is averaging on their temps. Coincidence I don't think so. OP get a cooler quick or you're just gonna destroy your trans