Auto Tranny pan temp

[spindlecone]

Unless something abnormal is occurring, the transmission fluid will always be warmer than the engine coolant. The radiator should always be cooling the transmission fluid. It isn't a big change, but a liquid to liquid cooler transfers heat better than the other coolers.

Unless the engine coolant is running way too hot, the radiator will help the transmission fluid. Good luck,

CDW
pls explaine, coolant temps run 193-198, would not want my tranny temps that high

 

[410Fortune]

193-198 is behind the thermostat, not in the radiator....

Like I said I have heard arguments for both. I figure if the trans cooling system was better without the rad then ford likely would know this by now..

 

[spindlecone]

193-198 is behind the thermostat, not in the radiator....

Like I said I have heard arguments for both. I figure if the trans cooling system was better without the rad then ford likely would know this by now..

Good point, thx

 

[rookieshooter]

IF I can find this article on the effects of heat on the tranny fluid vs. life span of the tranny I'll post it. It was very interesting, I'll give a readers digest condensed version of it..... basically it had a chart of temp. readings, that coralated to the estimated time you could run the tranny trouble free. As you might expect the higer the temp. the shorter the life span. All things being equal, if two guys had the same vehicals and drove in the same conditios, the one with the higer tranny temps. would break down first, barring any other mechanical problems.

 

[410Fortune]

right thats because once ATF gets too hot it is "burnt" and will no longer lubricate or cool. Heat kills ATF, so the cooler the better.

I service my automatic once a year, but thats because I am really hard on them and a maintenence freak.

 

[spindlecone]

right thats because once ATF gets too hot it is "burnt" and will no longer lubricate or cool. Heat kills ATF, so the cooler the better.

I service my automatic once a year, but thats because I am really hard on them and a maintenence freak.

I drain out 7QTS of ATF and replace every time I do an engine oil change, about every 4K miles, maybe overkill.

 

[Maniak]

I was going over the temps people have reported.. and it looks like mine may not be too far off...

easiest example...
410 has pan temps of about 150 nowadays.. Yesterdays Temp (high) in Littleton, Co was 89F.

On my drive to work at 7:30 here (Tucson, Az) it was 90F and my temps were at 155ish (165ish was seen in the city driving). The tranny did get hotter later in the day (drive across town at 4:30).. at that time it was 106F out...

Soo.. it looks like I have enough cooling capacity.. but I may need more air flow for the town driving so a 10" (1250 cfm) or maybe even a 12" (1600 CFM) permacool fan if I can fit it in there will help in town.

Thanks for all the input from everyone.. I'll keep working on getting my temps down, but at least I know they aren't way off.

~Mark

 

[410Fortune]

Having a small electric fan right on the trans cooler is a great way to drop the temps, even at idle or when sitting in traffic, otherwise it just keeps rising or never comes down.

be warned though some electric fans when not in use or over 75MPH actually block alot of air flow...

there is a fan controller you can get which will work with your electrical temp gage!
I forget who makes it but it would allow you to set the trans cooler fan to come on at any temp you want, signal sent from your gage....

 

[kenr74]

Soo.. it looks like I have enough cooling capacity.. but I may need more air flow for the town driving so a 10" (1250 cfm) or maybe even a 12" (1600 CFM) permacool fan if I can fit it in there will help in town.

I was just noticing the same thing on mine. I have two extra coolers and on the highway it stays nice and low even while pulling my atvs. Once I slow down though and the wind isn't rushing through the coolers my temps shoot up pretty fast. Let us know how the fan works, I may be adding that too!!

 

[Maniak]

Just an update on the trans coolers... I finally have pictures of what we are currently running. Once it warms up some I'll post some more current temps.. (it was only 80F out today for the high temp).

We have a 24k gvwr and a 30k gvwr cooler, both stacked plate style. The fan is from a 92 geo storm (toyota corolla).. The fan runs whenever the torque converter is not locked up which is basically 45mph or less. We have a hayden severe duty fan clutch which pulls some serious air, but doesn't help gas mileage much..

Close up...

They fit pretty well.

~Mark