Hot 5R55E Transmission

[caviglia]

The first question - How can I change my user name?
The second question - I just bought a '99 Explorer XLT with a SOHC V6, no death rattle, for my daughter to drive to school next year. Giving it a detailed check, I noticed the catalitic converters are very close to the transmission with the passanger side cat having a heat shied but the driver side cat passing right under the trans with no shield. You can tell that the oil pan runs real warm just above the cat. So before I fabricate a shield I would like to know if anyone out there already makes one - no need to reinvent the wheel.

MCJ

 

[2000StreetRod]

cat heat shield

The photo below shows the driver side cat on my 2000 SOHC V6 Sport.

I have 2WD with a shallower pan than the one on a 4WD so there is more clearance between the cat and the pan. I've never seen a shield that attaches below the pan similar to the one between the passenger cat and the servos. The 5R55E has a thermostatically controlled external cooling loop that begins to open when the torque converter fluid reaches 150 deg F. Do you think your ATF temperature is significantly exceeding that?

 

[caviglia]

2000StreetRod,

Thanks for the reply and the great photo. My 99 is a 4WD and as you stated, it is closer than yours. I do not know what the overall oil temp is but if the oil is at the correct temperature overall, I would think it could be way to hot on the inside surface of the pan right above the cat. This would cause a small amount of oil to be breaking down all the time depending on the driving condidtions. I bought the 99 right, 126,400 miles, because the past owner told me it had some trans problems and that the shop that flushed it said it would probably need a new one soon. The trans has been working fine since the flush so I believe that something was sticking and the new oil freed it up. I don't mind pulling the trans but If I can put it off for a while all the better. It will not take very long to make a shield and with the addition of a drain plug I can change the oil, at least whats in the pan, fairly often. All of this will not cost much and can only make things better.