Which Transmission Cooler is the best?

[John 333]

95 XLT Explorer
4x4-auto trans-4.0L
My Explorer did not come with the extra automatic transmission cooler. For you people that have added an aftermarket cooler which kind would you reccomend? B+M,Hayden,Fluidyne,etc.? Also for light towing what size of cooler would you install? Besides the cooler is there any other modification that a person could do to make the trasmission last for quite awhile? Has anyone tried running an external electric fan that blows on the extra cooler itself? Maybe this would be over doing it. Is it possible to "over cool" the fluid? Thanks!

 

[Jason_25]

You want the biggest you can actually get. The one I have is for a motorhome. To be honest, it was a pretty tough install for me because it's so tight and everything has to fit and not leak. Try to find one that is "plug and play".

And no, you can't over cool the fluid.

 

[jimbo74]

i got a $50 dollar motorhome that is supposed to tow a trailer one from pepboys..... it has worked great so far

 

[Fischer]

Did you Opt for the electric fan cooling system...

I have the stock trans cooler and am looking to upgrade. I am just curious, they all seem to be listed as GVW and as the Explorer is only rated to about 10000 lbs GVW these should all be just fine if not overkill, right?

So do you think it is worth it for the fan models for rockcrawling and towing or is one of the larger models (over stock) sufficient?

 

[410Fortune]

Just to give you an idea:

88 Broncoo II (weighs less then an Explorer)
93 4.0L engine
Custom built (HD for towing) A4ld auto transmission
180 degree Shaw thermostat
4 core aluminum Modine radiator (HD Explorer radiator)
Ford "super cooling" Explorer fan and clutch
Hayden class "A" motorhome tranny cooler, run piggyback with the radiator)

My truck runs at 190 degrees normal.
I hit 210 degrees towing my full loaded Bayliner (about 3500#) and a 220# buddy through Wyoming at 75 MPH with it 90 degrees outside.

210 degrees is what a stock Explorer runs at normal, so with this setup I am way below overheating. The truck runs perfect with this setup. Now I do plan to "divorce" the tranny cooler from the radiator, right now it is basically zip tied to the front of the radiator with the mounts Hayden gives you. Moving the tranny cooler away from the radiator will help it cool even better. I was also considering running a small (Honda?) electric pusher fan right on the tranny cooler to help even more. Also an external tranny filter is on the way (1 more quart of fluid).

Basically it is true, get the biggest damn tranny cooler you can fit. Hayden coolers work fine, are cheap, and available everywhere.....

 

[DocVijay]

I got the B&M cooler. Works fine.

 

[Fischer]

My trans fluid follows the path that follows..drr

From trans through remote filter into tranny cooler then through the radiator then back to the tranny.

I am wondering if I get a larger trans cooler should I not send it through the radiator. Although I will probably leave it running through for the added fluid and I am running the stock temp thermostat. New as of 4 mos. ago...

Just curious

 

[410Fortune]

Depends on who you ask. I have mechanic friends who say, never run a cooler and a radiator piggyback. They tell me my Hayden cooler is more then enough to cool the ATF and that running it through the radiator and then the cooler is just heating up my coolant. Well they might be right, but to me, like you said, the more fluid the better and two coolers are better then 1.

I think the best I have done is to use a mechanical coolant gauge and ditch the stock NORMAL gauge, at least I actually know what temp my coolant is, not oh it's at the R,......


My next step is to move the tranny cooler away from the radiator, even though the fluid will still move through both, and then add a tranny temp gauge and an external tranny filter.......