do i need a transmission cooler?......
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: san antonio
do i need a transmission cooler?......
i just purchased this 18' bay boat and when i went to purchase my Drawtite receiver hitch i saw that the store was advertising a transmission cooler. might i need that to play it safe? i drive a 2000 FOrd f150 4.3L. i'll be using the boat probably 2x/month. is there anything else i need to know in order to keep my truck running w/out having any problems in the future? i appreciate your expertise.
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Joined: Feb 1999
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4.3L? Hope it's a typo.
From what I've seen, most trucks already have a tranny cooler. If you look in your grill, there's one on the driver's side. That's for the power steering. All of our trucks have that one. If there's one on the passenger side, that's for the tranny.
If your truck doesn't have one, an auxiliary cooler will definitely be advisable, even if you don't tow.
From what I've seen, most trucks already have a tranny cooler. If you look in your grill, there's one on the driver's side. That's for the power steering. All of our trucks have that one. If there's one on the passenger side, that's for the tranny.
If your truck doesn't have one, an auxiliary cooler will definitely be advisable, even if you don't tow.
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Joined: Feb 1999
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I don't think the 4.2L or even the 4.6L engines had oil coolers from the factory. On the 5.4L engine, the oil cooler uses radiator water to cool the oil.
The easiest way to tell if a truck has an oil cooler from the factory is to look at the radiator hose on the driver's side. There's a second branch which goes to the oil cooler. All the trucks (not sure about the 4.2L engine) have one branch that goes up to the transluscent coolant tank. The second one will go towards the back of the truck.
The easiest way to tell if a truck has an oil cooler from the factory is to look at the radiator hose on the driver's side. There's a second branch which goes to the oil cooler. All the trucks (not sure about the 4.2L engine) have one branch that goes up to the transluscent coolant tank. The second one will go towards the back of the truck.
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Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Waltham Ma.
jjim69
How far will you be towing the boat? If it is only a few miles you prob would be ok without a oil cooler. If you are towing a long way, and or up a lot of hills it might be a good idea.
Switching to a good synthetic oil would be a good idea, I use mobil one and have great luck with it. I tow a 20 foot boat , that weighs 3500 lbs when loaded on the trailer. I only tow it a few miles, and it is all flat roads, and I have no oil cooler.
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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bullet Cat Back, Superchip, K&N FIPK Intake.
Centerline Saber rims 17x8" with Firestone GTA 275/60hr-17 tires.
Alpine CDA-7845, ADS P640 Amp, Focal Poly Kevlar seperates.
SILVER 2001 LIGHTNING on order
http://members.tripod.com/donf150/Welcome/id7.html
How far will you be towing the boat? If it is only a few miles you prob would be ok without a oil cooler. If you are towing a long way, and or up a lot of hills it might be a good idea.
Switching to a good synthetic oil would be a good idea, I use mobil one and have great luck with it. I tow a 20 foot boat , that weighs 3500 lbs when loaded on the trailer. I only tow it a few miles, and it is all flat roads, and I have no oil cooler.
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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bullet Cat Back, Superchip, K&N FIPK Intake.
Centerline Saber rims 17x8" with Firestone GTA 275/60hr-17 tires.
Alpine CDA-7845, ADS P640 Amp, Focal Poly Kevlar seperates.
SILVER 2001 LIGHTNING on order
http://members.tripod.com/donf150/Welcome/id7.html
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 547
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From: La Mirada CA. USA
jjim. If the truck had a "tow package" from the factory it has the transmission cooler already, check with the a dealer to see what came with the factory tow package. If the hitch was added later an aftermarket cooler would be a VERY good idea, even when you're not towing.