I have an 2007 5.4 engine that did not have the towing package, but it does have a stock 5 plate trans cooler. Since I plan on towing a 5-6K trailer, is it worthwhile to swap the 5 plate trans cooler for a stock 9 plate cooler (which looks like it will use the existing tubing and connectors), or go to an after market cooler, or just run with the existing cooler?

Thanks

 

A little more info would help. How long are the tows? City or highway driving. Outside air temp average? Flat land or hill/mountain towing?

The only way I would recommend leaving it alone would be under 10 mile tows in a moderate temperature (under 70 degrees) on flat land. Anything else and a upgraded trans cooler is suggested. Don't bother with a factory cooler unless you just want it to look stock. For the price a larger aftermarket cooler is a usually better bargain.

 

I will be towing over low and high passes. Most trips will be 2-300 miles, but some much longer trips planned. Temps will generally be 65+. What I have now is a transmission cooler that is stock, but has five plates. When I look up what would appear to be a stock cooler for this year/engine, what I get is a nine plate cooler, such as a DORMAN 918-202. This cooler has a surface area of 114 sq inches, and aftermarket cooler recommended by B&M is a B&M 70266 stacked plate with 112 sq inches. They would be about the same price, but using the Dorman I should be able to use the same mounting location and tubing while the B&M would require more fitting and mounting work. The stock replacement would appear to be cleaner install and less work for the same performance. With this light of a trailer, I don't know if I need a cooler with a fan. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Personally Id keep your current cooler and add one of in addition guranteed to never have tranny heat problems (run that plus the in radiator cooler on my 1-ton and normally run in the 170 range...and it gets heated up by the radiator cooler vs cooled)