I don't have an auxiliary trans cooler but would like to add one and was wondering how the OEM cooler stacks up. The service manager at the dealership once quoted a price of around $150 (parts and labor) to install a cooler. I feel like anything would be better than nothing. I don't tow a trailer but want to protect the trans as much as possible, especially when driving in hills.

 

OEM cooler (stock) cools at the temp of the engine 180-200+.
A outside cooler will drop this way below to 130 or less.

 

I go a step further to ensure that if I overheat my truck I dont overheat tranny, I remove the tranny lines from the radiator and go directly through my cooler, per order of my tranny guy! Also if I remember correctly it cost me less than $ 50.00 and I did it in less than an hour. 97 F-150 4X4 Xcab 4.6

 

Lenny,

You said "I remove the tranny lines from the radiator and go directly through my cooler" what cooler? Are you saying there is somewhere else other than the radiator where these transmission coolant lines can be connected?

 

The auxiliary cooler we are referring to is an additional and/or separate unit. If you have the factory installed option it will be located behind the grille/bumper on the passenger side. The unit on driver's side is for the power steering.