I've done a search and cannot find good answers to my questions. First, I'm not even sure if I have a tranny cooler on my truck. I have a class III hitch on my truck, but only have a 4-pin connector, not a 7-pin. I don't know if I have the high output alternator and I don't have the factory battery anymore, so I can't tell if it was bigger than a non-tow package truck. On the passenger side of my engine in front of the radiator, there is a small cooler. I think this may be a tranny cooler, but I'm not positive. There is also a small cooler on the driver side, but I'm fairly sure it is for the power steering system.

So here's my first question: Is the cooler on the passenger side the tranny cooler?

Next, if I do have a factory tranny cooler, is it good practice to replace it with a better one, like the Troyer tranny cooler? I've been led to believe that the 4R70W is a relatively weak tranny and anything you can do to keep it cool will extend its life. I don't tow very often, and when I do, it's usually a small trailer with a couple quads on it. I do a considerable amount of highway driving and some city driving also. I live near Seattle, so the weather isn't terribly hot of cold. Do any of you think my tranny is in danger of overheating from these driving conditions? If it won't hurt my trany, I would like to install the Troyer cooler for a piece of mind. However, I've heard it is possible to keep the tranny too cold. Would the Troyer cooler do this? Any help is appreciated.

-Craig

 

Someone has to know something about this . . . c'mon fellas.

-Craig

 

If you have two small coolers in front of the A/C condensor, one is almost certainly a PS cooler, and the other a auxiliary tranny cooler. That and the class III hitch would seem to indicate a factory tow package. However, the four-pin connector would seem to contradict this, since the factory tow package provides a seven-pin. Perhaps the hitch and tranny cooler are aftermarket (previous owner?)

All that aside, whether its factory or aftermarket, it definitely sounds like you have an auxiliary tranny cooler.

Now, in my opinion, that should be suffcient for the uses and light towing you describe, especially if you change the fluid (or have it changed) every 30,000 miles as recomended. If you do that and don't dog it too bad, I think your tranny should last as long as you want it too...easily 100,000+, with luck probably 150,000 or more.

I am at 101,000 with no hint of any kind of tranny trouble whatsoever.

 

Why don't you follow the lines from each of the coolers, that would tell you 100% if you have a tranny cooler or not. If you do have a tranny cooler, I wouldn't worry about towing a couple of quads. I would tow that much even if I didn't have a cooler. I had my trans fluid and coolant flushed every other year, regardless of how many miles were on the fluid. Usually right around 40,000 each time it was done.

 

yes you have the stock tranny cooler from what you describe, i also have the stock tranny cooler and i also have a tranny temp gauge also, i also do alot of light towing(small travel trailer or a quad trailer louded with my two quads and dirtbikes), i spend alot of time in the desert and the tranny temps rarely get to 180- pulling it up long hills, you will be perfectly fine, you have nothing to worry about i change my fliud every 30,000 and the fliud always comes out looking new, so just sit back and relaxe you have nothing to worry about

 

Perfect, thanks for the help. I figured the stock tranny cooler would be sufficient, but I just wanted to make sure before I spent $200 for the Troyer cooler. When I install my Bilsten shocks tomorrow, I'll follow the lines from the tranny just to be sure I really have a tranny cooler.

-Craig

 

First, for the record, ALL of the 97-03 automatics have a transmission cooler, towing package or not. It's built into the radiator.

Second, the super cooling package (which was included on the 7700lb/250 LDs, trailer towing packages, and super-cooling packages) included an auxiliary cooler that was mounted out in front by the power steering cooler. You don't need to follow the lines all the way back to the trans. Just follow the lines down from teh side of the radiator. If they both run back to the trans, you don't have the aux. cooler. If one runs to one of the two auxiliary coolers out front, you DO have the aux. cooler.

-Joe

 

I will be towing about 4-5,000lbs (open car trailer with 2200lb racecar and spares). I have the tow package that includes the cooler, hitch, 7 & 4 pin wiring and shocks.

Question is, do you guys need larger coolers for this kind of load? I plan on installing a guage anyway, but I would like to know before next season (towing 200-500 miles once a month) if a larger cooler is necesary. Pulling over all the time to let the tranny cool sucks.

 

i think you will be fine, having the guage is good so you can monitor the temps but i dont think you will have a problem

 

Just my 2 cents.

If you dont have an auxillary cooler, get one.

Installed its less then $200 for a good one. I know you might not REALLY need it, But its the "Peice of mind" factor here.

That $200 may save you from a $2500 rebuild. It will definently extend the life of your tranny. Its almost a given that the money spent will be paid back in maint. savings.

I change tires before they go bald, I change batteries when they begin to crank slowly, I change belts when they begin to crack. The point is, You should add the cooler to insure that it wont have tranny problems.

If you spend a little now, you can save alot of cash later.

 

I had a '91 Explorer without the tow package, which also meant that I didn't have the transmission cooler, and it had a failed transmission around 70k or so miles, and it was going again before my dad got rid of it a little a couple of years later. The '94 Explorer with a tow package and transmission cooler at least made it over 130k miles on the original transmission before it had any signs of impending failure when we got rid of it in September when I bought my '05 F-150. I won't get another truck without a good transmission cooler.

 

Guys,
What exactly is the factory towing package? Are tranny coolers only standard on these trucks with the towing package? How difficult is it to install one (tranny cooler) in the driveway?

 

ther are a few towing packages, one will get you the tranny cooler and 3.73 gears and a class5 hich with the 4 pin and 7 pin, the other comes with the hich and towing conectors and the cooler sometimes,there might be some other packages too that i am not aware of, it is not hard to install the cooler, good luck