Since Ford has alleged that the stock radiator is sufficient for the extreme demands of towing, one can only wonder just what has to change for that to be true.

For example, wiht my nice, new 2.02" rad, the engine collant temps will be lower, maybe even near thermostat opening temps. This results in coller cylinder head temps, which reduces the possibility of pre ignition which means the engine computer feels better about advancing my timing to give me better performance and mileage.

But now, put the dinky radiator in. Sure, maybe it keeps the engine under max allowed temps, but at what cost? The engine runs hotter, so the engine computer retards timing and enriches the mixture to keep down pre ignition. Result: poorer mileage and less power.

I just wonder how much of a difference it makes.

 

What that whole thing boiled down to (D'OH!) is Ford found a way to cut costs on vehicle assembly. Only use one radiator instead of sourcing 2 or 3 different ones=assembly cost savings. And they risked customer dissatisfaction and more bad publicity which they cannot afford right now.

--karl

 

Beast,

That was the exact same discussion I had today with a guy who owns an auto parts store. Sure, the standard may be adequate, but how much will it otherwise shorten the lifespan of your engine and possibly tranny?

I'm still wondering if this was deliberate because of the Firestone mess or accidental. Due to the widespread aspect of it, I believe the former. I will definitely being purchasing the ESP in the first 12k wonderin what else might just be adequate .

By the way, did ask him to check my alternator to make sure I had the 130 amp heavy duty model or the standard as some have apparently gotten. I did get the 130 as I was supposed to. Now I just have to verify the shocks. Odd part is the numbers on the shocks don't match the numbers that the Ford parts guy gave me. Anyone have any ideas?

 

Howdy All,

A Larger radiator will begin to work when you have a heat load. Like towing a larger trailer up an extended grade in extreme heat. The larger radiator will be able to disapate the excess heat load. That is what it is designed to do.

If you have the single core or you have the double core the engine water temp will be regulated via the thermostat. Your truck will not run cooler with the larger radiator vs the smaller one. The only time the larger radiator will make a difference is when you have a heat load.

 

That's exactly the point, Wolf. For example, I'm sitting stuck in traffic on the slab, 106 degrees air temp, 140 degrees on the concrete, engine turning at 650 RPM, AC on, my engine starts to get heat soaked real fast.

Or, I'm at 9700 feet, 90 degree day, pulling a 4800 lb trailer uphill with almost 60 square feet of frontal area. Foot has been flat on the floor for the last 5 miles, and I can't do better than about 45. Is my engine pouring out the heat or what?

Now the Ford boys say that the stock rad will handle these situations and shed enough heat. Me, I'm not so sure that the temps won't be higher with the stock rad. That's one of the prime reasons I've always bought the tow package... to know that I have excess heat shedding capacity. Now, these boys say everybody has it.

Ford could at least provide some technical test data to prove up their claim.

 

Well, went in today to the dealership service department. I explained that the incorrect radiator was put into my vehicle and that I wanted the proper one installed.

They pulled out the stock number of the one that was supposed to be in my truck(oddly enough it was the 1.42 upgrade radiator stock number). I said that is the one I need and it is not the one that is in my truck.

They went out, read the label off the side of the core in my truck and verified it was the improper one, ordered the correct one, and I shall be getting a call for install when the new one comes in.

It was nice to see it all go very smoothly. Thank the Lord. I was prepared for war and now I can reap the peace dividend.

 

hate to show my ignorance but ...
I have the towing pkg on my '98 5.4L 4x4 Flareside and automatically assumed (yes, i know...) the people at Ford could put the right radiator in as long as it wasn't monday or friday. What do i need to check/look for to find out if my 4x4 is running an escort radiator?
Thanks
Larry

 

98 4x4 Flareside,

A couple of questions before we can understand whether or not you have the right size radiator. One, did your truck come out of the factory with either the towing package or the heavy duty electrical/cooling package?

That answer will determine the biggest portion of this.

 

Howdy B Rider,

I,m with ya BRoTHeR.

That is why I paid the Xtra shells for the trailer tow package. I wanted the BiG Radiator.

 

Beastrider, agree with you all the way. The heat load is the issue here and there is now way a smaller unit designed for light duty will out perform or compare with its heavy duty counterpart.
I wish you all luck in getting the upgrade you paid for.

 

The most likely problem you will have with the single radiator is tranny cooking. But that is likely only if you don't have an external aux tranny cooler.

So long as the temp gauge or light does not go on, the engine temp is fine. However, the coolant temp inside the radiator will be warmer with a single row than a double row and the internal tranny cooler is cooled by that coolant. Get an external cooler if you don't have one. I suspect this was Ford's rationale for dropping the larger rad, that the tow pkg and super cooling both came with external tranny coolers and thus do not need lower temps in the radiator. Regardless, you should get what you paid for and what the literature indicated.

I still can't figure why Ford felt saving $50 bucks on an external cooler was smart in view of the benefit it gives the tranny. I'll take a tranny cooler over body side molding any day and I bet the side molding is more than $50.