Trans. Cooler for 1993 F250HD 7.3idi with Banks Turbo

[OkieDieselMan]

I have a 1993 F250HD Extended Cab (Single Rear Wheels...NOT dually) with the E4OD Trans. that I bought new and am "upgrading" it to tow a 35ft. enclosed Gooseneck Trailer. I am trying to decide on the "best choice" for a Transmission Cooler.

I have been considering the Mishimoto #MMTC-F2D-03SL Cooler (i.e., often called "the 6.0" Cooler) for the Truck, but am a little concerned about installing it "between" the Radiator and A/C Condenser (where most people install these)...... I have done some "light" towing (around 3-4K lbs.) in 100 degree weather and the Truck does get pretty warm...probably up around 220+ degrees or so. As I am learning and from my research, these older 7.3 idi Trucks don't have an overly "large" Cooling System.... This is why I am a little "cautious" of going with the "large" Mishimoto Cooler (16" H x 25" W x 1.25" Thick) "between" the Radiator and A/C Condenser (I'm basically worried it will significantly "reduce" Air Flow and cause even more increased "heating" of the Engine Coolant.
*** I will be towing approx. 12K lbs. (Enclosed Trailer+Car inside, Tools, etc.) and this is the reason I am really concerned about "overheating" with a Large Cooler that may "block" too much Air Flow to the Radiator.

I'd really appreciate any opinions from guys that have actually "done some Towing" with this type of "load" and have my same type of Truck/Engine setup......What do you use for a Trans. Cooler...Any issues?.... Better areas to "mount" the Trans. Cooler?....Different Cooler recommendation.....Different Style of Cooler?.... or any other Tips/info.

Thanks in advance.

Harold

 

[Clb]

Fwiw
#1 Quality of the build
#2 biggest surface areayou can mount
#3 do the math for diameter of the tubes versus the flow, to big and your going to lose cooling
Wait for the input of the site

 

[DirtyWood]

I would be much less concerned about coolant temps than ATF temps, personally speaking. If your cooling system is in good shape then coolant temps should be manageable. I don't tow heavy but I have hauled some very heavy loads in the hills and I don't think I've ever heard the fan clutch lock and engage. The thermostat isn't fully open until about 215F and this is usually the max temp I see. Fan clutch is supposed to engage around 230F, maybe 235F. I have an aux. trans cooler about 14" x 12" x 3" and I have no issues with overheating the ATF or coolant.

One additional thing to consider is that if you are still running the original radiator you might consider NOT running the ATF through it and using an aftermarket ATF cooler as a stand-alone system. If it were me I would be a little uneasy about a 33 year old radiator and the possibility of an internal failure resulting in coolant getting into the ATf. If you do some forum reading you'll find varying opinions on using the radiator ATF cooler. With a new rad I would use the cooler but with a very old rad I would not, YMMV.

Tru-Cool seems to be a popular brand of trans cooler. I think the main hiccup with some of the larger coolers is that the E4OD In/Out coolant lines are approx 5/16 OD--actual spec might be 11/32 IIRC--and a lot of the larger coolers are 3/8"+.

Final note would be gauges, and I mean real gauges not the factory nonsense. Having a reliable numerical value allows the driver to make better decisions when pushing the engine hard.

 

[Clb]

Op
Fwiw
I regularly tow a 6-7k 5er with both the 88 and 93 in my sig line...
Both get hot, my experience is ferd fell asleep after they realized that the 6.9 cooling passages they deleted were in fact necessary...
I'm pulling over if I can't manage the cooling system under 230 with the egt guage.
Realize that the stat STARTS to open @ 190.

These do love heat and really pull great hot Right till they pop...

 

[DirtyWood]

Although I can't recall the username, there's a member here who offers an upgraded fan and fan clutch package. I think Workhorse Customs is the name and they can be found through facebook.

 

[Nero]

@03wr250f is who you are thinking of. Good products, I have them.

 

[gandalf]

I don't tow heavy with my '92 CClb dually, but I did set it up to run as cool as possible, on the theory that heat will kill it. I have a Long Tru-Cool (forget the model number), their largest capacity transmission cooler. I have it mounted first in line, ahead if all other coolers. I run the transmission lines through the proper section of the standard radiator. There is nothing fancy about the setup.

The most important single item in all this is to know what temps you are running. Good qulity guages are well worth the cost. I prefer Isspro gauges. I have and EGT gauge for the exhaust temp, with the probe mounted just after the manifold flange. I have a transmission temp guage, with the probe mounted in the test port on the E4OD. And of course I have a cooland "water" temp guage.

I have towed my 6x10 enclosed trailer from San Jose to the Canadian border, up I5, with a load of neatly boxed paper, 3+ feet high, covering the entire floor. The truck ran pretty consistantly at 190 coolant and 150 transmission. That was when the truck was NA. I was quite pleased with those numbers.

 

[chicken bones]

After I had my transmission rebuilt , I installed the Trucool max 40k . Trans temp stay around 150 deg. Amazon ,very happy with this cooler.