Trans cooler size

[Ram5773]

I have searched many Mustang sites with out finding an answer. Can someone tell me a good size automatic transmission cooler.

Is 24,000 GVW to much? or 30,000 GVW?
Has anyone data logged temps with either of these two coolers or have a temp gauge that can tell me differences in temperatures between the two.

I don't want to make it to cool but want to keep the temps in the desired range. I live in Florida if that helps.

3.73 are going in after Christmas and my car has usual bolt ons if that make any difference

Thanks
Ram

 

[san~man]

I have the B&M 24,000 model. That's more than enough for our purposes.

 

[propellerhead]

I worried about the same thing about getting too cool. My Transmission Fluid Temperature (TFT) with the stock cooler was usually around 180*-190*. After installing a cooler rated for 30,000 GVW, my temps were like 135*-140*. I installed mine as a standalone cooler that totally bypassed the stock cooler. I don't agree with that inline stuff. Anyway, under hard driving in the Texas summer heat, I got the TFT up to 172*. Is that too much cooling? I don't think so. I dug and dug to find what it considered "cold" transmission fluid and from what I could surmise, the EEC changes the transmission's behavior at around 86* TFT. Below 86*, it uses a modified shifting schedule to help warm up the fluid. You'll notice it won't lock the converter below that threshold. Anything above 86* is "normal". You'll read many references to above 225* as being too hot. My TFT never comes close. We can say anything between 86* and 225* is ok. With my cooler, I'm just below the halfway mark there.

 

[03ghoststang]

i forgot what size was my trans cooler, but it has been working great since i got it

 

[Gearbanger 101]

The bigger the better seems to be the general rule of thumb.

......that goes for intercoolers and heat exchangers too.

 

[Ram5773]

Propellarhead, thanks for the vast info. Do you think it would be adviseable to bypass the stock radiator cooler and run the 30,000GVW set up like you did?? Are the temps that your transmission run considered to cool? I'm strong in the motor side but not the computer side of transmissions. Just a concern of the trans runnung to cool.

Thanks again for your advice
Ram

 

[propellerhead]

Propellarhead, thanks for the vast info. Do you think it would be adviseable to bypass the stock radiator cooler and run the 30,000GVW set up like you did?? Are the temps that your transmission run considered to cool? I'm strong in the motor side but not the computer side of transmissions. Just a concern of the trans runnung to cool.

Thanks again for your advice
Ram

You'll find endless arguments with running the auxillary cooler inline with the stock cooler. Some will say you should go [trans -> aux cooler -> stock cooler ->trans]. Some will argue [trans -> stock cooler -> aux cooler -> trans]. Feel free to read those threads. I don't think either side's arguments really hold up. At least not in the southern states like Texas or Florida. I bypassed my stock cooler. My auxillary cooler is the only thing cooling my transmission fluid. As far as the engine computer is concerned, below 86* is cold. Anything above that is good to go. My cooler keeps my temps at around 140*. It is not overcooled.

 

[Ram5773]

What gear are you running??? Propellerhead

 

[sgarlic]

http://www.bulkpart.com/Merchant2/m...739&Category_Code=tru-cool-hd&Product_Count=3

Edit: I'd get this one if I had an automatic. That bypass addresses any cold startup or overcooling concerns, and you could probably tow a semi-truck up a hill in O/D and still not push this cooler to its limits.

Looks like an intercooler sort of.. I think that'd be sick.

 

[propellerhead]

What gear are you running??? Propellerhead

4.10

 

[LaserRed01GT]

From what I understand most ATF is designed to work best at a minimum temperature, but I don't think any of the street/strip type coolers out there are going to keep your fluid "too cool." I have never heard of anyone experiencing trans problems beacuse their TFT was too cold.

Propellar head is correct. The TFT sensor works with the PCM to help control line pressure, shift timing, and clutch/band duration/firmness.

If the TFT reports a specific minimum temp to the PCM, the PCM in turn activates a cold start shift schedule. The CSSS lowers shift speeds to allow for better cold motor operation. It also inhibits TCC lockup while in the CSSS.

To me it's a no brainer to run an aftermarket cooler as stand alone. The stacked plate core in the radiator can get up to 240°-270°F. So the engine coolant is putting heat into the SPC and the trans is putting heat right back into the engine coolant by way of the radiator as a whole. It just makes sense to run the trans cooler as stand alone in my opinion.

I like the frame or rail mount coolers.

 

[Ram5773]

Well thanks guys for the help and answers. I going to order the 30,000 after I recover from Christmas. I will run it in a stand alone set up for the cooler.

What is CSSS????

Thanks again
Ram

 

[LaserRed01GT]

Well thanks guys for the help and answers. I going to order the 30,000 after I recover from Christmas. I will run it in a stand alone set up for the cooler.

What is CSSS????

Thanks again
Ram

Cold Start Shift Schedule.

In my opinion, the 30,000 would be way overkill on a AODE/4R70W in a Mustang.

A 16k GVW cooler would work well. If you wanted to go slightly overkill just because, a 24k GVW would be more than sufficient.