TRANSMISSION COOLER
Submitted: Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 15:20
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KYLE S
I AM GOING TO TOW AN OLD 2 AXLE 6 METER VAN. WITH A 2008 SY FORD TERRITORY
I BELIEVE THE VAN HAS A TARE OF 1600 KGS.
I WONDER IF I NEED AN ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION COOLER?.
I KNOW IT CAN'T DO ANY HARM, BUT DO I NEED IT?
WONDER WHAT EXPERIENCED CARAVANERS THINK?
THANKS
Reply By: GT Campers - Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 15:55
Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 15:55
A very good idea, I think Ford specifies this when towing heavier weights, I used to
cook my Falcon 4-sp trans when towing 1000kg (but fast :) )
You can't have a trans too cool
AnswerID:
481742
Follow Up By: KYLE S - Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 17:35
Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 17:35
Thanks for your reply.
I had an extra cooler on my EL for towing boats.
I asked ford service manager about cooler for Territory and he advised that Ford didn't "do"one for the 2008 Territory as not required. However, he suggested he would put an after market one on.
All a bit odd I think
FollowupID:
757070
Follow Up By: GT Campers - Friday, Mar 30, 2012 at 07:57
Friday, Mar 30, 2012 at 07:57
google: Davies, Craig (and) PWR - they manufacture coolers, fitting is quite easy, there are zip-tie style mounts that hold the cooler to the front surface of the radiator, then cut into one of teh cooler lines to run cooler in series with standard cooler, might be able to install without removing bumpers etc
FollowupID:
757130
Reply By: Ross M - Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 17:16
Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 17:16
Think of a warm to hot day, reasonably heavy load, a bit of a head wind to make the territory work a bit. All that extra effort is largely converted to heat and this is normally added to the cooling system of the engine by the heat exchanger in the radiator.
If the engine cooling is already nearly maxed out with the engine load heating it, it then has little ability left to try and cool the transmission and may possibly over cause overheat then engine too.
A cooler plumbed into the outlet from the trans and connected to the input of the radiator will get rid of the maximum amount of heat before it hits the radiator heat exchanger. Simple thermodynamics.
Do not fit the cooler in the return line from the rad to the trans cos the heat has already hit the radiator and isn't the most effective way of fitting a cooler.
Yes I think any towing requires a cooler fitted, definitely in your case.
Make sure whoever fits it also tops up the trans with the CORRECT COMPATIBLE FLUID.
Ross M
AnswerID:
481754
Follow Up By: KYLE S - Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 17:43
Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 17:43
Thanks
Ross you confirm my thinking. I have a bit of a jump in and go for it personality however, thought to ask for others opinions.
I know it would be in a transmission specialists' interest to recommend a cooler but it is good to get thought of others.
Thanks again
FollowupID:
757071
Follow Up By: Ross M - Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 20:34
Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 20:34
KYLE S
If you think you will be towing in hilly terrain which means slow forward speed the airflow, if mounted in front of the radiator, will only be cooled by the fan airflow which may not be very much effect.
If possible I would fit a slim printed circuit type fan/motor combination and if in hilly long pull up situations I would switch the fan on and just let it dump as much heat out of the cooler as possible cos it is in this situation where everything will be climbing up the heat tree. Losts of people totally rely on the forward flow or fan flow but it can still get too hot. The oil in the transmission when working like this will easily boil water cos it is far hotter than the radiator and the boiling point of water.
FollowupID:
757095
Reply By: Rockape - Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 19:43
Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 19:43
Kylie,
years ago I drove over the
Moonbi Range many times and would come across vehicles with vans that had cooked their autos.
If I had an auto I would not even contemplate towing without a cooler unless the vehicle had one fitted or the manufacture stated that you do not need one. I am not talking about an inbuilt cooler in the radiator either.
All the best,
RA.
AnswerID:
481779
Reply By: snapper49 - Friday, Mar 30, 2012 at 08:25
Friday, Mar 30, 2012 at 08:25
Pretty sure you will have the 4 speed?
Most definately need another cooler
Best to disconect the existing one from the radiator as these have been known to faili ie water in the trans
Put a fully independent one on available from ford
Also when towing run in sports mode and only run as high as 3 rd gear
AnswerID:
481833
Follow Up By: KYLE S - Friday, Mar 30, 2012 at 12:28
Friday, Mar 30, 2012 at 12:28
Thanks for your responses.
Spoke to a transmission specialist this AM and discussed the
forum advice. He advised that the transmission "heat exchanger" has coolant running through it via connections to
the block (essentially no different than running lines through radiator tank just a money save on a meter or so of line). It would seem that is a point of failure. He has installed by- pass coolers on many falcons and does not involve any engine coolant in the process. I have arranged for him to install. Not cheap but will give me peace of mind.
FollowupID:
757163
Reply By: GT Campers - Friday, Mar 30, 2012 at 15:48
Friday, Mar 30, 2012 at 15:48
There is NO relationship between a Falcon I6 (or V8) block and trans cooler so I hope your mechanic mate wasn't inflating his quote by telling you porkies
Cooler = $100ish
Labour = 1hr
AnswerID:
481873