Tranny cooler suggestions

N

N_bannerman

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I've got a 99 with the 3.4 and auto tranny that I am looking for a tranny fluid cooler for. What do you guys run on yours?
I've got a trip from SE Washington to Oklahoma and back planned for September and will be towing a u-haul on the way home and don't want to worry about killing the tranny if the radiator says **** you on the way home.
Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks
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I have the B&M 70264 also and would suggest that. I pulled a loaded 6x12 U-Haul trailer from Phoenix to Seattle and did not have any issues. Make sure you install the in/out ports on top or vertical; not facing down. It mounts really nice behind the grill using the supplied brackets.
 
70264 is what a lot of guys use, I will probably install it very soon as well on my 3rd gen. However, there are guys who install HUGE coolers, so large they have no cold bypass, but IIRC there is an extra cold fluid bypass you can install in-line to make up for what the cooler doesn't come with. I believe I've seen guys jam the B&M 70274 in there, it's rather large but will definitely keep things cool while towing in summer. Not sure if that's the one without the bypass, but I can't imagine installing one would be a lot more work once in there.
 
I have been looking into it as well and thinking about the tru cool 4544,is there much differance between it and the b&m to matter?
 
This subject has received a post-mortem beating on multiple occasions :deadhorse:, so search a bit and you will find lots of opinions with little data/science.

The reality is that most any cooler is fine, the 2 B&M models being the most popular, the 4454 also being very popular, and all of them are just fine. Some people make a big to-do about the 70264 vs the 70268, but both are better than nothing, and both are better than a milkshake. For my 2 cents, I used the 70268 and have pretty low tranny temps all year round.

4Runner4TW is absolutely right though, the one factor that I think can actually make a significant difference here is the install. Read the B&M instructions (on their website), or do your own research, and you will find that most every reputable source say that you should mount the cooler either both outlets facing up, or the fluid flow entering the cooler at the bottom, exiting at the top (never both facing down, despite the fact that Ford apparently installed a bunch like this back in the day...). This allows the entire cooler to fill up and achieve maximum cooling rather than trapping a big air pocket in the cooler.

Don't worry too much about hype and opinions, it's just a cooler. Install it right and it'll do the job. If you haven't already, you might consider picking up a scangauge or similar that will allow to monitor the tranny temps real time, so you can see if you are overloading it on your drive.
 
OD override - learn when to use it.

As others said on here, get whichever cooler you like, mount per instructions, add a real time temp sensor (i recommend Torque & a cheap BT327 off ebay)) and learn when to use the OD override button, unless you get the really, really big cooler and/or run in series with your factory cooler design, it will still heat up to 230+ going up the sierra madre or west texas mtns for example if you don't turn the OD off going uphill (that's my experience anyway).

The original cooler, though physically small really is much more effective than a much larger aftermarket cooler because it is operating in a liquid to liquid environment vs. liquid to air one AND because the cooling liquid (radiator fluid) doesn't get above 199 typically - that is what keeps it in check. Toyo had the right idea just not the best execution of it. Luck! :banana:
 
I installed a new B&M 70268 inline with a TYC radiator and the trans temps dropped from 175-195 operating range on the highway to 160-180 range on the highway. So roughly 15-20 degrees F cooler. Outside temps were around 90 (in case you're curious)
 
for

Tru cool has a 4544 and a 4454.

btu 20,000 for 4554
btu 13,000 for 4454.
btu 14,400 for B&M 70264
btu 13,000 for B&M 70268
They all have LPD feature.

Nominal difference, imho,, between the B&M's and the TC 4454.
Substantial difference between them and the TC 4544.
Go for more cooling capacity. There is no downside I am aware of. I have the trucool 4544. Most folks here seem to run the BM, I assume because lots of other people run it so it is a no brainer. I say go brainer and go more BTUs. I have read that bypassing the stock cooler necessitates a 1 to 2 size increase. Since most install an auxiliary cooler to bypass the stock one, I say go for more BTUs.
See above? vm_boy installed his BM 70268 in series, so fewer BTUs is appropriate.
 
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Yeah, I have my 70268 in bypass and my tranny temps are fine. I went with the smaller one because we have cold winters here in Boston and I didn't want to over-cool in the winter. The fluid should be good and hot for smooth running. If you live a cold climate, then I'd maybe not go with the 20k BTU model, or cover it in the winter like alot of truckers do.

To me having the tranny temps visible while I drive is a very comforting check as I can see if I have any other problem.

And yeah, the difference between the 2 B&M's IMO is nominal.
 
I want to not use the factory radiator for the trans at all and just have trans cooler only, so I dont have to worry about it.
 
Thanks for all the info on the coolers. I'm trying to separate the trans from the radiator all together to keep from turning the tranny into a milkshake, though it would be good reason for a 5spd swap.
 
N_bannerman said:
Thanks for all the info on the coolers. I'm trying to separate the trans from the radiator all together to keep from turning the tranny into a milkshake, though it would be good reason for a 5spd swap.
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Exactly! Me too, keep us posted on what you decide, is just the B&M cooler enough on its own?

I see your in WA :cheers:
 
Nelsonmd said:
I went with the smaller one because we have cold winters here in Boston and I didn't want to over-cool in the winter. The fluid should be good and hot for smooth running. If you live a cold climate, then I'd maybe not go with the 20k BTU model, or cover it in the winter like alot of truckers do.
Click to expand...

I was concerned about over cooling also. Everything I read said this is not an issue with the LPD design. Scangauge showed ATF warmed up quickly on cold Colorado mornings. I use synthetic trans fluid which flows easier at low temps.
 
How many of you are running just the b&m cooler with out the factory cooler? I'm still not sure what one I want to go with do to the fact we get up into the 100's in summer but it will see a good amount of snow wheeling in the winter
 
I ordered a 4544 tru cool for 75 bucks,I will install as a bypass next week,I will post up some temp reading as it in the mid 90s here.
 
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