ATF temperature while towing...

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Wellington, Ontario, Canada
I have a 2010 Ford Ranger, 6 litre V-6, automatic, 4 x 2. My Scangauge tells me that when not towing the temp range is 165 to 175F. When towing a 2 000 lb. trailer, the temp peaks out at 194F. I will be towing a 4 000 lb. trailer to the East coast and back soon and wonder if the temp goes higher that 195F, would that be a possible problem.

There is a stock oil cooler in front of the rad.

I checked with Ford and all they could tell me is that the truck can tow a maximum of 5 500 lbs.

Any comments?

Thanks, Paul.
 
Should be ok as long as you take over normally and don't hammer on the gas and don't idle too much in traffic.

Might not be a bad idea to switch to a synthetic transmission fluid, not that the dino one can't handle these temperatures but from what I have read synthetic seems to keep the transmissions cooler.

Have a safe trip!

cheers3.gif
 
With the 2k lb trailer are you towing with O/D? The transmission temp may be lower with o/d off.

I think 230 degrees F and higher would be the danger zone so to speak on the trans fluid temp.
 
Originally Posted By: beast3300
With the 2k lb trailer are you towing with O/D? The transmission temp may be lower with o/d off.

I reach the temp of 194F when going up a grade, so that would be in the lower gears.

Actually, the temp is lower when in OD at highways speeds.
 
I'd say if you're under 210*, you're fine. If it gets over that, go easy on it to try to cool it down. Above 230* and bad stuff may happen to your tranny, plus the fluid will be fried (change it ASAP if this happens).
 
The best thing you can do to keep fluid temps in check while towing a heavy load, is to increase cooling of the fluid by either replacing the stock cooler with the biggest one you can get in there or adding a big cooler in series with the stock one. Long Manufacturing of Canada makes some really good LPD (low pressure drop) coolers that will do a great job. Some folks who live in colder climates like to plumb in an inline fluid thermostat as well, to allow the fluid to warm up in the winter.

The second part of the equation is to use a higher quality synthetic ATF such as Amsoil, Redline, or Schaeffers which can handle the higher operating temps during towing better, and may even contribute to lowering the fluid temp a bit overall.

If you choose to bypass either of these upgrades, at least get some fresh fluid in there before you tow heavy, then change it again when you get back.

I'm not sure you have a 6 liter V6-does not sound likely...

Also, not sure that your ATF cooler in front of the radiator is an aux cooler or the main one. Usually the fluid path is through the radiator ATF cooler (if it has one), then out front to the aux cooler, then back to the transmission. If the aux cooler is kinda small, you could replace with a much bigger aftermarket one. I prefer the crossflow LPD type ATF coolers to the tube and fin style, but either style will work better than a much smaller factory cooler.
 
Hey Haliburton, wouldn't your 2010 Ford Ranger engine be a 3.0L SOHC V6 or a 4.0L DOHC V6? There is no such engine of a Ford 6.0L V6 that exists anywhere.
 
Yes, you're right, it's a 4.0 v-6. It's been a long, hot day.

I like your suggestions, bmwtech, makes sense. You are right about the fluid path being into the rad cooler first, then the rather small ATF cooler in front of the rad.

I'll check into that "Long" suggestion. Being up here in Canada, I can likely talk to someone on the phone Monday and get a recomendation. I think swapping out the stock cooler for a larger one and perhaps a thermostat is the way to go.

I was also pondering putting a fan in front of the tranny cooler, perhaps a squirel cage fan of some sort that could be switched on as required.
 
Some aux. trans coolers come with a pre-installed fan right on the cooler, as do some Perma-Cool kits, but they are more expensive. At highway speeds, not sure that a fan will do a lot of extra cooling for you, but at lower speeds, would surely help some.

We have gotten some aux ATF coolers from bulkpart dot com, and they carry a wide variety, many of which are Long-made units. Companies such as B&M, Hayden, etc. also sell Long-made units. I can get a nice 12X12"X.75" universal aux cooler/kit for $50 plus tax here at our local AAP and that is what we have often used as well.

A couple of other things to consider, use OD sparingly, such as on easy downhill runs, etc. Better to use the direct drive gear (1:1 input-output speed the same)that may also allow the torque converter to lock-up, which will in turn keep temps lower. Torque converters build a lot of heat when multiplying torque (clutch is unlocked) pulling heavy loads.

Also don't neglect your engine and rear diff. Use lubricants there which can take more heat/load and still protect. Perhaps a bump up in engine oil viscosity and/or use a good syn while towing in hot weather. I would consider at least a temporary switch to HDEO 15w40.

The rear diff could benefit from a heavy duty synthetic 75W-110 or 75W-140 while towing. We use Amsoil Severe Gear mostly and it has been "bulletproof" for us with anything we throw at it. Plus it has great cold flow for the winter.

I'm just sharing what I would do in your situation to avoid problems.
 
Thanks for the links, very informative!

I think one of the fan equipped units is the way to go. I'm thinking of removing the stock cooler and replacing with the Maxi Pass.

What about over cooling?

Any good tranny shops in Trenton, Belleville area?
 
I came across this link:

http://www.perma-cool.com/Catalog/Cat_page19.html

18905 Wiring Kit (replaces 19005)
ADJUSTABLE 160°F - 210°F THERMAL SWITCH
Kit includes all components for electric fan installation: 160°F - 210°F "Vari-Cool" adjustable electronic fan control, pre-assembled insulated wire assembly, wire connectors, in-line fuse holder with 25 Amp fuse, detailed instructions. Large size dual fans may require an additional relay kit, part number 18902, sold separately.

This could be a viable compromise.

I wonder if kit includes the fan?
 
Sustained driving with the temp over 210* or so would concern me.

Hitting 195* every so often while driving, not so much. I wouldn't worry.

The 5R44E with factory trans cooler in my truck has gone as high as about 191* according to the Scan Gauge a few times while towing light trailers and being driven hard. With 99K miles it's still shifting great with no repairs or modifications, just regular (25K mile) changes with Mercon V or BG full synthetic.
 
Looks like those wiring kits do not include the fan. A fan is really only necessary for remote locations that do not have the air pushing through the cooler from vehicle travel. Remember, there is also your mechanical or electric radiator fan pulling air through the cooler as well. I would just get the biggest aux. cooler that you can stuff in there that has the thermostatic bypass for cold climates, such as this one:

http://www.bulkpart.com/Merchant2/mercha...Product_Count=3
 
Just a BIG cooler, without the added complexity, cost, and potential unreliability of an electric fan and it's control circuits, would be a better investment of your money, IMO. Plus it will cost less overall. The coolers without a fan are either 3/4", 1.25", or 1.5" depth. With a fan mounted on the cooler, it will be at least 3" depth, which could make a big difference when trying to find room to mount the thing somewhere in front of the ac condenser. Here are the Perma-Cool with the fan: Note the 3" depth and high cost WITHOUT wiring or mounting kit, compared to the Tru-Cool Max in the link above.

http://www.perma-cool.com/Catalog/Cat_page13-1.html

http://www.summitracing.com/search/?keyword=Perma-Cool+Electric+Fans&page=6
 
The temp reading is from his Scangauge, which I assume is a tool that can read the transmission's temp sensor, which is located somewhere inside the unit (via the OBDII connection in real time).
 
I had a Pontiac grand prix for a little while that would display tranny fluid temp on the dash. During normal mixed driving without any additional load in Pennsylvania it would get up to about 220 degrees. On the highway it would sit at around 206. It would take about 45 minutes to get there, but it would not ever come down.
 
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