Ranger Mods

whats the best transmission cooler for PX 2

des1770 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 2:53 pm whats the best transmission cooler for PX 2

I can't say which is the "best" cooler.
I fitted a PWR Dual core cooler to mine.
Very efficient, like having two coolers.
It is made specifically for Rangers so it can be fitted without bullbar, grill etc removal.
Wholesale Automatics sell the PWR cooler with their name on it, so it's considerably cheaper than one with PWR on it.
Remember a cooler can only do so much, with a thermostatically controlled fluid it's not going to drop the temp a lot but it will run at a more consistent temperature.

I dunno what's best either but I would be hesitant putting one in front of the intercooler especially if you have upgraded it to keep intake temps down, this one from GCG looks like it might be ok, not cheap but what is? Might need a fan for slow going though, pulling a trailer west of Birdsville would test it out.
https://gcg.com.au/Transmission-Cooler- ... -FRPX.html

Intercooler Temp hasn't changed since the trans cooler was fitted
Also aids engine cooling as the trans water cooling is gone.
Many have been fitted and all positive.

That looks like a fairly small cooler and where it is mounted a bullbar may block air flow

Ross I think I read you still have the stock intercooler with hard pipes yes? I'm guessing that you are not stressing your rig too much, no jab intended, we all do different stuff and it's horses for courses, plazmaman told my brother in no uncertain terms do not put a transcooler in front of their intercooler, I agree totally there are benifits to getting rid of the stock cooler, thermo fans on a transcooler not in front of the intercooler to me has appeal is all.

I go beach fishing on the West Coast and I can assure you my car works hard, the sand hills are steep and long.
The Ranger is great in sand, the transmission is not.
After a lot of trial and error the only way to get the trans cool was to do the thermal bypass.
Others in the group tried fans and different set-ups, they all have limits.
Towing our 2.4t van @ 105 doesn't see the trans above 70 on average.
Working in sand sees it around 85 where before it easily hit 110
The downside of thermal bypass in winter with no load is that it runs a bit cold with the cooler as well.
Lucky to reach 50deg
No sign of sticking valves so I will leave it as the state I live in gets hot in summer.
The original sump has been replaced with one that has a drain plug so in 10,000klms I will drain a little oil and check the colour.
It may need to be changed earlier as the optimum temperature for ATF is 80 deg

Sorry was a bit of an assumption on my part, not trying to ruffle any feathers, I've brought that sump from the states, it's cleared customs apparently, I have the bypass valve on the bench to go in when the sump rolls up, my bus had 133000 on it when I got it a month ago, looking at the sump bolts I highly doubt it's been off so it's in for a birthday, love the rig, live in Townsville so cool it's not, think winter was last Wednesday lol

No worries, just pointing out a few different things were tried with several Rangers.
In the end it's simple, if the fitted thermostat is designed to maintain 90deg then no matter what you do, the best will be to maintain that temp and help prevent it rising too much.
The only answer is to remove it, and Townsville is ideal country to get the benefit.
The "sealed for life" is a crock, service it like any auto.
I have seen some really burnt ATF come out at only 20k, running so hot is no good.

what am i looking at here, is this the original cooler or an after market ?, even so it comes from a Ford Seller, if original cannot one duplicate the cooler to get twice the cooling capacity
https://www.jeffersonfordparts.com.au/f ... system-kit
From what i have looked up, people are getting ripped, there is a simple form of radiator that would do the same as these snake oil sales men are proposing at a fraction of the price and would not go any where near the radiator, hint a QLD company were (are doing?) radiators for Ferrari, may be thats why they don't offer them, more to come

4 hose connections would suggest it is a genuine cooler. 2 connection points for trans fluid and 2 for water in and out.

Internal failure means water and fluid mix.

Yep it looks exactly the same as the one I changed out a few weeks ago for the wholesale auto kit

I've been doing a lot of looking around, I noticed hpds transcooler is different and mounts below. Has anyone looked at these? If so is there any reason not to mount it there?

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BEAS7Y wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 8:15 am I've been doing a lot of looking around, I noticed hpds transcooler is different and mounts below. Has anyone looked at these? If so is there any reason not to mount it there?

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Same as the cooler a few posts up.
It's not a very big cooler.
If there is a bull bar fitted would that reduce airflow.
Being low could it get covered in mud.

RossPat wrote:

BEAS7Y wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 8:15 am I've been doing a lot of looking around, I noticed hpds transcooler is different and mounts below. Has anyone looked at these? If so is there any reason not to mount it there?

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Same as the cooler a few posts up.
It's not a very big cooler.
If there is a bull bar fitted would that reduce airflow.
Being low could it get covered in mud.

Ah yeah I didn't even click on it haha. Might be easier to book it in with wholesale after the lockdown, get a service and bypass valve done all in the one go

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A fluid to fluid cooler is far more efficient than an air to fluid. You might want to replace your OE cooler with one of these - bigger, better and able to cope with higher fluid and ambient temperatures and at the same time keep your ATF at the correct temperature

I know I don't want water flowing through the trans, pipes have been known to split and put water in the trans.
The radiator has enough to cope with but then ad the extra load of cooling ATF that is anywhere from 90 - 100deg +
Since I removed the water cooling the motor has no trouble running from 86 - 90 towing 2.5ton.

External coolers are also known to split with vibrations and dump the entire ATF on the track as well, it happened to me. There is no perfect solution but both Plasmaman and Forefront Industries are quite definite in stating that transmission oil coolers are not to be installed in front of their intercoolers. My OE Land Rover Discovery ATF air-cooled radiator split on the Anne Beadell in 2013, we lost 80-90% of the ATF some 100 kms before Ilkulka Roadhouse and I had to cobble some up by mixing diesel and engine oil, interestingly some of the Finke Desert racers run demineralised water in their auto-gearboxes, no ATF just pure water.

Have seen cheap coolers split, never heard of a quality PWR cooler one splitting.
I suppose when they make all sorts of coolers and when they are used in racing they soon learn.
As always, you get what you pay for.

True on the get what you paid for, paid for an intercooler, maker said don't put a trans cooler in front of it or you wasted your money, so I won't, but I might put one under or behind it if I find the temps get too much this coming wet season, will be watching both fluids and see what happens, one bloody stick can ruin your day regardless of how much you paid.

i have wholesale auto trans dual cooler and see temps rise at slow speeds on a 17c day in the bush and there is no room to fit a fan. AFE large sump & thermostat bypass also fitted. I think Ian is on to it.

i have wholesale auto trans dual cooler and see temps rise at slow speeds on a 17c day in the bush and there is no room to fit a fan. AFE large sump & thermostat bypass also fitted. I think Ian is on to it.

hoges wrote: ↑Fri Sep 25, 2020 4:47 pm i have wholesale auto trans dual cooler and see temps rise at slow speeds on a 17c day in the bush and there is no room to fit a fan. AFE large sump & thermostat bypass also fitted. I think Ian is on to it.

I fitted wat kit yesterday. I just had a look and could modify the mounting brackets and move the cooler back, possibly cut a bit of grill and a David Craig 9 inch fan would go in.

If I find temps at low speed is an issue I will fit the fan.

I'm camped south of Charters towers after a run from north of Townsville with a fair load on the ute and towing van in mostly about 34c temp. What a difference with just a trans cooler. Trans runs at 96. Engine up to 103 on long up hill runs but drops off quickly if I ease off. Mostly? I could hold 100kph without having to manage temps.

It cools down quickly on a downhill run but didn't after stopping for roadworks after a long uphill run, even with keeping the engine at high idle. I will put a new fan hub on as soon as practical as I think that is lacking.

Bala1 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 02, 2020 6:38 pm I'm camped south of Charters towers after a run from north of Townsville with a fair load on the ute and towing van in mostly about 34c temp. What a difference with just a trans cooler. Trans runs at 96. Engine up to 103 on long up hill runs but drops off quickly if I ease off. Mostly? I could hold 100kph without having to manage temps.

It cools down quickly on a downhill run but didn't after stopping for roadworks after a long uphill run, even with keeping the engine at high idle. I will put a new fan hub on as soon as practical as I think that is lacking.

I have been through all of this & the only way you will lower the temp is remove what is creating the temp, the Thermostat.
No matter what you do the Thermostat will win.
Trans coolers help maintain a temp, don't really lower it because they still run hot with the Thermostat.
The factory cooler on the trans doesn't do much because it's not a cooler, it's a heat exchanger and as the motor & trans run about the same temps it can't do much.
I did a lot of stop/start driving today & the motor topped out at 86 and the trans maxed @ 62, not real hot ambient @ 33deg, not towing either.

I'm not worried about the trans temp now, it used to go over 100 now it's stable and not putting heat into the engine coolant.

I just want to be able to drive without needing to manage temps. It is now much better than it was prior to the trans cooler.