Good day. I'm back on the ranger forums after recently purchasing another ranger. 2008 XL 2.3 auto 4.10 gears. I'm looking to tow about 1800-2000lbs in summer (Towing capacity is 2280 but I think I'll stay at around 80% of that). I'd like to install the auxiliary transmission cooler that comes on the 3.0 and 4.0. Mounting will be no issue it looks like mine has the hold for the cooler already but I'm wondering if my trans will have the in/out ports for the aux cooler lines. Crawling underneath I can obviously see the lines that go to the internal cooler that already exists in the radiator but I can't see where my lines for the auxiliary will go. Has anyone done this mod/install? Any guidance on where those auxiliary hoses plug in would be nice haha! Maybe a picture of a 3.0 trans with the aux cooler would help. Thanks!

 

Welcome back!

Too bad your not in the south in which you could just bypass the tranny cooler in radiator and go straight to a good aftermarket trans cooler. You probably will still need to run the trans fluid to radiator to warm it up on those cold winters. If its a summer truck only, than feel free to bypass radiator. Makes for easier install.

You splice into one of those lines going to radiator. I bellieve you want to use the inlet line to route the fluid to the external cooler first.

Or you can hit up junkyard for these metal factory lines along with the 3.0/4.0 cooler.


Make sure you properly clean out any purchased used lines or cooler! If that donor ranger was sent to junk yard for bad transmission, there could be metal shavings everwhere in the fluid.

 

I think I understand and having the auxiliary cooler before the existing cooler makes sense in my mind. Hot transmission fluid cooled first through the auxiliary then through the existing internal cooler to return the fluid to normal temps. (I believe the engine cooling system keeps the coolant at 97-106C or 207-222F). Transmission fluid returning to the trans would then be at the same temp. Let me know if you think the temperatures I listed are too hot for tranny fluid.

In regard to actually splicing the inlet line before the radiator, are metal lines a must? I'm certainly not the best line fabricator and I think I'll stay away from Manitoba rust yard parts (junkyard parts). What do you think about rubber lines?

 

Generally speaking on a healthy cooling system the radiator trans cooler is going to be bathed in coolant that is cooler than 205*F. As long as the radiator is doing its job along with the cooling fan, the temp of the coolant around the trans cooler will be cooler than coolant at the thermostat (the area of the engine at which coolant is sent to the bottom of radiator which normally would be hottest). Get an infrared temp tool and you can see just how hot things get at different areas. Pretty cool. Great for grilling and cooking :)

Normal safe trans temps are between 180 and 220 they say. Anything higher is what kills fluid and leads to degrading tranny life. Towing with heavy loads taxes both the engine cooling system and the transmission cooling also. Having an external cooler in place will help assure engine cooling isnt overtaxed and will keep trans temps down.

Now, if your in extreme high temps like the south pulling heavy loads on a constant basis, lots of folks choose to bypass the engine cooling system and run the trans cooling seperately. But you would need a much larger trans cooler.

Having all metal lines with proper fittings would be optimal for longetivity but is extra work installing and requires tube bending/flaring tools. Running rubber hoses are fine but get good clamps and make sure hoses are fastened and not rubbing on other areas of the engine compartment else down the road a hose is compromised at the worst possible time. Try and keep the rubber hose length at a minimium.

 

Roger that thanks Glaze! I have an infrared temp gun I'll give that a shot. I'll also be sure to post pictures in this thread once I've done the install.