Quick question about the trans cooler from factory: Does it first run into the radiator, and then into the cooler mounted ahead of the radiator, or is it the other way around. I don't like the idea of having my trans fluid going through warm radiator fluid all the time, makes it really hard to get the heat out of it.

 

Yes, it does run into the radiator first. I didnt like it either, in the summer months it just ran too hot for my tastes. I added an additional cooler like the auxiliary cooler already there and unhooked it from the radiator. I cut then flared the metal lines then just clamped on rubber transmission lines and ran them to the coolers in front of the radiator.

Works well, however Ford did that for extremely cold weather conditions to get that fluid to operating temperatures faster. It will shift a little funny in cold weather for the first 5-10 miles.

 

Like Zach said, they are plumbed that way to warm up faster when it's cold out. The transmission shift program is usually different until the coolant is up to 160 degrees or something like that.
I had a larger (single) transmission cooler on the Sport Trac and it was a solid 20 degree drop in the transmission, still plumbed through the radiator first. The engine coolant temp doesn't vary much so I wasn't that worried about it getting too warm. I think the warmest I ever saw it was just over 200 degrees for a couple minutes, pulling the trailer up higher mountains in Utah and Wyoming. Otherwise it hovered right around 160.

 

how hard would it be hook up cooler after the rad? im looking into this, i have a cooler and want to hook it up, but not 100% on it. is it better to just bypass the cooler in the trans, or what?

 

ill try to take some pics of how i have my aftermarket cooler installed for ya tommorow i got my cooler from carquest for 30-40 bucks its for a 1/2 ton but i figure cooler the better there is also a fitting kit you will need i got mine from vatozone for like ten bucks

the onlything i dont like about are the push pin things that hold it in place mines alittle lopesided but it works

 

haha i got an 03 powerstroke cooler for free, my buddy upgraded to a 32 tube 6.0L so he hooked me up with his. i think the 8 tube one will awsome.

thanks in advance