I had to have a e4od rebuilt. The guy who rebuilt it was something of a specialist with that trans. He would not warranty it without a new cooler, because of the chance of residue from the old trans screwing up the new one. Definitely a new cooler. After that no problems. Done right it’s a good trans.
E4OD advice
- Thread starter cjken
- Start date
winmag4582001
Member
Out of all the "performance" mods I did on my 2010 van, the one thing that made the biggest difference was removing the Ford emblem on the grill, then using a drimmel tool to cut out the center. It allowed a direct path for air to the tranny cooler. My average operating temp went from 185 down to 130-150, with 170 being the high while pulling passes in the mountains.
IMO Air flow to the tranny cooler is as important as the size of cooler.
IMO Air flow to the tranny cooler is as important as the size of cooler.
Deshet
Adventurer
I would like to see pictures of what you are talking about. My grill may be different then yours but the transmission cooler doesn't seem restricted. The numbers that you posted are pretty good. Are you using a cooler built into the radiator or a stand alone?
Thanks
broncobowsher
Adventurer
No way would I ever delete the in radiator cooler.
If you are running good, A/C off, air to the fan cool enough that the clutch isn't locked in and take off from a stop you spike the trans temps. With pretty much zero airflow through the cooler it can't shed heat. Something like a boat ramp is about as evil as you can ask for. The in radiator cooler uses the thermal mass of the water to take that spike in heat. There is enough water to absorb that spike the engine will never care. But the trans will love the oil coming back only warm and not boiling.
If you are running good, A/C off, air to the fan cool enough that the clutch isn't locked in and take off from a stop you spike the trans temps. With pretty much zero airflow through the cooler it can't shed heat. Something like a boat ramp is about as evil as you can ask for. The in radiator cooler uses the thermal mass of the water to take that spike in heat. There is enough water to absorb that spike the engine will never care. But the trans will love the oil coming back only warm and not boiling.
winmag4582001
Member
On my 2010 5.4L, the tranny cooler is right behind the large Ford emblem.
I got the idea from watching a show on the new Chevy Camaro. They removed the front emblem for the La Mans race and increased the airflow by 50k cfm at 100mph.
Around town there's not any change. Notice it the most when pulling Eisenhower, Vail or Monarch passes.
I got the idea from watching a show on the new Chevy Camaro. They removed the front emblem for the La Mans race and increased the airflow by 50k cfm at 100mph.
Around town there's not any change. Notice it the most when pulling Eisenhower, Vail or Monarch passes.
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FDM2012
Adventurer
tmo2460
Observer
I've had a larger cooler on my to-do list since I got my ambulance, this thread has convinced me to order now rather than later.
FDM2012
Adventurer
Yep. But that is pricey!!
I got mine for like $40 at a salvage yard.
I got mine for like $40 at a salvage yard.
Awesome.
You mean this???
I'll look into it.
derjack
Adventurer
Very good!
I cannot believe how stupid grills are done sometimes - just looks :Wow1: I´ve sooooo many people here installing a LED light Bar right in front of the radiator and/ or installing a nice, heavy peace of steel instead of a bumper in the front. Actually there is a reason for the hole in the original bumper:
Though the tranny cooler is smaller than the water radiator of course.
I would [and personally will for this summer, for mine E4OD/7.3 IDI] look into a temp gauge and a water sprayer in front of it, at a first step. And see how this goes. I don´t expect the temps to be permanently high. There is also a shroud lacking in my configuration from Ford by default! I cannot understand that! This will increase the airflow through the radiator. So better flow through the Water and tranny/ air con ones. Maybe build myself, this is nothing that needs to be nice looking ...
PS: Temps > everybody is talking about high temps - no one mentioned a number. What is too high?
winmag4582001
Member
This is just my opinion/experience going back to the 90's when Chevy put the same POS OD tranny in everything from the S10 4.3 to the 3500 with a 454....
200: you're working it hard
220: you're overheated
240: you're burning and blowing fluid
I personally like to see modern trannys between 150-175. With all the electronics in the transmission, the plastic can harden over time causing the valve body to fail if not kept on the cooler end. Too cool all the time and you may get condensation issues.
Other's who've ran Ford trans for longer than me could probably give a little better numbers based on their experience.
I got a Scan Gauge II that I have monitoring engine water tem and trans temp. In the summer on a warm day pulling the mountains, I'll run 200 motor temp and 170-175 on the trans temp. Coasting down the other side both drop 10 degrees.
(***Prior to me opening up the air flow to the factory trans cooler my temps would run 205/188 motor/trans.)
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vintageracer
To Infinity and Beyond!
It's also a good idea to change your transmission fluid and filter every now and then!