Transmission cooler required???

[Mingle]

I just called my Mercury dealer about getting a tow package installed on my 2004 Mercury Monterey minivan. According to the service department at the dealership, they do not recommend a transmission cooler. They say they can do it if I insist but it is not necessary.

I'm tempted to trust what a Mercury dealer says about a Mercury vehicle but wondered if anybody here had any thoughts on the matter.

Thanks for your help
Mitch

 

[Fingernip]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

Im sure they would love to see you come back in need of tranny work. There is no reason why you shouldnt add a cooler.

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

It could be that the van has some sort of AUX cooler already like the some of Fords other models. I know a tranny cooler comes std on my Ranger with the 4.0 Regardless of packages. Some of the newer transmissions require certain temps also. There are coolers which accually overcool the tranny.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

stay out of overdrive when towing. just had $3500 damage to Mariner, at 55,000 miles.

 

[rocket1968]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

All 4.0 Rangers? It seems that the Ranger and the Explorer share a similar base. My 4.0 Explorer only has the radiator based trans cooler. When you add an additional trans cooler, is this one bypassed? Is one really needed? I went last two years without one, but have a relatively flat tow and am very conservative on the drive with MPH. Should you avoid OD at all costs? I have used it sparingly when at 55 mph.

 

[MercGuy]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

There is a simple test to tell if you dealer was lying. Were his lips moving when he was talking ???

The only real way to know if you need a cooler is to install a transmission temp gage. When I bought my Jeep Cherokee it had the factory tow package with a tranny cooler so I figured I was good to go. I installed a tranny temp gage and was surprised to see that the tranny temps regularly hit 230 degrees. Too hot in my opinion. So I removed the factory cooler and put a larger stacked plate cooler in and now my temps run around 180.

No doubt that the dealer would have told me that a cooler wasn't necessary if I had asked his opinion.

As far as overdrive goes. There is no problem towing in overdrive IF (and it's a big if) your torque converter locks up and stays locked up.

Once I hit the highway I usually shift into overdrive. If I hit a hill and I hear the torque converter unlock I shift out of overdrive, in an attempt to let the torque converter lock.

Been doing it for years and havent had a problem yet, of course my Jeep only has 150,000 miles so it's too early to really know what the future holds...

 

[Mscanon99]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

My Ford Explorer Sport is at a shop getting a cooler today!

I did allot of research on this subject, posting here and on a Ford forum. I just purchased this truck with 63000 miles. I belive all explorer/rangers have a small cooler built in, however since researching the subject, the extra cooler is the way to go. Heat burns up transmissions, coolers are the safe bet.

I found that a very good unit is a brand called "Long". These coolers are well built and have a bypass built in where the fluid does not enter this cooler until it hits a certain temp, therefor when its cold outside your not "overcooling" the fluid.

Also, if you lease or are concerned with warranty, they may not cover your trans if your towing without some type of cooler...this was the case with my Honda minivan. You basically could void your warranty without thier tow package.

The cooler I am getting installed is the max that will fit and the cooler/installation is about 200.00. I located a small trans shop where I could speak to the owner and get good advice. The Ford dealer was clueless in this case.

Lastly, all the recommendations on the Ford Explorer/Ranger were to stay out of OD, no exceptions. I guess the Ford tranny is not up to it. In a final note, on my Ford I was told to look for one with a 3.73 or 4.10 rear, I found one with the 4.10, so I guess time will tell if all this advice works or not.

Hope this helps.

Mike

 

[maxturbo]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

It all depends on what your towing and the weight. I've worked for Lincoln Mercury now for over 22 years. And I've seen dealers decline customers warranty if they had any aftermarket coolers or anything aftermarket. But if u still want to tow. I would have the dealer install the cooler and a trans temp guage. This way if something goes wrong with the trans your warranty will still be good. Thats one way to cover your butt!

Oh and yes stay out of O/d when towing.

 

[rocket1968]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

I am still torn on this one. The boating season is here and I just put new brakes on my Explorer (had the nice sound of a wear indicator screaching). I was under the car and see the small coils right near the front of the trans. Is that the small trans.cooler you are speaking of?

OK here is the dumb question of the day, and I have repalced the radiator before, is that an oil cooler or trans. cooler that is connected to the stock radiator? It has been a few years since I have completed this and always assumed it was a oil cooler.

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

Most cars, SUV's and compact pickups doing have oil coolers. Basically you have the radiator and thent the AC Condenser in front of it. The sometimes you have an external cooler in front of that for tranny fluid. This is the stock cooler on my truck.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

Mercury Monterey ???? Is that a "badge engineered" Ford Windstar ???
If so, I would never tow with one again. My Windstar had the tow package from new. Rated for 3,500lb. I towed 2,000 lb not using overdrive and it crapped out at around 80,000 miles without any warning. My previous Windstar did the same thing at 100,000 miles. Absolute junk in my opinion and to replace the tranny with the "alleged tow package" it is around 50% more expensive than the regular tranny. Either way it is still garbage. I used to tow with Ford products for years with no issues till I got the Windstar.
Never Again !!!!

 

[franco802]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

I would, its cheap insurance.

 

[Mscanon99]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

I have the cooler...towed my boat...what a load on the *** end of the Explorer sport. My rig is rated for 5600 lbs or something like that, I am towing 2500 lbs....I do not think the trans would hold up without some type of extra cooler now....I just hope it holds up with the cooler.

Just my opinion.........

MS

 

[Fingernip]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

If you have a factory cooler built into the radiator you can run an auxillary cooler in tandem. Just the lines right to the aftermarket cooler then to the stock cooler. That way in winter you wont overcool the fluid too bad.

 

[john from md]

Re: Transmission cooler required???

I have towed boats and campers with Ford Rangers, Dodge Dakotas, Chevy Monte Carlos and Toyota Camry. I have never had a towing kit on any of these vehicles and had no problems towing up to 3500 pounds. If you are going to pull above that, you may need one.

Regards,

John