Trans Temps

[Dereku]

"I honestly believe that the sweet spot temp range is 160F-180F and I am aiming for a max temp of 205F. I think that transmission life is shortened when temps start climbing above 215F."

I have never seen temps at 160 to 180 out side of warming my 65 mile run to Galveston netted me temps in the 190's with ambient temps at around 84. Pulling is a whole different ball game abate the ambient temps were 10 degrees more and I seen temps as much as 230. Now I am no even close to max tow at 4100 lbs.

I have purchased the @Fitzmotor dipstick and waiting on it to arrive, after talking to a transmission tech I trust I am not going to purchase the deep PPE pan am will go with the shallow pan. The reason behind this is heat sink if you have more oil the it will take longer for it to cool. I went back and forth with th tech about additional cooling.

If you remove the cooler from the factory to install a bigger cooler then you risk having the transmission to cold for operating as designed. From what I understand this is around 200 to 215. Heck to even check the level you need to be at a minimum of 196. Now with that said I am thinking of attacking this from a different angle.

Honestly that temp range is old school thinking. ULV needs to be in the 190-200 range to have the proper viscosity to keep your transmission happy. That is why the cooling loop actually heats the fluid up as well.

It took me time to adjust to this as well. My old f150 would rarely break 175, towing over the limit and in AZ with 110 ambient temps.

Woops I quoted you quoting someone else.

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[4x4 Ranger Man]

No problem

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

Has anyone had any experience with this product?

https://mountuneusa.com/products/mountune-triple-pass-radiator-upgrade-ford-ranger

 

[TJC]

"I honestly believe that the sweet spot temp range is 160F-180F and I am aiming for a max temp of 205F. I think that transmission life is shortened when temps start climbing above 215F."

I have never seen temps at 160 to 180 out side of warming my 65 mile run to Galveston netted me temps in the 190's with ambient temps at around 84. Pulling is a whole different ball game abate the ambient temps were 10 degrees more and I seen temps as much as 230. Now I am no even close to max tow at 4100 lbs.

I have purchased the @Fitzmotor dipstick and waiting on it to arrive, after talking to a transmission tech I trust I am not going to purchase the deep PPE pan am will go with the shallow pan. The reason behind this is heat sink if you have more oil the it will take longer for it to cool. I went back and forth with th tech about additional cooling.

If you remove the cooler from the factory to install a bigger cooler then you risk having the transmission to cold for operating as designed. From what I understand this is around 200 to 215. Heck to even check the level you need to be at a minimum of 196. Now with that said I am thinking of attacking this from a different angle.

You might find this info handy Link 1 and Link 2

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

You might find this info handy Link 1 and Link 2

The level for the trans at this time is not my concern as I have checked it on level ground and thank you Ford for the need of a welding glove and the need to contort and strain like I was pulling G's to get the cap opened.

My question is and my thought is maybe we are looking at this wrong and it is a general cooling issue and can be corrected by better cooling of the engine. While I do believe in general unless towing or serious off-roading in the desert the cooling system is fine.

I believe that my adding of taller tire may also e contributing to this issue, since they system is cooled and warmed by the Radiator it would make since that this is a issue too once they system gets heat soaked.

Am I missing something here??????

 

[TJC]

I was responding to this line in your post. Sorry for not being clearer. Per Ford, fluid level check is between 206F-215F. You can check it cold, Start engine, cycle the transmission through the gears at 5 sec intervals, then immediately check the level. It should be at the tip of the Fitzstick, and no more than 1/4" up the stick. This is what I was trying to convey.

"From what I understand this is around 200 to 215. Heck to even check the level you need to be at a minimum of 196. Now with that said I am thinking of attacking this from a different angle."

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

I was responding to this line in your post. Sorry for not being clearer. Per Ford, fluid level check is between 206F-215F.

"From what I understand this is around 200 to 215. Heck to even check the level you need to be at a minimum of 196. Now with that said I am thinking of attacking this from a different angle."

You are correct but I am not sure how much 10 degrees makes a difference

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

Has anyone had any experience with this product?

https://mountuneusa.com/products/mountune-triple-pass-radiator-upgrade-ford-ranger

Back to my question has anybody had any dealings with this company above ?????

I truly think a lot of these issue we have can be solved by a new radiator

 

[Frenchy]

Back to my question has anybody had any dealings with this company above ?????

I truly think a lot of these issue we have can be solved by a new radiator

The radiator may help with Engine Coolant Temps, but unfortunately not with the Transmission and this is due to the design of the Ranger. Unlike most vehicles out there that have the Transmission Cooler Built-in to the Radiator, the Ranger has a Cooler/Warmer on the side of the Transmission that has Engine Coolant come to it. It also has a Electronic Controlled Valve that I believe is controlled by the PCM to regulate how much Coolant is or isn't flowing through.

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

The radiator may help with Engine Coolant Temps, but unfortunately not with the Transmission and this is due to the design of the Ranger. Unlike most vehicles out there that have the Transmission Cooler Built-in to the Radiator, the Ranger has a Cooler/Warmer on the side of the Transmission that has Engine Coolant come to it. It also has a Electronic Controlled Valve that I believe is controlled by the PCM to regulate how much Coolant is or isn't flowing through.

Funny I was just reading a post you made about your Nissan, I understand this but my angle is to see if adding a better cooling radiator and if I can figure out how to get to the programing so it opens up more and cools the trans when towing. Does this make sense ?

 

[Frenchy]

Funny I was just reading a post you made about your Nissan, I understand this but my angle is to see if adding a better cooling radiator and if I can figure out how to get to the programing so it opens up more and cools the trans when towing. Does this make sense ?

I get what you're trying to do and you could talk with another tuning company of sorts to see if they might be able to assist with that.

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

I get what you're trying to do and you could talk with another tuning company of sorts to see if they might be able to assist with that.

Yes I think a bigger radiator and some programing could work this way when you are not towing you change the programing.

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/radiator-recommendations.34479/post-764582

I was reading this post but he went dark and never posted after April 17 2025

 

[awd.nv]

The radiator may help with Engine Coolant Temps, but unfortunately not with the Transmission and this is due to the design of the Ranger. Unlike most vehicles out there that have the Transmission Cooler Built-in to the Radiator, the Ranger has a Cooler/Warmer on the side of the Transmission that has Engine Coolant come to it. It also has a Electronic Controlled Valve that I believe is controlled by the PCM to regulate how much Coolant is or isn't flowing through.

Funny enough, I knew the Ranger had that side mounted heat exchanger but thought it plumbed out to the radiator too. I guess maybe that was only in the F150 extreme tow package?

I just accepted the trans temps the Ranger runs at. Our 2016 Honda Pilot 9spd towing the same trailer never exceeded 210F or so and often was around 180F without a load. Considering my 10r80 will break 200F around town without a load, Ford clearly wants them running at these temps.

Funny enough, doesn't Ford call for the trans fluid at 100k miles? With the manufacturing issues of the 10r80, you think they would recommend every 30-50k miles.

Back to my question has anybody had any dealings with this company above ?????

I truly think a lot of these issue we have can be solved by a new radiator

Mountune and Mishimoto are two reputable companies that have radiator and intercooler options for us. I have considered upgrading both for the desert summers. I don't over heat but I can feel when the intercooler gets heat soaked towing in the summer. Cooling along with braking are two areas people always overlook.

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

Funny enough, I knew the Ranger had that side mounted heat exchanger but thought it plumbed out to the radiator too. I guess maybe that was only in the F150 extreme tow package?

It does use the coolant from the Radiator

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/attachments/transmission-cooler-png.3403/

Note it does use coolant from the radiator and look at #3 this controls the coolant loop

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