transmission cooler

Hey there tauri fans, Need some help/guidance. I'm gonna install a transmission cooler on my 01 Duratech next month and wondering if anyone had a guide as to the best way to go about this? Like where is the return line and should I mount one before or after the car radiator? Whats the best cost effective cooler to buy and where can I get it? Let me know, i've got some time still until I buy the cooler but want to get this puppy installed before the heat hits. Only got 38K miles and want to keep the tranny in shape.

Also, has anyone had any luck solving shifting issues by flashing the transmission control module (if the taurus has one of these?) I've got a not so smooth shift from 1-2 that gets worse if the car is hot (like say from stop and go traffic). This is why i'm hoping to solve with tranny cooler. Already done pan drop and filter and going to pump out all I can through the fill tube when I do the cooler and replace. any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

anybody care to weigh in???

My SHO has a tow package with an tranny inner cooler. I could check tomorrow night and then post Friday morning.

It doesn't matter whether you put it before or after the stock cooler, but its best to keep the stock cooler in the flow. I put mine before because I thought the piping was a little easier on that side. Make sure to buy extra hose clamps, because you'll have to remove one of the non-reusable clamps from the stock cooler.

The Taurus doesn't have a separate TCM, the transmission is controlled by the PCM that also controls the engine.

It doesn't matter whether you put it before or after the stock cooler, but its best to keep the stock cooler in the flow. I put mine before because I thought the piping was a little easier on that side. Make sure to buy extra hose clamps, because you'll have to remove one of the non-reusable clamps from the stock cooler.

The Taurus doesn't have a separate TCM, the transmission is controlled by the PCM that also controls the engine.


what size is the cooler you used? I see many different sizes available on Ebay but want to get the right one. Also, how did you replace the non-reusable clamps from the stock cooler, and what size is the tubing I need to get to pipe into the system from the aftermarket cooler? Thanks for all the info!

most coolers will come with tubing, but the outside diameter is about 3/4" if I recall.

I used a permacool 30000 lb GVW cooler (bar & fin style) I picked it because it's thinner than a tank style and doesn't have any pressure drop.

I replaced the single-use factory clamps with regular screw-down hose clamps.

most coolers will come with tubing, but the outside diameter is about 3/4" if I recall.

I used a permacool 30000 lb GVW cooler (bar & fin style) I picked it because it's thinner than a tank style and doesn't have any pressure drop.

I replaced the single-use factory clamps with regular screw-down hose clamps.


Thanks! I'm looking at one of these on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HAYDEN-677-Transmission-Oil-Cooler-20-000-GVW-1677-race_W0QQitemZ8041909894QQcategoryZ33727QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem

Its a stacked plate model instead of the tube and fin, which I think is more efficient....?? Gonna pick it up next month I hope and do the job come spring.

ya, stacked plate are more efficient, but cause more pressure drop. In my opinion a bar and fin was plenty for a car, but if you feel you need stacked plate, go ahead. That cooler is also fairly large and will be kind of hard to mount unless you feel like removing the front bumper cover.

What size will work best? I havn't taken actual measurements on the car yet. Isn't low pressure in the cooler a good thing, that way the pump doesn't have to work extra hard to pump the tranny fluid through the additional cooler?

if you have a change of pressure in the cooler it can make the transmission work improperly as it depends on pressures being what it expects, remember, Pressure is what makes the trans work. I think the external dimemsions of my cooler were about 10"x7" I actually have it mounted on the bottom of my radiator getting air from the road, but on your Gen IV it might be easier to get it in front of the radiator (which is better).

Here's a guide. I put on on my car.

http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=19761

Awesome guide, thanks!!! After considering it, i'm gonna get a tube and fin cooler with turbulator in the tubes, and mount it before the stock cooler in the radiator. Thanks again, this really saves my bacon!