2old4a-tent
texas
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I have a 2002 f350 with the 7.3 PSD. Twice, while in steep hills, going about 20-25 mph my transmission overheated and spit out fluid. I noticed it right away and both times was able to refill before driving any long distance. My question is, is the 6.0 transmission cooler sufficient for steep grades and hot ambient temps? I live in Texas and it was around 100 degrees when this happened. I have seen some relacement coolers that bolt to the stock location that are double the size of the stock unit. I believe the 6.0 cooler is only 50% bigger.
Any input from someone who has gone thru this?
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targaboat
sulphur springs, tx, usa
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25 mph is real slow. You must keep you engine rpm up to maintain the cooling systems, both air and fluid. I suspect that you need to down shift so that your engine rpm stays above 2000, preferably 2500 to 2800 rpm. Of course everything associated with cool must be in good condition. The automatic in some conditions will not do this for you.
Get a transmission oil gauge so you know exactly what temperature you are at.
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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To keep the tranny cool you're probably going to need to hit a higher speed. Air passing through the cooler is what cools the fluid and not much passing through at 25 MPH. If that's the fastest you CAN go when climbing then you would probably benefit from a fan assisted cooler. One way or another you need to move more air through the auxiliary cooler. Good luck / Skip
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Lee185
Paradise Ca,
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I've got the same problem with my 07 F-150
Steep climbs mean lower speeds, plus my tranny cooler is actually positioned behind my front bumper.
Earlier this year I topped out at 240* after a 10 mile long 7% grade.
I pulled over for an hour & let it cool off.
After that trip I switched to Synthetic & it still gets as hot as 220* anything over 200* is bad medicine, from what I've been told.
Theres several different companies that make electric transmission fans, but the only one that comes to mind is Troyer.
Try searching for a talk forum for the 7.3 PSD & you'll find a ton of info about your truck. Hopefully you'll find a good replacement fan to keep it cool.
Best of luck, Lee
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docrock376
Green Bay, WI.
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Its a wonder that nobody has routed a duct from their air conditioner to the air flow in order to cool things down on hot days!!! Then again, maybe somebody has? LOL!
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ROBERTSUNRUS
Lakewood, Ca.
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 Hi, make sure you don't over fill your transmission. Usually you should fill it to the half way mark of the safe zone on the dipstick or no more than on the full mark when hot. Filling to the full mark, when cold, will cause it to spill out when it gets a little hotter than normal, but not over heating.
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wrenchbender
Phx
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You can always do what we used to do in the 60`s.Plumb the windshield washer to the front of the cooller. When the temp starts to rise punch the water to the cooler.If you are really into it you can replum the lines to and from the cooler and tranny with air commpressor cooler flex tubing that have the fins for added coolling.Only problem is that in the winter the tranny never warns up.Been there done that.
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Beltone Magoo
Conroe, Tx
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For a lot of good info on cooling go to Thedieselstop.com, the Ford truck forum. I bought a Tru Cool supplemental cooler from Dieselsite.com and installed it on my 2002 7.3. Really works good.
Good luck, safe travels and happy camping!
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2old4a-tent
texas
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Thanks for all the replies. I bought an OEM 6.0 cooler today. It has 26 rows of cooling compared to, I think, 9 on the 7.3 unit. It's more than double the size. I'm looking for a write up on how to adapt the lines, the cooler itself is a bolt in operation, supposed to fit the factory mounting points. The difference is, the lines are 1/2 inch on the new unit, 3/8 on the old one.
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Ductape
On the Road
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In case you don't know, be careful using "2" with a Ford climbing hills. It forces second gear and the trans can't shift down to first gear when it needs to. I've seen a few Fords cooked that way. Better to use D on the way up and let the trans pick a gear, or use first as needed and as previously posted keep the revs up.
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