I have the big Tru-Cool 4739 MAX that diesel site offers (40,000 # gvw). I used it to replace my stock cooler. I use it on a ’00 F550 7.3 and I haul loads of hay with a GCVW of up to 45,000 #. I also mounted the cooler in front of the A/C condenser (I feel this is a must). I also put a small tube and fin cooler below the big tru-cooler and I have a fan mounted in front of the tru-cooler.
I use 2 temp gauges one in the tranny line (torque converter temp TCT) coming out the front of the tranny and the other is in the tranny pressure port (PP). I don’t think the pressure port is a good place to monitor tranny temp because no tranny fluid flows by the probe in that spot, also the aluminum is about an inch and half thick in this spot. It should really be in the pan. The next time I have my pan down I will put the 2nd temp probe in the pan.
Anyways on the highway in the summer empty heading to NY (GCVW 17,500ish#) The PP temp would always be 15* to 20* less then engine temp. I have a real ECT gauge, with the probe mounted in the thermostat housing. The PP gauge would run 160* ish. The Aluminum tranny hosing IMHO is a big heat sink for the engine. The TCT would run rite at 140* ish.
Now hauling 10 to 12 tons of hay the temps are naturally higher across the board and the 2 tranny temp seemed to always follow the ECT on the highway. I have seen the ECT as high as 220* (pulling a steep long hill 90*+ outside) and the PP temp would be 195* and the TCT 180* then the ECT would drop to 185 ish in less then a mile with the tranny temps to drop about the same amount a few miles later and that’s with out running the fan. Run the fan and the TCT runs much cooler.
The only place I would see high TCT 220* to 250* is in the yard moving a heavy load or is in town stop light after stop light with a heavy load, so I would run the fan and as soon as the TCC locked up (got moving 25 mph) the TCT would drop fast to 150* or so with in a minuet.
The other time the TCT rises is getting off a highway exit when I am on the brakes slowing down for a long distance (or just off the throttle in an OBS ) the TCC unlocks this create a lot of heat on the TCT gauge, this was an easy fix I installed a TCC lock up switch.
The bottom line is that tranny cooler is really good and should be mounted in front of the A/C condenser if you plow you may want to put an electric fan on the cooler. I also like to have two tranny temp gauges.
TCT= torque convetter temp
TCC= torque converter clutch
PP = presure port
IMHO = in my honest opinion
GCVW = gross combined vehical weight, truck, trailer and load
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