Hi, I just purchased my first diesel and my first Dodge this past Saturday. I traded in my F150 Supercrew 4x4 on a 2004 2500 4x4 CTD because I wanted more towing power. One thing that I had to upgrade and keep an eye on with the F150 was the trans temp, it would heat up quick on any up hill incline. This Dodge seams to have a trans cooler as big as an A/C condenser between the intercooler and the radiator (is that it). Is this cooler good out of the box or should anything be done to help keep the trans cool? I tow a 7000# trailer and sometimes go from Phoenix Az to Flagstaff Az which is a gain of about 6500 feet in alt. (on some of these hills my Ford would only do 35 mph tops)

Thanks in advance for any info and if there is anything else I should know or consider, let me know.

 

Welcome aboard! Think about putting your rig's specs and options in your signature for all to see

Drive it like you stole it... This trans seems to be pretty stout, so far. I don't have the trans temp gauge yet, but I've been pulling my 9,000# TT up hills all over the place at 60+ without a problem. Unless or until you start to bomb your ride, you should have no problems.

 

Unless they changed the design for 04 then your trans cooler is actually up under the truck beside the engine.

 

I traced the lines and they go to the trans and a small black 'cooler' on the left rear of the engine. The small black cooler looks like it has coolant lines to it also.

 

The truck has two tranny coolers. A small black water cooler on the back of the engine and the large air cooler in front.

Pete

 

Welcome to the site! I would think that with only 7000 pounds behind you, tranny temp shouldn't be much of a problem. After you've made that first big hill climb, check your trans fluid, see if it smells burned or is discolored. You are going to be surprised at how easily your new ride handles that trailer, compared to your Ford 150. Good luck with the new truck, enjoy!

DeWain

 

It's not the weight that will cause the tranny temp to go up. It is the amount of power thta is required to move it thru the air that will do it.

OK hold your horses while I explain.
A 7klbs boat will hardly be felt behind one of these beast. But put a 3klbs TT that has the frontal area of BIG A$$ Barn door and now we are talking about whole nother thing.
If your truck came with the TT package then yes you do have 2 tranny coolers and they do a great job except when in the city traffic. Mine will tend to get up there due to the stop and go traffic until I can get that mass moving to cool things down

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SuperGewl
It's not the weight that will cause the tranny temp to go up. It is the amount of power thta is required to move it thru the air that will do it.

OK hold your horses while I explain.
A 7klbs boat will hardly be felt behind one of these beast. But put a 3klbs TT that has the frontal area of BIG A$$ Barn door and now we are talking about whole nother thing.
If your truck came with the TT package then yes you do have 2 tranny coolers and they do a great job except when in the city traffic. Mine will tend to get up there due to the stop and go traffic until I can get that mass moving to cool things down [/QUOTE

I know of 1 cooler where is the other?????

 

How about a switch that will engage that huge Vistronic Fan to pull way more air over the cooler than any aftermarket electric fan?? I did mine, works on 03 & newer rigs..PM me if you want details.