• Welcome to ClassicBroncos! - You are currently viewing the forums as a GUEST. To take advantage of all the site features, please take a moment to register. It's fast, simple and absolutely free. So please join our community today!
    If you have problems registering or can't log into your account, please contact Admin.

4R70W Temps and Cooler

ChrisC74

Sr. Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
906
Quick question, for those running 4R70W transmissions. What high temps are you seeing? I am thinking I need to add a separate cooler vs just use the one on the radiator. If you are running a separate cooler are you using one with a fan? Where are you installing it?

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk
 

chuck1022

Contributor
Sr. Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2017
Messages
578
Quick question, for those running 4R70W transmissions. What high temps are you seeing? I am thinking I need to add a separate cooler vs just use the one on the radiator. If you are running a separate cooler are you using one with a fan? Where are you installing it?

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk
Interested in the answer. I plan on explorer swapping my bronco. This question will devolve into factions debating your temp sensor location....eventually ending with your poor sweet mother being called names.
 

Broncobowsher

Total hack
Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
35,611
Trying to remember. I want to say 160ish in the middle of Phoenix summer.
My cooling package was to run the trans fluid through an air to oil cooler in front of the radiator first. Primary heat rejection.
Second is to run it through the in radiator cooler, supplemental/backup cooling. Oil to water heat exchange is very good, but puts heat into the water just as it enters the engine. When the oil to air cooler can't cut it (low speed, high load) the hot oil passes through and the water can take what the air missed.
The 2-cooler package is pretty standard on most everything for the past quarter century.
 

rocknhorse76

Contributor
Bronco owner since 1993 💪🏻
Joined
Jun 7, 2014
Messages
443
Loc.
Central WA
I run a really big Long brand cooler in front of the radiator, and a fan-assisted Derale cooler on the cowl where the heater inlet is normally mounted. I do not use the cooler in the radiator. My temps range from about 100 in the winter to about 180 in the summer.
 

spap

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jan 2, 2010
Messages
2,596
170 to 180. In the Mohave desert I run a cooler in front of the radiator and bypass the radiator cooler
 
OP
OP
ChrisC74

ChrisC74

Sr. Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
906
Thx to all for the replies. My engine coolant stays 185 to 190, but my transmission will get to 220 and higher and it is not summer so I need to do something soon. What is odd is I can drive it for a while and some days and the trans will stay 180 or so but then a different day same air temp I will get to 220. Fluid is still cherry red and transmission works great but I want it running cooler to get it to last.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk
 

ZOSO

Full Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2003
Messages
357
I run a derale 33604 in front of the radiator. then to a derale 13700 that is mounted under the passenger floor. With this setup just the cooler in front of the radiator keeps the trans at 160-180. When wheelin and working it hard the fan on the under floor cooler will kick on and ill see trans temps to maybe 200. Due to previous failures I will not rely on just a fan cooled cooler. I have had a fan fail and that leaves you with zero cooling.
 

Broncobowsher

Total hack
Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
35,611
I run a derale 33604 in front of the radiator. then to a derale 13700 that is mounted under the passenger floor. With this setup just the cooler in front of the radiator keeps the trans at 160-180. When wheelin and working it hard the fan on the under floor cooler will kick on and ill see trans temps to maybe 200. Due to previous failures I will not rely on just a fan cooled cooler. I have had a fan fail and that leaves you with zero cooling.
That's pretty much the same as I like to run. Only difference being the second cooler is the in-radiator cooler instead of a second with added fan.
 

ba123

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 29, 2022
Messages
1,957
Loc.
CA
I just struggled with my own trans cooling and found two issues...(1) the exhaust was too close to the trans pan and (2) My trans cooling lines through the engine compartment too close to the headers and there wasn't really any way to make it better (and I had heat shielding). So, mine was at 220-240 until I installed a remote cooler in back and moved the exhaust. Now 170-180. AOD and non-lock high-stall converter so maybe not exactly the same but you get the idea.

Unlike Zoso and BB, I only have the one cooler and seems all that's needed. I might've been able to run my forward lines to the rad in a cooler way but it wasn't worth the effort to me in trying that since making those hard lines perfectly was exhausting.
 

bronco italiano

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 1, 2004
Messages
2,217
I too went trans to under pass seat area cooler with fan and 1qt filter just for extra capacity.
In town at stops, during Stockton summers, the fan will turn on.
I have AOD with non-lockup and each trans fluid change all looks very good and trans performs great considering it is an AOD.
 

toddz69

Sponsor/Vendor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 28, 2001
Messages
10,510
I just struggled with my own trans cooling and found two issues...(1) the exhaust was too close to the trans pan and (2) My trans cooling lines through the engine compartment too close to the headers and there wasn't really any way to make it better (and I had heat shielding). So, mine was at 220-240 until I installed a remote cooler in back and moved the exhaust. Now 170-180. AOD and non-lock high-stall converter so maybe not exactly the same but you get the idea.

How close to the headers were your lines?

Todd Z.
 

ZOSO

Full Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2003
Messages
357
That's pretty much the same as I like to run. Only difference being the second cooler is the in-radiator cooler instead of a second with added fan.
Going through the radiator works really well. The radiator cooler can remove temp spikes a lot faster than an oil/air cooler. I just dont have a radiator with a built in cooler.
 

ba123

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 29, 2022
Messages
1,957
Loc.
CA
I'll try to find a pic, but they were only just on top of the frame rail and shorty headers almost hit the frame on the pass side, but like I said, I also had heat shielding. Maybe I could've tried better shielding or something else but after seeing a couple other people just doing the remote (like Don and someone else posted about AOD heat issues and did the same) I started really liking the idea of just keeping it completely away for lots of reasons.

1) Takes all concerns of outside heat sources out of the picture
2) Makes it a TON easier when I drop the tranny at some point
3) Simpler, and fewer connections and fewer potential leak points.

Here a pic without heat shielding…easy to see.

1738960902437.jpeg


As I mentioned, the routing was a pain cause I went from the trans and backwards a a little to stay away from the header connector, then to the top of the rad (where Howe Racing said to go) then down to my heat sink/fin cooler, then back the same path.

The new result is this:
IMG_9632.jpeg IMG_9633.jpeg IMG_9634.jpeg
 

ntsqd

heratic car camper
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,794
Loc.
Upper SoKA
Some thoughts;

Snowball's trans cooler plumbing for it's E4OD is exactly however Ford built it. It uses both the radiator cooler and an Aux. cooler. Trans routinely runs 130°F max. Once in a very great while it gets to 160°F, but never for very long. Temp transducer is in the pan. I don't care what the temperature in the cooler lines is. I want to know what the temperature of the fluid about to be sucked into the trans is. The fluid is the consumable, not the trans.

The lock-up converter in our CTD has a HUGE influence on trans temperature. Unlocked 220°F is easy to do. Locked it has never, ever exceeded the engine temperature. I have come to view a lock-up converter to be as or more important than the OD function. Temperature transducer is in the pan.

The well researched and frequently recommended routing for liquid to liquid heat exchangers is to oppose the fluid flow directions. If the Coolant comes in at the top and exits out the bottom, then the ATF flow should enter at the bottom and exit out the top.

On the current project (see Wagon link in sig) I used 3/8" aluminum tubing for the trans cooler lines. Partly for the ease of forming them, partly for the enhanced heat rejection of the aluminum.
 
Last edited:

toddz69

Sponsor/Vendor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 28, 2001
Messages
10,510
I'll try to find a pic, but they were only just on top of the frame rail and shorty headers almost hit the frame on the pass side, but like I said, I also had heat shielding. Maybe I could've tried better shielding or something else but after seeing a couple other people just doing the remote (like Don and someone else posted about AOD heat issues and did the same) I started really liking the idea of just keeping it completely away for lots of reasons.

1) Takes all concerns of outside heat sources out of the picture
2) Makes it a TON easier when I drop the tranny at some point
3) Simpler, and fewer connections and fewer potential leak points.

Here a pic without heat shielding…easy to see.

View attachment 939204

As I mentioned, the routing was a pain cause I went from the trans and backwards a a little to stay away from the header connector, then to the top of the rad (where Howe Racing said to go) then down to my heat sink/fin cooler, then back the same path.

The new result is this:
View attachment 939205 View attachment 939207 View attachment 939206
Thanks for all the pics. I recently redid my trans cooler lines (I'm using braided PTFE lines) and they were about 1/2" away from the pass side header with the heat shielding on them. Recently redid their routing a bit so now they're at least 1" away.

Todd Z.
 

ba123

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 29, 2022
Messages
1,957
Loc.
CA
Thanks for all the pics. I recently redid my trans cooler lines (I'm using braided PTFE lines) and they were about 1/2" away from the pass side header with the heat shielding on them. Recently redid their routing a bit so now they're at least 1" away.

Todd Z.
Hope that works!

I have braided ptfe lines in a couple spots and was going to use them in the new trans setup for the short run between the main hard line and the trans, but they say they aren’t supposed to be exposed to that much heat and so I just went all hard lines again. They probably way underrate the heat but maybe be sure to use a shield!
 

bronco italiano

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 1, 2004
Messages
2,217
I'll try to find a pic, but they were only just on top of the frame rail and shorty headers almost hit the frame on the pass side, but like I said, I also had heat shielding. Maybe I could've tried better shielding or something else but after seeing a couple other people just doing the remote (like Don and someone else posted about AOD heat issues and did the same) I started really liking the idea of just keeping it completely away for lots of reasons.

1) Takes all concerns of outside heat sources out of the picture
2) Makes it a TON easier when I drop the tranny at some point
3) Simpler, and fewer connections and fewer potential leak points.

Here a pic without heat shielding…easy to see.

View attachment 939204

As I mentioned, the routing was a pain cause I went from the trans and backwards a a little to stay away from the header connector, then to the top of the rad (where Howe Racing said to go) then down to my heat sink/fin cooler, then back the same path.

The new result is this:
View attachment 939205 View attachment 939207 View attachment 939206
Beautiful work BA123!!!!
 

bronco italiano

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 1, 2004
Messages
2,217
Some thoughts;

Snowball's trans cooler plumbing for it's E4OD is exactly however Ford built it. It uses both the radiator cooler and an Aux. cooler. Trans routinely runs 130°F max. Once in a very great while it gets to 160°F, but never for very long. Temp transducer is in the pan. I don't care what the temperature in the cooler lines is. I want to know what the temperature of the fluid about to be sucked into the trans is. The fluid is the consumable, not the trans.

The lock-up converter in our CTD has a HUGE influence on trans temperature. Unlocked 220°F is easy to do. Locked it has never, ever exceeded the engine temperature. I have come to view a lock-up converter to be as or more important than the OD function. Temperature transducer is in the pan.

The well researched and frequently recommended routing for liquid to liquid heat exchangers is to oppose the fluid flow directions. If the Coolant comes in at the top and exits out the bottom, then the ATF flow should enter at the bottom and exit out the top.

On the current project (see Wagon link in sig) I used 3/8" aluminum tubing for the trans cooler lines. Partly for the ease of forming them, partly for the enhanced heat rejection of the aluminum.
he E40D also has almost a gallon more of transmission fluid and can handle about 400ft/tq stock. It is a Savage of a transmission.
 

fordguy

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jan 23, 2005
Messages
5,829
Interested in the answer. I plan on explorer swapping my bronco. This question will devolve into factions debating your temp sensor location....eventually ending with your poor sweet mother being called names.
You are thinking about pirate, folks on here are 98 percent good.
 
Top