Predicament - Diesel Forum

GregW · 03-03-2005, 10:59 AM

I am planning a trip across the country this summer. We will be pulling a 32' travel trailer. (approx. 7k) There are 5 of us. (2 adults and 3 kids) We will NOT be hauling bikes, dogs, etc.. on this trip. :~> However, we will be going through WY, MO, CO, UT, and the North Carolina mountains on this trip. Our Excursion has almost 100k miles on it. I KNOW the engine is good for the trip, my concern is the transmission. We are not having any issues yet, nor do I anticipate any, BUT...

I use Mobil 1 in the transmission. This is my wifes truck, so it is driven on a daily basis. And not driven hard. It has never been "offroaded" on purpose :~> No lifts, no mods(except for the addition of shocks and a sway bar) , correct size tires (265 lt ms)

Should I be too concerned or just go and have fun? Any suggestions for what I could do BEFORE we leave to help head off any problems? We have towed many times with the truck, and it does a good job. I was reviewing out route the other night and noticed that some of the elevations are in the 7k to 8k range. WOW !!! It is 320ft above sea level here where I live in NC :~>

Any thoughts appreciated,

greg

MGX · 03-03-2005, 11:31 AM

Are you up to date on your fluid and filter changes? If so I wouldn't worry about it. If you really are concerned about it, take it into a good tranny shop and tell them your concerns and to look it over. It certainly won't hurt anything to put in a new filter and have the fluid completely flushed before the trip. At worst, go ahead and put in a new Torque Convertor as these seem to be the Achilles heel of the system.

CHPMustang · 03-03-2005, 12:10 PM

A big roadtrip pulling a 32' crosscountry during the heat of summer thru mountains and all I'd surely upgrade the Transmission Cooler to one from a V10 Excursion or go with a Tru-Cool Max from Dieselsite,both upgraded coolers will give outstanding results based on owner feedback [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Don't forget to backwash the fins of the AC condensor,Intercooler and Radiator for maximum cooling effect.

Perhaps adding a Bugscreen wouldn't be a bad idea either [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Bill

fordmastertech · 03-03-2005, 01:08 PM

What year X is this? Some of the earlier 2000s had no transmission oil cooler in the bottom of the radiator. I recommend to check for that and also recommend to install a bigger Air to Oil trans cooler. The V10 cooler bolts right in and is around 20% bigger that the diesel unit, go figure. I had to do this to mine and it helped out considerably. These are the build dates for this radiator cooler problem Super Duty F-Series vehicles equipped with a 6.8L or 7.3L engine built 1/5/1998 through 2/6/2000, and 2000 model Excursion vehicles equipped with a 6.8L or 7.3L engine built 7/1/1999 through 2/6/2000.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

GregW · 03-03-2005, 01:23 PM

Thanks for all the info so far. This is a 2002 Excursion. 4x4, has the towing package. i like the bolt in option of the V10 cooler :~>

greg

Jeff27 · 03-03-2005, 01:38 PM

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Quit worrying and enjoy your trip! BTW, if I had to do my mods over again I would probably get gauges first...these could really help you monitor your tranny temp. and pyro. to really be safe and not overheat it...plus they look cool [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]!

MGX · 03-03-2005, 02:01 PM

OH POOP! Mine was built in 9/99. What do I look for to tell if I have a cooler or not? Where did the tranny lines (hence fluid) go to then?

Bruce1954 · 03-03-2005, 05:44 PM

Service the trans if it needs it

See this link for some addatives and why I use them

Link to Trans addative info

Bruce

fordmastertech · 03-03-2005, 06:36 PM

[ QUOTE ]
OH POOP! Mine was built in 9/99. What do I look for to tell if I have a cooler or not? Where did the tranny lines (hence fluid) go to then?

[/ QUOTE ]
Look at the lower tank on the engine side of the radiator, if there are transmission cooler lines attached, the upgraded radiator has been installed. You will always have the air to oil cooler behind the AC condenser. If you look down where the hood latch is mounted on the radiator support you will see the air to oil cooler.

Zapped277 · 03-04-2005, 12:57 PM

i think you got some good advice on this i like the Tru-Cool Max cooler ( i have this on mine ) but at 100000 miles have you changed your CMP yet ?? change it or bring 1 with you and some simple tools

Maverick4x4 · 03-05-2005, 02:50 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I am planning a trip across the country this summer. We will be pulling a 32' travel trailer. (approx. 7k) There are 5 of us. (2 adults and 3 kids) We will NOT be hauling bikes, dogs, etc.. on this trip. :~> However, we will be going through WY, MO, CO, UT, and the North Carolina mountains on this trip. Our Excursion has almost 100k miles on it. I KNOW the engine is good for the trip, my concern is the transmission. We are not having any issues yet, nor do I anticipate any, BUT...
I was reviewing out route the other night and noticed that some of the elevations are in the 7k to 8k range. WOW !!! It is 320ft above sea level here where I live in NC :~>
Any thoughts appreciated, greg

[/ QUOTE ]

What is your route through Utah? Nastiest thing we have around here is Parley's Summit on I-80 a few miles east of Salt Lake City (elev 4200'). 7016' is what the sign said as I drove past last week. I tow over it several times a year, pulling either a 25' travel trailer or a jeep on a flatbed (6500lbs). It is avoidable, if you are coming from I-80 and heading north then you can take I-84 to I-15, and vice versa.

Oddly enough, that's the route that I take test drives on in vehicles that I'm really serious about. I've driven a couple X's over that, and they don't even downshift.

Get a tranny cooler and a tranny gauge if you are worried.

Give me a honk as you're comin' through.

Brett (in Draper, just south of SLC)