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Hi, I just recently got a F-350 PSD with the 4R100 auto. transmission and currently tow a 7000# trailor weekly and will soon have a 13,500# 5er to tow. I know I need install another cooler and a temperature gauge but I don't know which one to choose. There is a 25 dollar gauge and a 38 dollar cooler at the local Checker Auto store, would these be ok?? or should i find something better. The gauge is an Autometer: Gauge
and the cooler is a Flex a Lite: Cooler

I know I will have to tow at least once more before I will have the opportunity to install these items /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif , and I always check my tranny fluid which is always bright pink and smells new so I think it should be safe for this quick trip of about 50 miles.

Also, about how long would it take to install the cooler and gauge, should I plan on about 4 hours?

Thank you,
Matt
 

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The links you posted take me to a web sight asking me for my zip code so I can't see the cooler or gauge. I would go with a 6.0 cooler or a Tru-Cool Max cooler as an add on. The tranny temp gauge should be a good one. Like I said I can't see what gauge you are looking at but Autometer does make some good gauges.

BTW, Welcome to TDS.
 

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What they are referring to is the larger coolers from a V10 or the 6.0PSD are a direct replacement cooler for your small oil to air cooler. You didn't state what year your truck is but if you have an early 2000 model like me you only have one small oil to air cooler. The one from a 6.o is huge, about 3x as big. My tranny temps dropped 40 degress after the install. Now towing my 8500lb TT the warmest I have seen is 150 in 85 ambient. The 6.0 coolers can be had on ebay for $100 bucks. The dealer wants $450. As far as the guages go, I don't care for auto meter as much as I like the Isspro line. They are very high quality and have few returns, although Autometer does stand behind what they sell, who wants to go thru the hassle. For the best price on the Isspro guages and mounts go to kensperformancesolutions.com. Tell Ken Kevin said hello.
The cooler took about 1 hour for the install and about the same for the guage and I am very slow.
 

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[ QUOTE ]
There is a 25 dollar gauge and a 38 dollar cooler at the local Checker Auto store, would these be ok?? or should i find something better.

[/ QUOTE ]

Find something better.

[ QUOTE ]
The gauge is an Autometer:

[/ QUOTE ]

The gauge may work okay, but the thing wrong with it is how hard it is to read in the critical temp area around 220º to 230º. About 225º is the red line, so you want a gauge that you can tell at a glance if you are getting up near 225º. Either a digital, or an analog with clear markings in the critical area. For example, the ISSPRO EV tranny temp gauge at click here. Or if you prefer the AutoMeter brand, they make a few easy-to-read tranny temp gauges too, such as this one.

[ QUOTE ]
The cooler is a Flexilite.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good brand, but it's too small. You already have two tranny coolers, so your objective is to replace the small oil-to-air cooler with a bigger one. Mine has the bigger cooler from a V-10 Ford. Even bigger is the cooler from a 6.0L Ford. Or as others have mentioned, one that works well is the TruCool Max from Bob Riley at http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=257
 

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Well, I'm a little more woke up now. I tried the links for the gauge and cooler again and like a dummy if I'd just typed in a zip the links would have worked. That cooler is a tube and fin. You want a plate exchanger like the ones mentioned above. The gauge looks OK but Like Smokey said the Isspro Gauges are in my opinion, better. See my Sig. The easiest cooler job would most likely be getting the 6.0 cooler and replacing the one you have now. It's much larger and from what I understand it will bolt right up.

On edit, A few folks have made the mistake of thinking the power steering cooler was the OTA tranny cooler. The small cooler you can see from the front of the truck is the power steering cooler. The tranny cooler is located between the AC condenser and the radiator.

Hope this helps.
 

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The one in the above link is the V-10 cooler the 6.0 is even larger, about 7 more plates larger.

Paul B
 

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