I have recently retired my ED falcon tug. The replacement is an auto BF falcon futura. I have a question for anyone that may be using a similar vehicle as a tug. Did you have to add or alter
the transmission oil cooler. The reason I ask is because 3 mechanics have given me 3 conflicting pieces of advice. So comments from experienced users would be valued. The shed is a single axle 17' 9" Compasss 1580 kgs loaded. Look forward to your replies.
They have a heater / cooler via engine coolant . It's mainly heated for emissions and fuel economy . They have had issues with coolant contaminating ATF . Resulting in expensive auto builds. If your towing ? I would fit a "decent" air trans cooler with high flow .. I tow with my Sons FG XR6 and my FG GTE 335kw motor . I have fitted a trans cooler .. Separated from engine coolant heat exchanger .. Have no issues as I tow my race car interstate at times ..
We had a BA Falcon, the first of that series. We were told that Ford had already increased the size/capacity of the oil cooler fitted to that model. We did a lot of towing with it, a fair bit of hilly/mountainous terrain & never had any issues. We gave it to our daughter, it's still going strong. We've had 4 Falcons over many years, they've all been great tow vehicles.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Saturday 14th of May 2016 05:32:18 AM
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Cheers Keith
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts, of beauty rich & rare. We'll be out there enjoying it somewhere, camped by ourselves much of the time.
I have always fitted an additional air transmission cooler to my auto vechiles, it's cheap insurance regardless with the cost of a/t replacements. Two Fords & four Mitsubishi's all fitted over the years, 0 problems.
Thanks to all those that answered my questions. It seems the first two mechanics that offered advice have been supported by your comments. I haven decided to put in a separate oil cooler.
Thanks again for your replies, it's a pleasure to use this forum.
I moderate on Fordforums . The BA or early ZF 6 speed auto coolers did have issues especially if coolant wasn't maintained property like any engine .. Which is why some removed the std cooler .. Being a latter model than BA . I would just add extra cooler if you want . Btw . Service or replace trans fluid more often than Ford recommend . They are great towing vehicles .
I have just had it done on my bf ute, as a friends bf had just destroyed his tranny.
I reckon either I or the mechanics just don't get the principal of fitting the auxiliary cooler and either bypassing or removing the existing cooler.
They fitted the new radiator cooler to the front radiator alright; and left the old cooler in place and the two previously used oil cooler ports open on the original cooler. I mean if the cooler was affected by corrosion the radiator water would no just run on the ground and eventually blow the engine......
So they fixed any future problem with the tranny and gave me a future problem with the engine. Any way I looked under and saw it so I capped off the two ports with proper rubber engine pipe blanks. It is not as good as the simple removal of the old cooler but should do till I can get under and join the heater pipes up into a loop.
Ok, they put in a good radiator made in Canada etc, but for the cost of $500-00, I really expected more.
-- Edited by dieseltojo on Saturday 14th of May 2016 09:45:28 PM
The industry towing guide states that for the BF models that tow more than 1600 kg - Conditions #1 When fitted with Ford approved tow bar, #3 When fitted with a Ford load levelling kit, #5 Auxiliary auto transmission cooler MANDATORY, #8 max towing speed reduced to 80-85 km/h at 2300 kgs.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
