Hey all, I just picked up a 05 Dakota 4.7 4x4 yesterday with about 100kmiles on it. I plan to do a transmission service (fluid and filtres) and I am now questioning if I should install a external trans cooler and completely bypass the factory to avoid and issues with the trans and coolant mixing their fluids.

Question I have (and I searched but didnt see an answer) is how big of a cooler would I need? From what I gathered only a small amount of fluid goes into the bottom of the rad to help heat/cool it, so would it be possible to bypass that with one of the universal units with a temp control bypass ? The truck does have the tow package, not really sure if i will ever tow much with the truck (maybe a random trailer or car dolly)

 

Your truck should already have an external cooler as well. (tow package.) Bypassing the cooler in the radiator isn't really necessary, they rarely fail. I think in 40 years of so of doing the wrench thing, I have seen two that managed it, and one was due to an accident.....

 

Okay thanks! Sorry, new owner of less than a week lol, the truck is a project truck which is currently sitting on a friends flatbed trailer lol. Ill hopefully get to dig into it a bit more this week. I just know the truck is getting up there in years and just dont want to have any issues with the rad / transmission cooler

 

If it's one of the aluminum radiators, with plastic tanks on the end, just replace it anyway. They don't last forever. Just a bit of peace of mind.

 

Just make sure you do a full flush of the transmission fluid, change the filters, and seal. If they make a pan that has a drain plug I would replace that as well and see if they make one that is deeper to hold more fluid if you are worried about overheating the transmission.

Here's one I found that has the drain plug but does not have any extra capacity...
https://www.jegs.com/i/Dorman-Produc...634+4294828945

You might want to look around and maybe see if TCI makes a pan to hold more fluid.

 

Awesome thanks for the info! I do plan to do a trans fluid and filters change (on order from RA) I was going to research how to do the flush but my guess is take the line going to the rad off, run the truck till the fluid changes colours then immediately turn the truck off and top up?

 

Here's the general procedure from the RAM section written by dirtydog;

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/4th-gen...ion-flush.html

 

For the ultimate convenience in servicing the filters LubeLocker offers a nifty reusable pan gasket for the RFE transmission.Just wipe clean and install dry,no adhesives or sealants are used.They work awesome for our trucks.

 

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted here, finally getting around to doing the transmission work, the truck has been in a body rebuild stage for a while..




Has anyone used the dirtydog procedure? I used it to drain the old pan, I didn't have anywhere close to 7qts come out when draining the pan via the cooler line... Looking at the pan itself it doesn't even look capable of holding that much? So little confused... The trans was cold, so maybe that's why? Haven't refilled yet, as I started the project after work this past weekend and ran out of time, also needed to let the gasket maker set (as I don't trust rubber gaskets on their own)

Likely won't be doing the actual flush for a week or so as I want to tackle the oil pan change this weekend as I have a fully weekend off to do it... Unlike this past weekend where I only had 3\4 of a day.