Transmission Coolers

[rockman20]

I have a 93 One ton dually with a 4L80E transmission.

I just installed my transmission temp gauge and I have to say that I am frightened by what I found. I had found this on my 82 Scottsdale as well with the 700R4 in it.

How do these transmissions last? I put a guage in my 82 and was shocked to see temps spiking into the 300 degree range! Everything on the truck was stock and the radiator had just been recored and a new transmission cooler on the side! I installed an auxilary cooler to that and I was able to keep the temps around 170 all day long then.

I installed a digital gauge in my 93. It spikes above 280 degrees and then just starts flashing HI across the screen! Again, everything is stock and the radiator looks like it was replaced not too long ago.

How can these trucks last with transmission temps like this?

Anyways, my cooler question. This truck has the 454 in it. It works hard. It tows hard. The water temp gauge on the dash already reads a little over 210 on hot days when towing. I really don't want to add yet another thing onto the front of my radiator. It already has the radiator and then the AC unit. But, I know of no other place for an auxilary cooler.

If I go in front of the radiator, would there be any benefit to having a cooler with a fan on it? This thing is a 10,000 GVW vehicle and it has been known to tow upwards of 20,000 pounds in one trailer. I want this transmission to last as long as I can so the cooler I can get it, the better. The only benefit I could see to the fan would be if you are stuck in traffic at an idle. But what are your thoughts on this setup?