Recommended Transmission and Power Steering Coolers for 2019 Ford Explorer

Published 11/29/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Derale Series 9000 Plate-Fin Transmission Cooler Kit w/ NPT Inlets - Class I -Extra Efficient

(93)

$112.40

Derale 4-Pass Tube-Fin Power Steering Cooler - 8-1/8" Wide

(30)

$53.75

Derale Series 8000 Plate-Fin Transmission Cooler Kit w/Barb Inlets - Class III - Efficient

(867)

$111.94

Question:

I am thinking about extra coolers for our 2019 Explorer V6. Our travel trailer is well within the towing capacity of the car, with room to spare, but with a new car that we intend to keep for a long time I am considering a trans cooler and maybe also a power steering cooler. I have read that the 1st priority is a trans cooler, then power steering cooler. Is this correct?

asked by: Conner

Expert Reply:

Yes, the general wisdom on supplementary fluid coolers for towing vehicles is that the transmission is top priority followed by the power steering system.

The transmission cooler I recommend for your Explorer is the Derale Class III plate-fin cooler # D13503. This is because this cooler's 11 x 8-3/4-inch size allows it to very efficiently cool your transmission fluid a second time, after it is first cooled by the OEM cooler inside your radiator. The best install location is right in front of your AC condenser where air flow is strongest. A video on this Derale cooler is linked for you. I recommend this over the smaller Class I model # D13611 that you referenced because it will take just as much effort to install the larger more efficient cooler as the smaller one.

For your power steering cooler I recommend the Derale # D13212 quad pass cooler that is fairly compact at 8-1/8 x 5-inches but which will cool your power steering system well since it passes the fluid through the cooler 4 times. You should be able to fit both of these coolers in front of your condenser. An install video is linked for this item.

Do note that adding a supplemental cooler along with the tubing required for connection can mean that your fluid systems may need to be topped off after these items are installed. The extra fluid capacity from coolers is not a whole lot, perhaps 6 to 8 fluid ounces total, but having this extra fluid volume in your cooling systems means they will be that much more effective since there is more fluid to carry away that heat and release it to the air via the cooler.

Also note that both coolers can be installed in any orientation. It does not matter in which direction the ports face. The coolers will work just as well in any position.