Hard Lines, Hard Work – Transmission Cooler for the 2020-2022 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke
With 475 horsepower and 1,050 ft-lbs routed through a 10-speed 10R140 TorqShift transmission, the 2020-2022 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke was designed for serious towing. With big power comes lots of heat, and this is especially true when hauling heavy loads or towing uphill. As impressive as this truck is, heat is the enemy of any transmission, and as temperatures rise, so do problems.
The stock transmission cooler does a decent job of cooling, but if you’re looking to push this truck to the limit, decent won’t do. That’s why we’ve been hard at work developing the Mishimoto Transmission Cooler for the 2020-2022 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke—the first of its kind on the market.
Stock Evaluation
The stock transmission cooler uses a liquid-to-liquid design. This works by transferring heat from the transmission to the engine coolant. This style of transmission cooler is becoming more commonly equipped by OEMs due to their compact size, but there are pros and cons.
Typically, liquid-to-liquid transmission coolers struggle to cool as effectively as their front-mounted air-to-fluid counterparts. Their compact size means less surface area, and using hot engine coolant to cool transmission fluid isn’t as effective as a steady flow of fresh air. Additionally, depending on the vehicle’s engine coolant system introduces another potential point of failure.
However, a huge benefit of the liquid-to-liquid design is that they’re extremely efficient and fast at getting automatic transmission fluid up to operating temperature compared to tube-and-fin designs. ATF doesn’t lubricate properly when it’s too cold, which means towing before the fluid has reached an optimal temperature can cause premature wear and damage. This is especially important for truck owners who live in colder climates.
Design Process
To offer the best of both worlds, Dan, our engineer, decided to design a air-to-fluid style transmission cooler that works in conjunction with the factory liquid-to-liquid cooler. For the Mishimoto cooler, Dan opted for a tube-and-fin design because it’s robust and able to quickly absorb and release temperatures, making it ideal for the rapidly changing loads that come with heavy-duty towing.
The result of supplementing the stock system with our front-mounted tube-and-fin cooler is a complementary design that offers unmatched cooling capabilities and the ability to ensure the truck’s ATF reaches proper operating temperature. However, the actual process of implementing this design was no easy task.
For the air-to-fluid cooler, we opted for the tried-and-true design from our Transmission Cooler for the 2017-2019 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke. Our previous generation design also worked in tandem with the stock transmission cooler and had been proven in the real world, so we knew it would be up to the task for the 2020-2022 model. However, an entirely new line routing system had to be developed in order to work with the new generation.
Dan first needed to rotate the stock transmission cooler so its fluid connection points were out of the way of the Mishimoto fluid connection points. While keeping ground clearance in mind, he removed the stock cooler from its mounting points and manipulated it several ways to confirm that he would be able to plumb it in-line with the Mishimoto cooler. Once he determined the optimal position for relocation, he designed a custom bracket to hold it in place. He also reviewed SEMA data to confirm fluid routing to and from the cooler to gain a better understanding of the stock systems and ensure functionality with the new design.
The next step was to design the system’s new transmission fluid lines. Dan opted for dependable aluminum hard lines to guarantee the system would be up to the task of handling the pressures and demands of heavy towing.
To map out the route for these lines, he used a borescope camera to determine the best route. Given the complex layout and lack of open space underneath the 2020-2022 6.7L Powerstroke, this required a great deal of dedication on Dan’s part. He meticulously measured clearance along this path to ensure the best routing for optimal flow and prevent any potential contact or friction issues.
For further protection, he also designed CNC-machined isolation clamps mounted to powder-coated, corrosion-resistant steel brackets. These clamps maintain the precise routing of the hard lines and prevent line friction. Finally, Dan designed these lines with the customer in mind, ensuring they were broken up in such a way that made the installation process as easy as possible.
After relocating the stock cooler and installing our cooler and lines, Dan determined the transmission cooling system’s fluid capacity increased by an impressive 1.7 quarts. More fluid means better heat management, which is critical when you’re towing, climbing grades, or just running your truck hard.
The Mishimoto Transmission Cooler for the 2020-2022 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke is the first of its kind available for owners who don’t want soft line or DIY kits. The impressive engineering that went into developing this has paid off, resulting in an incredibly dependable and capable cooling system that outperforms stock.
This is the ideal upgrade for Powerstroke owners looking to keep their 10R140 TorqShift transmission running cooler, longer, and more efficiently. Its integration with the stock system ensures proper temperature control while the increased fluid capacity provides peace of mind when you’re pushing your truck to the limit. Backed by the Mishimoto Lifetime Warranty, this transmission cooler is designed to last and keep your truck protected for years to come.
