ptjones

I'm thinking about getting a 12v fan to blow air around Trans to cool it. It would be nice if I could find a temperature switch for around 160*F to make it automatic. I'm going to get Digital Thermometer to monitor cooler line temps too. The perfect plan is to have ICE running between 202-212*F and Trans around 150*F for the best MPG. :) Paul

Have them reverse the rotation of tires when you do your service and the noise will gradually get better in my experience. :) Paul

If we are talking about the same thing, I call it the Cold Start Condition depending on your SOC. If your HVB SOC is lower than 38% the ICE is going to start immediately although it will run down SOC to 33% before starting to recharge it. This morning this happened and ICE ran for .2mi. then went into EV after letting off the gas pedal and on the brakes for stop sign. WT was about 100*F, normally it won't go into EV until WT is 128*F. When SOC is above 40% ICE won't start unless you push pretty hard on accelerator and ICE will continue to get an assist until HVB is down to around 33%. I believe this happens when HVB is cool when you first start the car. One time I started out with 70% SOC and the car acted like an Energy up to 35mpg when ICE automatically came on, but EV kept going until HVB SOC dropped to 38%. I believe this is done because cold ICE is more efficient above 25mph, so the faster the speed in EV, the more efficient the ICE will be when it turns on. :) Paul

My TFT are going up, yesterday always on FWY 192*F. I'm wondering about the Trans cooler, I'm going to get some thermocouples to monitor cooler line temps. ;) Paul

I was referring to aligning the suspension which can change after awhile, 20-30Kmi. :) Paul

I think the problem is partly alignment and partly tire. By reversing rotation you take care of tire part of the problem. :) Paul

That's not bad, were you using A/C? With drafting I can get around 47 mpg (65-75 mph) with some A/C. Just got back from 1400mi trip. FORD's EPA for CMAX Hybrid is 37HWY/42CITY/40mpg combined. :) Paul

BTW RICH FORD was working on second FFH Trans for a total of 3 Hybrid Trans now. I wondering if we are seeing a trend? I'm back in GA now and didn't have any problems coming home, but I was able to get my TFT upto 182*F with Grill Covers on and A/C on. I do have three 3" holes in lower grill and WT was 180-190*F so not even getting to operating range of 202-212*F. I took lower cover off and TFT dropped to 160*F range, but WT dropped to 170-180*F range. If you are concerned about getting the best MPG's you need to have WT above 202*F and ideally have WT above 215*F so shutters will open to allow airflow to cool Trans and DC Inverter coolers. The only way for that to happen is to have Grill Covers on. With the FFH it might work by having Center grill covered and leave bottom one open. It is useful to have ScanGaugeII or Torque Gauges to monitor temps. Now when you use the A/C the shutters open and the fan turns on cooling everything off including WT which lowers MPG's. You will need to do some testing to come up with the best solution. I'm looking at making an spoiler for the bottom front of car and have an air duct to go through lower ICE cover and blow cool air on Trans at HWY speeds. BTW I checked my Trans cooling lines and sure enough input line is a lot hotter than the output line now so Trans pump is working. Also I averaged 47mpg coming back from Albuquerque with headwinds all the way thanks to a lot of drafting when I could. Paul

Here is the feed back from SW Old Trans Fluid was dark and smelled burnt, Trans is warranted for 12m/12kmi. and they did flush the oil cooler. :) Paul

Wait a minute there are other kinds? LOL :) Paul

Thanks for the heads up. :) Paul

So Lodging is more than gas on long trips now. :) Paul

I just got notice that my car is ready so I'm driving back to Albuquerque tomorrow to pick it up Wednesday afternoon. Will be back Friday evening. It will be nice to be back driving MadMax again. I'm only getting 21mpg in the Explorer. ;) Paul

I know from experience rear camber can't be adjusted without replacing a upper arm suspension part. In my case I didn't notice any improvement in MPG's ;) Paul

No wonder we didn't get 47HWY, all FORD had to do is Align our cars, they would have saved a lot of money. LOL :lol2: Paul

Come on now, make a guess. LOL We need more Data. LOL Looks like 55yrs now, we need more younger people to participate to get the average down. :lol: Paul

So that's how it works. LOL I'm 68 and my car is 2 1/2yrs lets see 27.2 yrs. LOL :) I'm guessing the average is closer to 50yrs. Paul

I heard that it was $6K for the trans, so i'm telling everyone not to let their warranty run out. IMO :) Paul

Rich FORD texted a picture of my ICE/ Trans sitting in a cradle under my car with car on lift. It looks like front suspension is still on car. Paul

The latest finished date is next Tuesday Now. ;) As long as It is done right and I don't have any problems I'm good. :) Paul

Interesting Data there. So it looks like you lose 2.2mpg for each 10*F drop in temp. In the Testing I did over 2yrs ago I got 2mpg for each 10*F drop. Under ideal conditions, Level, no wind and 80*F I see 72mpg at 40mph and 47mpg at 70mph with Grill Covers, Wheel Covers, ScanGaugeII, 50PSI Tires Pressure, GasPods and Premium Gas. This curve isn't a straight line. :)

My noise started only when ICE was on, but after 400mi. I could hear a little noise in EV. At 1100mi the noise was sounding pretty bad, I had no idea how much farther I could go and didn't want to get stuck out in the middle of nowhere. So I stopped at a Rich FORD in Albuquerque,NM. They where located right off I-40. I still had 1400mi. to get home so they rented for me a new Explorer to drive home and back. I will be driving back to pick it up this Wednesday. :) Paul

I'm going with the 2013 for the better Smart Guage stuff, Life Time and other things that were dropped on the 14-15yr models. IMO :) It's a shame that FORD didn't improve features as opposed to dropping them. :drop: Paul

I got a picture texted to me from Dealer of my ICE/Trans assembly out of the car. So today they should be removing and installing new Trans. Hopefully they will be able to get started installing ICE/Trans back in car also. They said they would be finished friday, we will see. :) Paul