PWR vs Stock new Heat Exchanger

MattstaF6 · 30-10-2014, 01:46 PM

Hi Guys

Just spoke to the guys at Blue Power Racing and they were very helpful with information on Heat Exchanges. I want to get a new heat exchanger to avoid the milkshake effect and inquired about the PWR heat exchanger. These guys actually were very helpful and explained to me that they recommend a stock Ford heat exchanger over the PWR and just change it every 2 - 3 years. They said the original works to spec and the PWR hasn't yet been 100% proven. Another guy on here had recommended the same thing. These guys at Bluepower are experts when it comes to Fords so it was interesting to hear. Just thought I would let you guys know and ask what your thoughts are?

FPV GTHO · 30-10-2014, 02:05 PM

I think it's much of a muchness. The Ford replacement part has factory development behind it but they still fail, sometimes randomly. The PWR unit might not have the same test miles on a Ford but their products as a whole are reliable. There's a lot of hysteria around water cooling oils and having a potential milkshake, but all the manufacturers still do it.

Depending on your ownership, you might find simply changing the OEM heat exchanger a cheaper alternative but there will be other variables to keep in mind to eliminate random failures.

Simple6 · 30-10-2014, 02:18 PM

I would love to get an PWR but they won't fit the AWD Territory's.

PWR products are used in F1, V8 Supercars etc so I personally wouldn't have an issue with the quality of the product. It may not be motorsport standard, but if they're making products for those uses then I'm sure they know what they are doing when it comes to building a part that does the job as good as (if not better) that OEM standard and has quality to last.

Just my thoughts.

Kempe · 30-10-2014, 02:30 PM

I say go for neither but go for an air cooled system and totally avoid any chance of a milkshake, I have done it and so have plenty others with no drama with gear changes.

My understanding is the stock heat exchanger is not a Ford requirement but a ZF requirement on all their trans units including the ones in the Northern hemisphere winters and I believe that is the crucial part the "Northern Hemisphere winters"
We dont get them in Australia so dont need a heat exchanger that heats the trans oil up quickly from sub zero temps.
Just my opinion and I cant back it up but nobody else can back up their thoughts either not even why the stock one fails
I say go air cooled and totally avoid any chance of a 7k milkshake

LooLoo18 · 30-10-2014, 02:35 PM

I just went stock about a month ago my thinking is if it fails Ford are the only ones that have touched it with Ford parts

MattstaF6 · 30-10-2014, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LooLoo18

I just went stock about a month ago my thinking is if it fails Ford are the only ones that have touched it with Ford parts

Yeah but only issue is if the car is out of warranty will Ford cover the transmission damage?

MattstaF6 · 30-10-2014, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kempe

I say go for neither but go for an air cooled system and totally avoid any chance of a milkshake, I have done it and so have plenty others with no drama with gear changes.

My understanding is the stock heat exchanger is not a Ford requirement but a ZF requirement on all their trans units including the ones in the Northern hemisphere winters and I believe that is the crucial part the "Northern Hemisphere winters"
We dont get them in Australia so dont need a heat exchanger that heats the trans oil up quickly from sub zero temps.
Just my opinion and I cant back it up but nobody else can back up their thoughts either not even why the stock one fails
I say go air cooled and totally avoid any chance of a 7k milkshake

Who does the air cooled systems?

LooLoo18 · 30-10-2014, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattstaF6

Yeah but only issue is if the car is out of warranty will Ford cover the transmission damage?

Ford have been known to fix transmissions out of warranty thats why I decided to stay with Ford unit

Kempe · 30-10-2014, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattstaF6

Who does the air cooled systems?

My mechanic provided it but I think Furious do one, look in the sponsors forum, and there may be others.

MattstaF6 · 30-10-2014, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kempe

My mechanic provided it but I think Furious do one, look in the sponsors forum, and there may be others.

Found it. Very Interesting. Have you tested it out on a really hot day yet?

Kempe · 30-10-2014, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattstaF6

Found it. Very Interesting. Have you tested it out on a really hot day yet?

Just after it was fitted last March I took the family on a round trip of 600km in 38c and it never missed a beat
I posted it at the time on the "Has your ZF milkshaked" thread

FPV GTHO · 30-10-2014, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kempe

I say go for neither but go for an air cooled system and totally avoid any chance of a milkshake, I have done it and so have plenty others with no drama with gear changes.

My understanding is the stock heat exchanger is not a Ford requirement but a ZF requirement on all their trans units including the ones in the Northern hemisphere winters and I believe that is the crucial part the "Northern Hemisphere winters"
We dont get them in Australia so dont need a heat exchanger that heats the trans oil up quickly from sub zero temps.
Just my opinion and I cant back it up but nobody else can back up their thoughts either not even why the stock one fails
I say go air cooled and totally avoid any chance of a 7k milkshake

Ford fitted them on 4 speed/5 speed six cylinders as well so its not simply a ZF requirement.

Heating the oil up to running temp helps economy and emissions, not just winter climate starts.

superfly · 30-10-2014, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LooLoo18

I just went stock about a month ago my thinking is if it fails Ford are the only ones that have touched it with Ford parts

Did Ford tell you to replace it or that was just your decision? If you're sticking with the Ford product but they don't say to replace it, then what's the point? I understand from a personal point so you think it's less likely to fail. But if it fails, Ford don't have to fix it for free.

I too was recommend to replace the stock one every couple of years by a local workshop and was quoted around $900 to do this. I don't really want to spend $900 every couple of years, I'd rather then fit the PWR unit and be done with it.

LooLoo18 · 30-10-2014, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superfly

Did Ford tell you to replace it or that was just your decision? If you're sticking with the Ford product but they don't say to replace it, then what's the point? I understand from a personal point so you think it's less likely to fail. But if it fails, Ford don't have to fix it for free.

I too was recommend to replace the stock one every couple of years by a local workshop and was quoted around $900 to do this. I don't really want to spend $900 every couple of years, I'd rather then fit the PWR unit and be done with it.

It was my decision to replace it at a cost of $250

xr gr8 · 31-10-2014, 01:22 AM

I'd put good money down( if I had any) that no PWR heat exchanger will ever fail in the manner the factory exchanger does!
It's a top quality Aussie product designed and produced to replace a known item of failure!

MattstaF6 · 31-10-2014, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xr gr8

I'd put good money down( if I had any) that no PWR heat exchanger will ever fail in the manner the factory exchanger does!
It's a top quality Aussie product designed and produced to replace a known item of failure!

I'm not worried about the corrosion side of things. I think the PWR product will be better quality than the standard Chinese made Ford Heat Exchanger. Only issue is, does the PWR work exactly the same way as the genuine.
I have a BF Typhoon and from what i hear they have a different heat exchanger than the FG models have (KTM make the BF model heat exchangers). When I spoke to the guys at Bluepower one of the guys told me that they rarely see BF heat exhangers go and its mainly the FG models (he worked for Ford before Bluepower). Still I don't want to take the chance.

vztrt · 31-10-2014, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattstaF6

I'm not worried about the corrosion side of things. I think the PWR product will be better quality than the standard Chinese made Ford Heat Exchanger. Only issue is, does the PWR work exactly the same way as the genuine.
I have a BF Typhoon and from what i hear they have a different heat exchanger than the FG models have (KTM make the BF model heat exchangers). When I spoke to the guys at Bluepower one of the guys told me that they rarely see BF heat exhangers go and its mainly the FG models (he worked for Ford before Bluepower). Still I don't want to take the chance.

Well they say its the same they have just beefed up the part that is prone to cracking.

http://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11390288

xr gr8 · 31-10-2014, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattstaF6

I'm not worried about the corrosion side of things.

We'll that's the only reason for upgrading the exchanger in the first place.

MattstaF6 · 31-10-2014, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xr gr8

We'll that's the only reason for upgrading the exchanger in the first place.

I meant as far as the PWR Unit goes. I'm sure it wont corrode and will last longer that the stock Ford Unit.

vztrt · 31-10-2014, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattstaF6

I meant as far as the PWR Unit goes. I'm sure it wont corrode and will last longer that the stock Ford Unit.

Apparently the bits that corrode are upgraded so it technically should last longer.....mind you if you actually change your coolant every 2 years then that helps.

**PridenJoy** · 31-10-2014, 03:52 PM

I have a KTM HEX on my BF which was running beautifully but i still went with air cooler just to eliminate the possibility of a milk shake, whether that was ever going to happen or not, I was not prepared to find out the hard way.