68RFE Transmission Cooler 2013, new and ready to install. Fits the 68RFE. Ships fast from the USA.
If your 2013 Ram 2500 or 3500 with the 6.7L Cummins and 68RFE runs hot every time a trailer goes on the hitch, the radiator-mounted cooler may not be the problem at all. The part that decides whether fluid ever reaches that cooler is the thermostatic bypass valve bolted near the transmission, and this listing is the billet aluminum PPE (Pacific Performance Engineering) upgrade that replaces it. The manufacturer part number is 225065000, and it is listed as interchanging with the Mopar bypass assembly 68186711AA.
The 68RFE pumps fluid out through the cooler lines continuously, but on 2013-and-later trucks the factory routes it through a wax-pellet bypass first. Cold fluid is sent straight back to the case so the transmission warms up faster; only after the pellet expands does fluid get pushed out to the cooler. That is fine on a new truck. Once the valve sticks, or debris lodges in its small internal passages, the cooler is starved and the transmission keeps cycling its own hot fluid. PPE states the stock part has a restrictive orifice and claims an 87 percent increase in cooler flow with it removed. Their design has no thermal element at all, so fluid goes to the cooler from the moment the engine starts, and a removable service plug carries a neodymium magnet to catch steel particles before they circulate again.
GEARS Magazine lists six causes of 68RFE overheating: plugged cooler lines, a plugged cooler, a plugged filter, overloading, engine overheating and a fan clutch that is not meeting spec. Rule those out in order. The quickest flow check is to disconnect the return line and run fluid into a bucket; the article calls for at least one gallon per minute. Low flow with clear lines and a clean cooler points at the bypass. Our 68RFE Ram 2500 Cummins problems guide walks through how heat ties into the clutch and converter failures these trucks are known for, and the pump failure guide covers what low line pressure looks like if the problem is upstream of the cooler.
The page title says 2013, but the manufacturer lists this part for the 2013-2018 Ram 2500 and 3500 body style with the 6.7L Cummins and 68RFE. 2019-and-newer trucks use a different bypass and a different PPE part, so do not order this for a 2019 or later truck. Before ordering, compare the shape of the bypass on your truck with the photos, or send us your year and VIN and we will confirm it. You can browse every 68RFE part we carry on the 68RFE collection page.
The valve sits underneath the truck on the passenger side, near where the transmission case meets the engine block. No lines are cut or altered: disconnect the two cooler lines from the factory valve, remove it, install the PPE block with fresh O-rings lubricated in ATF+4, and connect the original lines. Because the cooler circuit now fills right away, start the engine and recheck the level. The FCA service instructions call for fluid at a minimum of 160 F before setting the final level, so drive the truck until it is warm and check again. This is also the right time to flush the cooler and lines, which the open passage now allows with room-temperature fluid. If you tow heavy, pair it with the 68RFE cast aluminum deep pan for extra fluid capacity, and if the truck has already been cooked, read up on the 68RFE accumulator piston and reinforced plate kit before the rebuild.
| Fits | 68RFE 2013 |
| Part type | Transmission Cooler |
| Condition | New |
| Brand | OEM |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
No. This part is listed for the 2013-2018 body style. 2019-and-newer Rams use a different bypass design and need the matching later part.
The transmission takes longer to warm up because fluid goes to the cooler immediately. The tradeoff is that the cooler can never be locked out by a stuck valve, which matters most when towing.
ATF+4. The cooler circuit fills as soon as the engine starts, so top off, then set the final level with the fluid at 160 F or warmer.
No. It bolts into the factory location and the original lines connect to it without cutting or adapters.
It catches steel particles in the cooler circuit. Pull the plug at fluid service, wipe it clean and reinstall it. Heavy debris on it is an early warning of internal wear.
