One should not tow or plow snow without a good transmission cooler. Two different fellows at work both recently burned up their transmissions. Why? Both only had the factory radiator tank cooler, and both decided to tow a trailer with a car on it, in the summer heat. One was a Ford, and the other a Chev TH700. The transmissions shops that did the rebuild, both said the fluid was burnt, and the Ford even melted the front seal (less than 20,000 miles on the Ford Reman Trans.)
Plowing snow also generates extreme heat in the transmission, yes even in winter.
The torque converter generates a lot of heat when unlocked, almost 300 degrees at times.
I have stated before that I have added two additional coolers to mine, plus the two from GM. Keep my fluid changed (17quarts) each season, and I tow heavy, and I see very little debri in the pan at each change, never get a burnt color or odor in the fluid. Started using Amsoil snythetic a few years back.
Coolers and fluid changes are cheap insurance, compared to a transmission.
Tom McCauley (DP Member #513)
"Tankers-ToyII" Loaded 05 D/A K-3500 CC, SRW. Deep pan on Allison w/Transyn. Edge Juice w/attitude, 4" Kennedy exhaust, 98 Gal. Transfer-Flow cross bed fuel tank, Leer 100XQ bed cap. Reese 14,000lb class V hitch w/ dual cam HP sway control. Tow 34ft. 32FKD Holiday Rambler travel trailer. GCW 20,360lbs