Trans Cooler

[TreeFrogg169]

Who's got one? Where did you mount it at and how did you hook it in. I wanting to put one on but am not sure were is the best place to mount it or hook it up. Pics please.

[germ]

i have one, had it for about 100,000 miles now.

i would suggest just running the tranny cooler by itself, because it currently goes thru a very small "cooler" in the radiator.

i would bypass the radiator if at all possible and then mount the new cooler infront of the radiator and the a/c "radiator", basically, infront.

i would suggest DOUBLE clamp ALL connections. better safe than sorry, trust me.

[overdrive75]

connect the cooler after the radiator, meaning flow should be, out of transmission, into radiator, then the cooler and back to the transmission.

That is the best way, do not bypass the radiator, that would be a very bad idea.

[mfuller]

Overdrive speaketh the truth...that's how I have my B&M Racing SuperCooler hooked up (it's a biggie, rated for vehicles up to 28,000 GVWR), and my trans still works, even with all the hell I've put it through in 82,000 miles.

[germ]

there is nothing wrong with bypassing the cooler in the radiator and its much easier IMO to bypass the radiator cooler anyway.

like i said, ive had mine on for 100,000 miles, and my STOCK tranny just turned 199,065 this moring on the way to work.

i would say bypassing the radiator didnt hurt anything.

[Cliff8928]

It's not recommended to bypass the radiator cooler, the transmission shouldn't be run too cold either. It should go from the trans, to the external cooler, to the radiator and then back to the trans.

[bigd6983]

im with overdrive.........i think its suppose to go through the radiator......then the tranny color and back into the transmission......

[Cliff8928]

That may not be a problem for people who don't live where it can freeze, but take this into consideration (excerpt from a manufacturer's site)

Q. Can you over cool the transmission fluid?
A. Transmissions are not highly sensitive to cool operating temperatures. However, in sub-zero (20-30° F) weather conditions transmission fluid can actually gel up in an external cooler and cease to flow, causing damage. Use of the radiator cooler actually helps warm the fluid under these conditions. It is critical in extreme cold conditions to use the original equipment cooler in series with the auxiliary cooler and allow the vehicle to warm up before driving.

[bigd6983]

that sounds like it would work for me.....my tranny gets a lil hot for my liking.......and i can definately notice a difference at different temps at how it shifts....

[germ]

i live in minnesota

my tranny fluid runs at 175* CONSTANTLY after warming up even in the winter.

ANY car and ANY tranny fluid will act differently (slow shifting) at -30*



you guys can do as you wish, but keep in mind, if your tranny is running at 160-180* and THEN it goes into your radiator which at times DOES peak at over 220*, you will actually be WARMING up the tranny fluid to a higher temp, defeating the purpose of a tranny cooler, even if you have the tranny cooler after the stock radiator, because the tranny cooler will just bring the temp down to where it was before the fluid hit the radiator.

but hey, 200,000 miles on a stock tranny hooked up by bypassing the stock radiator cooler must not work?

[Oldsman]

i don't think anyone said it does work or don't do it. it is just common practice to hook it up after the rad.

you hooked yours up another way and that is great. just it isn't the preferred way of doing it. i think is what people are saying here.

[germ]

Originally posted by Oldsman@Mar 21 2005, 09:47 AM
i don't think anyone said it does work or don't do it. it is just common practice to hook it up after the rad.

you hooked yours up another way and that is great. just it isn't the preferred way of doing it. i think is what people are saying here.


actually someone did....



That is the best way, do not bypass the radiator, that would be a very bad idea.



im just trying to dispell a common "myth"

[BlackJack]

aight fellas....there you have it....live in a COLD environment? ya got the option of not using the stock radiator mount cooler....live in a HOT environment? use both.....me personally...if it was that cold where I live, I wouldn't bother using two coolers...

Is this possible?.....put in a in-line "T" valve selector AFTER the stock cooler that will allow you to either route the fluid back to the tranny in the winter, or through the aftermarket cooler first, then back to the tranny in the summer time...not too hard....used to do that with my external oil coolers for seasonal changes.

[germ]

it gets 90+* here in Minnesota in the summer, and there is no difference in the temp's from winter and summer, once the car is warmed up and driving, the temps stay in the 170*'s.

with the stock radiator cooler, they would get to well over 200* in the summer (anything over 200 is starting to break down tranny fluid and cause issues)

with the stock radiator inline with another tranny cooler, they would peak at 195'ish.

with just the tranny cooler hooked up, consistant mid 170*'s

160-190* is optimal performance temp range for the tranny.


no matter how you look at it, the fluid WILL be warmer if you feed it through the stock radiator cooler then to the aftermarket cooler. YES it is better than just a stock cooler but not as efficiant as just using the aftermarket.




*if my way of doing this is wrong, then how come most HD tranny or stock cars that come with tranny coolers dont route through the radiator?

*im not saying its wrong to put the tranny cooler after the stock one either, just saying that it does not cool as well as NOT using it.

[overdrive75]

Originally posted by germ@Mar 21 2005, 11:42 AM




no matter how you look at it, the fluid WILL be warmer if you feed it through the stock radiator cooler then to the aftermarket cooler. YES it is better than just a stock cooler but not as efficiant as just using the aftermarket.




*if my way of doing this is wrong, then how come most HD tranny or stock cars that come with tranny coolers dont route through the radiator?

Ok, onto the first part. The in tank (radiator) cooler is in the cool tank of the radiator, the return to engine side, so the coolant in that side is no were near the temperature of that of the from engine side. Thermocouple both hoses and you will see a huge delta in temperature between the two. Consider your first statement false.

Now onto the second quoted one.

How come out of all the pickup and SUV manufactures, when there trucks are equiped with the heavey duty trailering packages route there trans coolerlines through the radiator, then to the aux cooler than back to the transmission? I think they may know a little something you don't but hey you have one test case your car.

What you have done is not the prefered method. When people are recommending the tried and proven one, don't attempt to be pompus and all knowing.

[TreeFrogg169]

Ok, I know where to hook it in at but where are you guys mounting them? Can I just pull off the plastic part were the oil filter is and mount in right there? I would like to see some mounting pics.

[Redog]

Thread cleaned

Can't settle problems or disagreement thru PM's don't bash each other on public forms

[TreeFrogg169]

Anyone? What does no one have them mounted. Where did you guys mount them.

Also where are you hooking in a trans temp guage?

[germ]

you want to mount it in front of your radiator and A/C, basically in front of everything. the tranny cooler will come with these zip tie looking things that you push through the radiator fins and then clasp on the backside (very easy to do, hard to explain, directions are included with most tranny coolers)


and IIRC, your tranny has a temp gauge already installed and you can find out your trans temp by scanning your car with some sort of scan tool like autotap, powertuner, LS1m, etc....

but if you want an aftermarket gauge, then i would put a T on the output line for the tranny that runs to the radiator, that will give you a decent reading as to what the core tranny fluids temp is.

i wouldnt put it on the return line from the cooler to the tranny, thats just telling you that the fluid has been cooled off and wont give you accurate readings as to what the real temp is of the fluid.