YACT: Automatic Transmission Cooler (Poll added)

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Evadman
if you are in a cold cimate, ALWAYS run though the aux first, then the regular one.

And WHY would one do this?

 

[Ronstang]

http://www.uhaul.com/hitches/transmission_cooler.html
http://www.perma-cool.com/faq/coolers.html#install

According to these sites it the auxillary unit is installed AFTER the one in the radiator, and this confirms the way I have always been told to install them. I don't feel like looking for sets of instuctions in the garage but the ones I have for the units I have installed on my cars also stated to put it inline AFTER the original cooler.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: Evadman
if you are in a cold cimate, ALWAYS run though the aux first, then the regular one.

Not only is this BS it defeats the purpose of the cooler in the first place Einstein.

 

[JC]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: Evadman
if you are in a cold cimate, ALWAYS run though the aux first, then the regular one.

Not only is this BS it defeats the purpose of the cooler in the first place Einstein.

So you figure that ATF should always be as cool as possible? If it comes out of the trans at 280F, then cooled by the aux cooler, you think that the radiator will reheat it to 280F?

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: JC

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: Evadman
if you are in a cold cimate, ALWAYS run though the aux first, then the regular one.

Not only is this BS it defeats the purpose of the cooler in the first place Einstein.

So you figure that ATF should always be as cool as possible? If it comes out of the trans at 280F, then cooled by the aux cooler, you think that the radiator will reheat it to 280F?

The radiator cooler could not reheat the fluid to 280 degrees unless the car is overheating....HAHAHA. You guys can install these units any way you please. I really don't care if you have them installed improperly, but they go AFTER the radiator cooler because it is the most efficient layout and the way the instructions have stated on all the ones I have ever installed and I'm sure I have installed many more than most people here.

OK, I just came back from the garage where I took a brand new in the box Hayden transmission cooler off of the shelf and read the instructions. There were 2 options for routing the lines, one was to BYPASS the stock cooler in the radiator, and the other one was to install the aux cooler AFTER the stock cooler in the radiator.

 

[Evadman]

The Trans cooler usually goes in frot of the radiator when installed so it gets the coldest air. So, if it is -20 outside, your trans can be at operating tempeature, but the oil coming back from the cooler would end up being about 60 degrees instead of normal operating temp of about 200. Does this sound like it is conductive to normal operating dynamics?

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: Evadman
The Trans cooler usually goes in frot of the radiator when installed so it gets the coldest air. So, if it is -20 outside, your trans can be at operating tempeature, but the oil coming back from the cooler would end up being about 60 degrees instead of normal operating temp of about 200. Does this sound like it is conductive to normal operating dynamics?

It isn't going to cool the fluid that much and if it did it would immediately get reheated in the tranny itself. Damn, you guys spend way too much time thinking about stuff you don't know anything about and assume you have to be correct becuase you see youself as smart.....but the aux cooler goes AFTER the stock radiator cooler.....PERIOD, all printed material I could find in my extensive garage confirm this, even a book I have that is soley about automatic transmissions.

 

[Evadman]

Right I have no idea what the hell I am talking about. I bow to the extensive instructions you have in your garage. Which you are posting from at 12:30 in the morning. I always go to work to post on AT at 12:30 in the morning.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: Evadman
Right I have no idea what the hell I am talking about. I bow to the extensive instructions you have in your garage. Which you are posting from at 12:30 in the morning. I always go to work to post on AT at 12:30 in the morning.

What is my incentive to lie? I really dont care what you do, install one anyway you choose. By your reasoning you will have it installed the wrong way but why should I care what a dumbass does? I'm not at work you idiot, I went down to my garage in my house where I have all my tools and literature where I restore classic vehicles and have been doing so for 25 years. I don't have to work at an auto repair facility to know what I am talking about plus I even looked up the info to verify it since I don't want to mislead people.....once again, what is my incentive to lie? I really don't care what a bunch of pimply faced ricers do I was merely trying to provide the correct info instead of a lot of conjecture and guessing.

 

[Evadman]

The first thing you do is come into this thread, and bash me. You have no clue what I do, how long I have been working on cars and trucks, or how much/recent my schooling is. Quite a bit changes technology-wize in 25 years, so I would not be so quick to bash someone. Transmission fluid, engine tech, and trans tech is quite a bit different now.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: Evadman
The first thing you do is come into this thread, and bash me. You have no clue what I do, how long I have been working on cars and trucks, or how much/recent my schooling is. Quite a bit changes technology-wize in 25 years, so I would not be so quick to bash someone. Transmission fluid, engine tech, and trans tech is quite a bit different now.

Your point? I have been working on cars this long and work on the new stuff too so I am up to date on my knowledge. I convert older cars to EFI on a regular basis so I don't think I am in the dark on new technology. You can beleive what you want, but by your reasoning in this thread you will have it installed improperly but I really don't care if you damage your car or not.....mine are plumbed correctly and that is all that is important to me.

 

[JC]

I really don't care if you damage your car or not....

It might not be the way you think it should be....but I don't see it damaging anything. And if you actually think about it, there's an argument to plumb it the other way.

 

[Eli]

It isn't going to damage anything....

The only reason he asks is because he obviously wants it to be as good as it can.

My advice is not to worry about the cold-weather thing. The fluid will be warm enough.

Better yet, go synthetic and just forget about it.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: JC

I really don't care if you damage your car or not....

It might not be the way you think it should be....but I don't see it damaging anything. And if you actually think about it, there's an argument to plumb it the other way.

I did think about it, and the argument to plumb it the other way holds no merit in my opinion. If you are going to plumb it that way then just don't use one because it will do little good at any. I went through this whole process when I was young ang thought it was plumbed the opposite of the way it truly should be but I learned and all written reliable material I can find supports it being after the stock cooler in the radiator....I am not guessing or trying to reason out the answer....I looked it up, everyone does remember books right?

In cold weather you really don't have much to worry about anyway. Auxillary coolers are really only needed for pulling trailers or when you have a high stall converter each of which introduces unwanted heat into the transmission. If you have an aux cooler in a cold climate simply plumb it the way it is intended and run a temp guage in the tranny to veify that the temp isn't too low and if it is then bypass the cooler in the winter months but routing it the other way is just not the solution, especially when it is warm out.

 

[AmericasTeam]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: AmericasTeam
In my old car I use only a B&M Supercooler. Their largest. I run synthetic mobil 5w-30 oil in the transmission. I live in Cali, so cold weather isn't a problem.

In your situation I would run the cooler after the stock (in radiator) cooler. Don't worry about the oil getting too cold in the winter. It won't happen.

You run engine oil in an automatic transmission? I don't think so

Actually I do. Its a TH350 built by a local transmission shop.
ATF is about 0W-20 on the automotive scale. Not to far off. There are of course many differences in the additives in both. Its been working great. Shifts very firm. Second gear 'chirps' without even trying

 

[SuperTool]

I put mine after the stock cooler. I am guessing it doesn't make much difference.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
I put mine after the stock cooler. I am guessing it doesn't make much difference.

Actually you are guessing and it does make a difference, luckily you have it installed correctly.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: SuperTool
I put mine after the stock cooler. I am guessing it doesn't make much difference.

Actually you are guessing and it does make a difference, luckily you have it installed correctly.

It's not luck, I read the instructions, however I am not convinced there is much difference in the cooling efficiency of the tranny. It may hurt the cooling of the engine a little, since the air hitting the radiator will go through a hotter tranny cooler in front of it.

 

[BadNewsBears]

ANy aftermarket cooler is better than an oe. My oe cooler is part of the rad. I actually am bending new lines for that tomorrow Just a few more days and I can go for a spin around the block.

 

[BadNewsBears]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
The pour point isn't what I'm concerned about. What I'm concerned about is proper operation of the transmission. As I said, too cold isn't much better than too hot.
That B&M one sounds like a good idea... but as I said, I've already purchased a cooler, I was just surprised how the instructions say to install it, so I wanted people's opinion.

If your so worried about it, get an elec. solenoid, to run the stock one, then when it gets hot goo dual. Or get a thermostat controlled cooler like I have for my engine oil.

 

[Mark R]

If you want a simple solution, then it is to install the aux cooler before the radiator.

The simple reason for this is the importance of keeping the ATF at the optimal temperature of 160-180 F. The stock cooler runs in the bottom of the radiator, which is filled with wam coolant. This allows cooling of very hot ATF, but stops the temperature of the ATF falling below optimum.

Overcooling ATF is bad. Cold ATF has different friction properties which put extra stress on the clutches within the transmission. So important is this, that most electronically controlled transmissions have a special 'low-temperature' program which runs when the transmission temperature is below optimal. This program changes the shifting pattern, and disables certain economy features in order to increase heat production.

Putting the aux cooler before the radiator, will ensure satisfactory cooling of even very hot ATF. If, however, the ATF is cool, then the ATF will be reheated by the radiator before being fed back to the transmission. This brings the additional advantage of enhancing your engine's cooling system at the same time.

If you put the aux cooler after the radiator then you run the risk of overcooling the ATF, potentially shortening the life of the trans, and impairing fuel consumption. If you must put an aux cooler here, then a thermostatically controlled one is recommended.

 

I can't believe that Roger hasn't lent his knowledge to this thread yet....

I am generally not around here on the week ends people.

Here's the scoop, after market transmission coolers must be installed after the stock cooler inside the radiator, several had this right, pumping transmission fluid through the aftermarket cooler first and then through the radiator (stock) cooler will be wholly ineffective, you will end up reheating the fluid via hot engine coolant.

To be effective, the fluid must go to the radiator first, then to the aftermarket cooler, then back to either an auxiliary filter or back to the transmission.


If you live in a climate with large temperature fluctuations, an oil thermostat must be installed, this will reroute the transmission fluid back to the transmission when the temperature drops below a predetermined value thus preventing over cooling.

 

[Jejunum]

If you live in a climate with large temperature fluctuations, an oil thermostat must be installed, this will reroute the transmission fluid back to the transmission when the temperature drops below a predetermined value thus preventing over cooling.[/Q

this is crucial...otherwise in the winter you will never be able to shift into od!

switch to synthetic to like others have suggested.

 

[JC]

pumping transmission fluid through the aftermarket cooler first and then through the radiator (stock) cooler will be wholly ineffective, you will end up reheating the fluid via hot engine coolant.

But it could only reheat the fluid to engine coolant temp, which is proper operating temp for ATF.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: JC

pumping transmission fluid through the aftermarket cooler first and then through the radiator (stock) cooler will be wholly ineffective, you will end up reheating the fluid via hot engine coolant.

But it could only reheat the fluid to engine coolant temp, which is proper operating temp for ATF.

Give it up...you are wrong. Every set of instructions I have dug up including an automatic tranny book...plus the exalted ROGER...say it goes AFTER the stock cooler. I understand and appreciate your reasoning but it is simply not correct.