Installation of transmission cooler

[Fox River Cruiser]

I am planning on installing a trans cooler which I have not purchased yet. The directions may, or maybe not answer this question. Is it supposed to be hooked up instead of the cooling tube in the radiator, or in addition to it. I was concerned it may keep the fluid to cold in the winters here by using it alone. Any suggestions?

 

[DJ]

Re: Installation of transmission cooler

Fox River Cruiser,<br /><br />You are correct, cold fluid can be just as detrimentral to transmissions as high temp. fluid.<br /><br />Most of the time, trans coolers are routed so that the fluid goes through the external cooler first and then through the radiator tank cooler, then back to the trans. <br /><br />The radiator tank cooler will bring the fluid temp back to normal in winter and in summer the external cooler "assists" the in radiator cooler.<br /><br />External coolers are not meant to be a replacement for in radiator coolers in temperate climates. They are meant to assist.

 

[Fox River Cruiser]

Re: Installation of transmission cooler

DJ Thanks that makes since to me.

 

[heatherjoy]

Re: Installation of transmission cooler

I see no reason for running a cooler before the standard rad. cooler, why would you want to re-heat the fluid?<br /><br />Your goal with a tranny cooler is to cool the fluid down obviously, why would you want to cool it down, then re-heat it?<br /><br />Its pointless to even have a cooler then. Every cooler I have ever seen is installed after the factory rad. cooler. If you live in the arctic circle fluid "freeze up" might be a problem.

 

[gewf631]

Re: Installation of transmission cooler

If you're worried about over -cooling, just install a bypass valve and hose - just a simple brass valve, an extra "t", and a little hose.

 

[kcole683]

Re: Installation of transmission cooler

I beleive the factory Auxiliary coolers on the GM trucks with heavy duty cooling/towing packages run from tranny to aux cooler to rad.cooler.....for the reason of not overcooling in winter.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Installation of transmission cooler

In the northern areas the cooler then radiator is the correct method. Here in Texas you would do the exact oppisite way.

 

[BR549]

Re: Installation of transmission cooler

I bypassed mine completely - here in Alabama cold temps are not an issue. Have never heard of tranny damage due to cold temps - seems like the worst would be lower gas milage in very cold weather due to your torque converter not locking up until you got up to operating temp. ( O/D not kicking in until the tranny warms up)

 

[gewf631]

Re: Installation of transmission cooler

Don't know if this link will work, but here's a link to a Google Groups discussion on this topic. It's rather long (83 posts), but covers most aspects of this topic.<br /><br />I found several more in Google Groups, so you can search over there if you want.<br /><br />Summarizing, the concensus is, that if your current system has an in-radiator cooler, install your new-one BEFORE that cooler.