hey guys i have a trans cooler that i'm about to install. Its a little one, i think its about 5 rows high, and only like 20x15 inches, or maybe smaller.

But my question is, do I run the tranny cooler lines just through the trans cooler, or do i run it through the radaitor too, than when it comes out the radiator make it go throuhg the trans cooler than back to the trans???

 

I've heard and seen them installed both ways. Either alone, or in series with the radiators cooler. When in series, the one that I have seen, was installed so the trans fluid passed through the radiator, then went through auxillary cooler, then back to the trans.

 

yup thats the way i would do it too if i ran it through both...

But should i run it stand alone, or through both? if i ran it through both, it would hold more fluid, and thats a good thing isn't it?

 

It's really up to you. I would run it through both (might want to wait until spring, if it's your winter car). And yes, it will increase the fluid capacity, which doesn't hurt.

 

Run it alone. Factory cars run it in series to help everything get upto temp to provide better fuel economy and I imagine other issues, but for optimium cooling it needs to be stand alone.

1 reason is that the transmission should not be near engine operating temps, tranny should be in the 150-160* range...how often is your engine at that temp-point being the tranny fluid will absorb the heat from the engine coolant.

2. just because your adding more fluid does not make life better. As many guys have found out in racing-combating and eliminating heat first and foremost is the real solution. by adding an expansion tank/reserve fluid tank for 5qts extra you compound your heating problem because now you have that many more quarts of fluid your trying to cool down.

run it separate and you'll have no problems. my tranny cooler is stand alone and never gets over 150* on the street-typically at 120* until I start getting on it-alot.

 

i ran my bowtieoverdrive level 2 like he said /\. it stays the same temp as the water.

 

okay i'll run it alone like IHI stated...he's a very knowledgable guy i can trust...

IHI, you said something about an expansion tank, do they sell these, can you make your own and how? would it be a smart thing to do?

 

B&M makes an auxilary holding tank that holds an extra 5qts of fluid in addition to whats normally in your transmission. So say you hve a TH400 and it holds 12qts full, the system would now be capable to holding 17qts.

Many racers have went this route thinking more fluid=more heat dispertion since it's taking the same amount of heat and is now spreading it out with alot more fluid. Here's the kicker, what many of the guys later found out after going round robin it's harder to cool the fluid down between rounds BECAUSE they have the extra fluid-more hot fluid means more to cool down and it takes longer. Many have taken the extra capacity tanks off and went back to the plain jane set up of the deep tranny pans and external cooler (biggest you can get with minimum -6 line, I personally run -8 on mine) It will still take awhile to heat up thje fluid, but it cools down very quickly since your working with alot less hot fluid. What's easier to cool down, 1 gallon of hot oil or 2 gallons?? same principal.

Just stick with the basics, and go big with the cooler and you'll be fine. If you want some extra protection, go synthetic tranny juice. It has shown on average 15-20* cooler temps across the boards as opposed to standard ATF.

 

okay i'll keep it simple than. I have qauker state ATF in there right now, what would be the best way of getting that out to put the new stuff in? isn't it near impossible to get it all out? is it alright to mix the regular stuff with synthetic???

 

You can mix the standard and snythetic, not a problem.

best way to evac system, undo tranny lines and blow them out so that part of the system is clean. Run some temporary lines from the tranny, one off the inlet and one off the outlet.

get 2 clean buckets. One will be used as the old tranny fluid catch can. In the other fill that with your new atf fluid, I'd personally buy 2-3 qts more than the system will take to help ensure convertor and tranny are as flushed out as possible. Stick the transmission inlet hoise into the bucket of the new fluid and make sure it's at the bottom so it's sucking fluid all the time and have outlet side from tranny pointed into catch bucket.

Get a buddy to start the car and be ready to turn it off when you hollar. Once your new atf bucket is about empty have buddy shut off the car and hook everything back up, check fluid levels and top off as necessary.

That's about the easiest way to flush the system yourself, there will undoubtedly be some old atf left in the system since your not going to want to waste alot of the synthetic stuff to ensure it's all flushed out, but that little bit wont hurt a thing.

 

alrighty, thanks IHI, you've been a great help, like always...