I currently have a trans cooler after my radiator input. i'm swapping the motor so I have the time. I'm kicking around the idea of running my tranny lines directly to the trans cooler and then back to the tranny, will this work ok? I"m assuming it will, I only run the car may-september, and I know I would have to let it warm up a bit more then normal, but becasue the coolant is roughly 185-200* this keeps my trans temp up too. So am I ok in changing this setup?

 

Lots of people seem to be running it that way.

 

It works for me.
I run aeroquipt AN fittings into my T-350 and -6 braided lines to the cooler mounted in the front of the radiator and then back to the trans again. The lines run along the fenderwell ledge on the passenger side.
The cooler is a Perma cool that I sell from my work for about $70

 

I bypassed the radiator with my transmission cooler. I really like the setup. The engine coolant takes a bit longer to warm up to thermostat opening temp. But that's not a bad thing.

If your radiator is too hot, your transmission fluid won't be. Also allows the radiator to run slightly cooler during those really hot days stuck in traffic.

The one time last summer I did get the radiator up to 240, the transmission temp was still at 190.

If you're planning on driving during the wintertime in below freezing temps on the highway, then you'd want to run it through the radiator. By bypassing the radiator in that instance, your transmission fluid would turn into gel.

 

sounds good, that's what I"ll do, thanks guys

 

ok so for anyone that was running the trans fluid tru the rad and cooler, how did you do it? did you put it on the top line? because from what i understand that was the one to put it on but instead of the car running at 160-180 like it has been its now at 220, i understand that the cooler will block some air flow, but that much?

 

its more efficient to run it like u have been into the rad and then into a seperate cooler. heat is transfered into the coolant better then to air. u can hook up a trans fluid temp gauge and see...

 

Either way works.

200° wet radiator vs 90° dry ambient air.

The overall size of the transmission cooler is such that it can cool better than the small tube that runs through the radiator. A large transmission cooler can get the fluid cool enough, that running it through the radiator can actually heat up the transmission fluid.

 

You want to leave a space between the transmission cooler and the radiator. If you slap it directly on the radiator, you'll have hot spots on both. Poor cooling performance and faster wear out of the radiator being the results.

My transmission cooler is 11" x 12" in size. With the air gap and the radiator cooling fans sucking air through them when the car is going slower than 40 mph, all is well. I've never noticed the car running hotter due to the transmission cooler being there. Just the opposite. It runs cooler.

I recommend the 200°/185° fan switch. Getting that 2nd fan turned on when the temps are high helps pull a bit more air through the cooler.

 

ya i have both fans running constantly, and i took it out today and it ran a little coolerdown from 220 to 200, but odd thing is it was 90* out lastnight and it is 95* out today, im just a bit puzzled im gonna drive it for a few days and see if there is diffrence, ohh and i have half inch spacers between the rad and the cooler

 

200° when it's 95° outside sounds about right. If it's humid outside it will have a harder time cooling down.

 

Is the lower line of the radiator the return line?

I was thinking of going in the transmission cooler after it comes out of the radiator.

 

Top line is the return line to the transmission.

 

Ok. Isent that strange sincet the hot cooling water is entering from the top?

 

Why is it strange?

 

Well I tought that transmission oil passes tru the radiator also for coolin purpose, so it doesent really make sense if it gets out were the radiator is hotter.

Im not doubting your information at all, it just makes me think.

 

It's not hotter at the top of the tank, the temperature is fairly uniform all the way down.