I purchased my trans fluid cooler after carefully measuring the space I had available ,and installing a temp gauge that told me that my trans fluid temps tended to be a bit higher than ideal, but once I got the trans fluid cooler in hand I found it was going to be a huge P.I.T.A. , to mount where I had planed too.
I mounted my trans fluid cooler with its fan where the spare tire generally mounts on my c4 and I can assure you that the fans required to be functioning if you want the fluid cool, theres just not a great deal of air flow thru the cooler without it
keep in mind that any trans fluid cooler should have a minimum of AN#8 or 1/2" line size and an electric cooling fan, normally youll see ratings like (22000, lb vehicle weight )
the problem many of us have is in finding the room to install the cooler and for many of us the price seems a bit high, but if you can spend $150-$350 on a cooler that will easily prevent the vast majority of transmission failures related to running too hot
(MANY IF NOT MOST DURABILITY ISSUES RELATE TO THIS)
and a decent performance transmission and torque converter could easily cost 10 too 15 times the cost of the transmission cooler
the cost seems to be easier to justify.
yes the coolers with the AN#6 /3/8" line size are cheaper , but they generally are flow restrictive and in my opinion a waste of time and money
yeah Ive seen several guys who used air conditioning evaporators as fluid coolers and yes its always restrictive, too flow,
the tube size is way too restrictive,
your far better off buying a commercial fluid cooler with a power fan, version designed for that application with AN#8 or 1/2" tube / hose size
http://transmissionrepairguy.com/transmission-cooler/
related threads
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...te-filter-require-a-new-pump.3144/#post-62980
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...nstalling-a-transmission-cooler.307/#post-372
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/trans-fluid.4909/#post-13548
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...il-cooler-increases-durability.176/#post-1237
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-system-mods-that-help.2187/#post-7231
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...smisison-oil-fileters-finned.4694/#post-12730
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ans-cooler-on-a-c4-corvette.10514/#post-70074
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-temps-and-engine-wear.6327/#post-19878
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15820
heres a cooler several guys I know use.
https://www.jegs.com/i/Derale/259/15900/10002/-1
you will rather obviously need to carefully and accurately,
measure the location you want to install any fluid cooler and its fluid line connections, you should seriously consider a AN#8 line size as minimum
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15830
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/flx-45951
http://www.ws6transam.org/transcooler.html
http://www.bulkpart.com/transmission-cooler.html
http://www.grandprix.net/upgrades/cooler.html
http://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/tech-e ... ooler.html
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetai ... toview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=PRM-12318&N=700+400006+115&autoview=sku
a tranny cooler with a powered fan does a far superior job, if your going thru the effort, IT PAYS to do it CORRECTLY,
routing transmission cooler lines, should be thought thru carefully so engine exhaust or vibration won,t damage the lines, a restriction to trans fluid or oil flow will generally be the part of the connecting lines with the smallest cross sectional area, if you look at most automotive oil or transmission coolers they have AN#6 (3/8")or AN#8 (1/2")connections, so lines significantly larger won,t do much for increasing flow rates
http://store.summitracing.com/largeimage.asp?part=PRF-30103&Prod=Painless+Performance+FAN-THOM+Electric+Fan+Relay+Kits&img=prf-30103_w.jpg
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=PRM-12318&view=64&N=700+150+400006+4294906626+&appfilter=1
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81691
just some info too think thru
the engines state of tune effects the heat generated, vacuum leaks tend to increase heat, octane used effects the heat, your ignition timing curve effects the heat
the type of coolant effects the rate heats transfered
the amount and type of oil effects the temp transfer rates
a larger oil filter, and larger capacity baffeled oil pan, tends to reduce temps due to exposing a larger surface area to the air flow, keeping the average oil temp in the pan lower
anything that reduces airflow thru the radiator reduces its efficiency
the water pump and T-stat both effect the rate heats transfered, high flow water pumps can help
the electric fans work off a sensor and the temp they turn on at can be modified, larger or additional electrical fans can be added
on an auto trans car,the transmission fluid adds a good deal of heat to the radiator, adding a seperate ADDITIONAL trans cooler with a seperate ellectric fan,removes a good deal of the load from the radiator
oil in the engine flowing over parts absorbs and transfers heat , having a larger baffled oil pan hanging down in the airflow under the engine helps cool the engine
headers remove heat faster than stock exhaust manifolds
aftermarket aluminum radiators can be far more efficient
the dia. of the pullies your using does effect the coolant flow
running the correct T-stat can help cooling, generally the 180F-190F is the best compromize
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81691
http://www.becool.com/
http://www.dewitts.com/pages/categoryresults.asp?catID=19
http://www.kevko.net/images/1090_full.gif
http://www.kevko.net/wetsump_chevy.htm
http://www.stefs.com/products/oilpans/circletrackwetsump.htm
http://www.radiatorbarn.com/?source=overture
engine oil needs to reach and stay at about 215F-240f to lube and clean correctly and burn off moisture
trans fluid I try to keep under 160F,surely below 180F ,
Ideally I try to keep engine coolant in the engine in the 190F-200F range but don,t get overly worried below 230F. BTW I run a 190F t-stat, temp ranges should be kept within these ranges or the wear and emmissions won,t give you the long engine and trans life and low emmission levels you expect , drop the coolant temps lower and you may gain a few hp but the wear tends to get worse as the fluids can,t opperate correctly, drop the oil temp below 211 F and acids can form in the oil (bad for bearings)
in an ideal world the coolant temp would stay in the 190F-200F range, install a 180F-or-190F t-stat and have the fans reprogramed to come on at about 185F-200F and youll see a marked stabilization of the coolant temp IF everythings functioning CORRECTLY
heres the fan control kits
185F
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SUM-890015
200F
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=PRF-30102&N=700+115&autoview=sku
this external trans cooler
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=PRM-12318&N=700+115&autoview=sku
personally I sellected the 190F T-stat 185F fan control , but IM seriously thinking of getting the 200F fan control simply because with my external trans cooler the engine oil temp seldom gets over 220F and it takes 215F to burn off all moisture in the oil.
on my corvette I felt the proper route was hot tranny fluid out to radiator then to the electric fan cooled trans cooler then back to the trans, simply because that maximized the temp drop to the trans AND I was not having ANY trouble cooling the engine, in fact the oil temp seldom exceeds 230F and takes a fairly long time to reach 215F.
I don,t know the trans fluid pressure but I did verify that my trans cooler was designed for transmision heat/pressure and was factory tested at 300PSI.
BTW if you route the other direction, IE seperate trans cooler first then to the radiator it makes for a significant reduction in coolant temp, and the fan on the seperate tranny fluid cooler runs constantly, but the engine coolant has a difficult time getting up to temp,(at least on my corvette) of reaching or allowing the oil temp in the engine to reach 215F LETS NOT GET INTO HOW I KNOW THAT :laughing:
I mounted my trans fluid cooler with its fan where the spare tire generally mounts on my c4 and I can assure you that the fans required to be functioning if you want the fluid cool, theres just not a great deal of air flow thru the cooler without it
keep in mind that any trans fluid cooler should have a minimum of AN#8 or 1/2" line size and an electric cooling fan, normally youll see ratings like (22000, lb vehicle weight )
the problem many of us have is in finding the room to install the cooler and for many of us the price seems a bit high, but if you can spend $150-$350 on a cooler that will easily prevent the vast majority of transmission failures related to running too hot
(MANY IF NOT MOST DURABILITY ISSUES RELATE TO THIS)
and a decent performance transmission and torque converter could easily cost 10 too 15 times the cost of the transmission cooler
the cost seems to be easier to justify.
yes the coolers with the AN#6 /3/8" line size are cheaper , but they generally are flow restrictive and in my opinion a waste of time and money
yeah Ive seen several guys who used air conditioning evaporators as fluid coolers and yes its always restrictive, too flow,
the tube size is way too restrictive,
your far better off buying a commercial fluid cooler with a power fan, version designed for that application with AN#8 or 1/2" tube / hose size
http://transmissionrepairguy.com/transmission-cooler/
related threads
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...te-filter-require-a-new-pump.3144/#post-62980
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...nstalling-a-transmission-cooler.307/#post-372
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/trans-fluid.4909/#post-13548
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...il-cooler-increases-durability.176/#post-1237
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-system-mods-that-help.2187/#post-7231
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...smisison-oil-fileters-finned.4694/#post-12730
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ans-cooler-on-a-c4-corvette.10514/#post-70074
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-temps-and-engine-wear.6327/#post-19878
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15820
heres a cooler several guys I know use.
https://www.jegs.com/i/Derale/259/15900/10002/-1
you will rather obviously need to carefully and accurately,
measure the location you want to install any fluid cooler and its fluid line connections, you should seriously consider a AN#8 line size as minimum
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15830
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/flx-45951
http://www.ws6transam.org/transcooler.html
http://www.bulkpart.com/transmission-cooler.html
http://www.grandprix.net/upgrades/cooler.html
http://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/tech-e ... ooler.html
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetai ... toview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=PRM-12318&N=700+400006+115&autoview=sku
a tranny cooler with a powered fan does a far superior job, if your going thru the effort, IT PAYS to do it CORRECTLY,
routing transmission cooler lines, should be thought thru carefully so engine exhaust or vibration won,t damage the lines, a restriction to trans fluid or oil flow will generally be the part of the connecting lines with the smallest cross sectional area, if you look at most automotive oil or transmission coolers they have AN#6 (3/8")or AN#8 (1/2")connections, so lines significantly larger won,t do much for increasing flow rates
http://store.summitracing.com/largeimage.asp?part=PRF-30103&Prod=Painless+Performance+FAN-THOM+Electric+Fan+Relay+Kits&img=prf-30103_w.jpg
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=PRM-12318&view=64&N=700+150+400006+4294906626+&appfilter=1
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81691
just some info too think thru
the engines state of tune effects the heat generated, vacuum leaks tend to increase heat, octane used effects the heat, your ignition timing curve effects the heat
the type of coolant effects the rate heats transfered
the amount and type of oil effects the temp transfer rates
a larger oil filter, and larger capacity baffeled oil pan, tends to reduce temps due to exposing a larger surface area to the air flow, keeping the average oil temp in the pan lower
anything that reduces airflow thru the radiator reduces its efficiency
the water pump and T-stat both effect the rate heats transfered, high flow water pumps can help
the electric fans work off a sensor and the temp they turn on at can be modified, larger or additional electrical fans can be added
on an auto trans car,the transmission fluid adds a good deal of heat to the radiator, adding a seperate ADDITIONAL trans cooler with a seperate ellectric fan,removes a good deal of the load from the radiator
oil in the engine flowing over parts absorbs and transfers heat , having a larger baffled oil pan hanging down in the airflow under the engine helps cool the engine
headers remove heat faster than stock exhaust manifolds
aftermarket aluminum radiators can be far more efficient
the dia. of the pullies your using does effect the coolant flow
running the correct T-stat can help cooling, generally the 180F-190F is the best compromize
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81691
http://www.becool.com/
http://www.dewitts.com/pages/categoryresults.asp?catID=19
http://www.kevko.net/images/1090_full.gif
http://www.kevko.net/wetsump_chevy.htm
http://www.stefs.com/products/oilpans/circletrackwetsump.htm
http://www.radiatorbarn.com/?source=overture
engine oil needs to reach and stay at about 215F-240f to lube and clean correctly and burn off moisture
trans fluid I try to keep under 160F,surely below 180F ,
Ideally I try to keep engine coolant in the engine in the 190F-200F range but don,t get overly worried below 230F. BTW I run a 190F t-stat, temp ranges should be kept within these ranges or the wear and emmissions won,t give you the long engine and trans life and low emmission levels you expect , drop the coolant temps lower and you may gain a few hp but the wear tends to get worse as the fluids can,t opperate correctly, drop the oil temp below 211 F and acids can form in the oil (bad for bearings)
in an ideal world the coolant temp would stay in the 190F-200F range, install a 180F-or-190F t-stat and have the fans reprogramed to come on at about 185F-200F and youll see a marked stabilization of the coolant temp IF everythings functioning CORRECTLY
heres the fan control kits
185F
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SUM-890015
200F
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=PRF-30102&N=700+115&autoview=sku
this external trans cooler
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=PRM-12318&N=700+115&autoview=sku
personally I sellected the 190F T-stat 185F fan control , but IM seriously thinking of getting the 200F fan control simply because with my external trans cooler the engine oil temp seldom gets over 220F and it takes 215F to burn off all moisture in the oil.
on my corvette I felt the proper route was hot tranny fluid out to radiator then to the electric fan cooled trans cooler then back to the trans, simply because that maximized the temp drop to the trans AND I was not having ANY trouble cooling the engine, in fact the oil temp seldom exceeds 230F and takes a fairly long time to reach 215F.
I don,t know the trans fluid pressure but I did verify that my trans cooler was designed for transmision heat/pressure and was factory tested at 300PSI.
BTW if you route the other direction, IE seperate trans cooler first then to the radiator it makes for a significant reduction in coolant temp, and the fan on the seperate tranny fluid cooler runs constantly, but the engine coolant has a difficult time getting up to temp,(at least on my corvette) of reaching or allowing the oil temp in the engine to reach 215F LETS NOT GET INTO HOW I KNOW THAT :laughing:
Last edited by a moderator: