I had one of the local guys with a 1996 corvette similar to mine asked me,
after reading this thread linked below,
about adding a trans fluid cooler on a c4 corvette,
mounted inside the modified but existing rear spare tire carrier,
if he could skip doing that work, as he felt that,
by simply adding a deeper cast aluminum transmission fluid pan on his corvette?
(he could gain the same cooling benefits)
keep in mind if you don,t have an accurate trans fluid temperature gauge and sensor installed you have no idea what temps the transmission is dealing with,you ideally want to keep transmission fluid temps under 175F,
engine oil temps should stay in the 190f-215F range , hopefully only occasionally while under acceleration loads reaching 215-220F (this allows moisture that can form acids in oil to burn off),
on a 4x4 pick-up that added deeper trans fluid pan,
might help marginally, as clearance is not an issue,
on a corvette its asking for a major problem, in either case an oil cooler with a fan is far superior.
the short answer.... NOT A GOOD IDEA!
mount a decent fan cooled transmission fluid cooler or maybe a dual oil cooler and trans fluid cooler, it will be if properly installed a much more effective way to cool trans fluid
(and maybe engine oil also)if you get a dual path cooler
(theres very few good places to mount a large capacity, added trans fluid or oil cooler on a c4 corvette)
READ THESE LINK's and SUB LINKS AND LOOK AT THE PICTURES
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ffective-trans-cooler-on-a-c4-corvette.10514/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...mps-and-driveway-enterances.10516/#post-83070
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...g-off-that-c4-corvette.3954/page-2#post-91804
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...r-transmission-fluid-cooler.15375/#post-90261
engine oil needs to run hotter than trans fluid
As startup the engine is cold (pressure high, temperature low)
As the engine warms up (pressure low, temperature high)
As the rpms increase (pressure up, temperature up)
At some point the oil begins to thin (temperature up, pressure down)
Ideal oil temperature is between 180-220F
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/transmission-over-temp.12832/#post-78273
" can I skip the tranny cooler install, and run a deeper trans fluid pan to compensate?"
lets look at a few facts, having done this in the past, let me point out...
if you and a buddy jump into your c4 corvette,
and you have a third friend try and slide a section of 4x4 wood beam around under the car youll more than likely find you have a great deal of trouble as that 4x4 wood beam (which actually measures about 3.6" x 3.6" won,t clear the stock oil pan, headers and transmission pan,
now swap to a decent quality deeper transmission oil pan
like this one from JEGS and you find its sticking down an additional 1.5"- 1.8",
making your effective ground clearance under 2" in a c4 corvette with that 2 added quart capacity oil pan.
adding the deeper oil pan with its added 2 additional quart capacity only SLOWS the rate the trans fluid heats up,
it has very little effect on the upper temps being eventually reached,
and its the operational temp that potentially damages a transmision.
because you're now trying to heat a larger volume of trans fluid,
and the slightly larger volume has little benefit for cooling,
but it will eventually reach almost the same potential high temps as the cooling effect of the marginally deeper oil pan is MINIMAL
https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Perform...XFWg2oayC2WBH1ZdZKZ119C6spGJJOpBoCAQ8QAvD_BwE
Cast Aluminum Transmission Pan 4-1/2" Deep
Part Number: 555-60173
I recently had a friend ask if adding a trans fluid cooler like this might be a good idea?
$571 seems rather over priced
while the heat sink style pictured above, $182 seems far more reasonable
certainly may help, reduce trans fluid or oil temps,
it has far less ability to rapidly and constantly transfer excess heat out of the fluid ,to the outside air flow,
than something like the fan equipped radiator style fluid coolers linked below
$262 ??
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15900 $188
adding a cooler like I pointed out in the previous link inside the existing spare tire carrier does not cause any added ground clearance issues
IF YOU DON,T THINK OIL PANS AND FRAMES HIT SPEED BUMPS WHERE ARE ALL THE GROOVES IN THE CONCRETE FROM??
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ffective-trans-cooler-on-a-c4-corvette.10514/
something like this makes a noticeable improvement
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15800
keep in mind oil does almost all the initial engine cooling so adding a larger efficient oil cooler with a fan
, and as large an oil pan as clearances allow goes a long way toward reducing engine temps,
you certainly will see a difference if a properly sized and installed oil cooler is used.
you don,t need something this large in most cases
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/flx-700040
something like this makes a noticeable improvement
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15800
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15230
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/prm-13311
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/prm-3318
remember to accurately measure the area you intend to install any oil cooler,
and leave lots of room for the connecting high pressure oil feed & return lines and access to connect them.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-13266
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-13267
these in line fluid coolers like the one pictured above are not as effective as the larger surface area fan equipped fluid coolers
like the one below but theres no doubt they can be used to lower the transmission fluid or oil temps if,
your very limited on available space to mount a fluid cooler
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15850
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-temps-and-engine-wear.6327/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/viscosity-centistoke.15612/#post-93303
next time you have the trans oil PAN OFF, IF YOUR TRANS PAN DOES NOT have a drain plug, WHY NOT WELD or BRAZE IN A TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAIN
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Derale/D13010.html?feed=npn&msclkid=ed59f86c184d1ec57af198592458ab09&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Bing | Shop - Accessories and Parts - RLSA&utm_term=4577129470680387&utm_content=General
after reading this thread linked below,
about adding a trans fluid cooler on a c4 corvette,
mounted inside the modified but existing rear spare tire carrier,
if he could skip doing that work, as he felt that,
by simply adding a deeper cast aluminum transmission fluid pan on his corvette?
(he could gain the same cooling benefits)
keep in mind if you don,t have an accurate trans fluid temperature gauge and sensor installed you have no idea what temps the transmission is dealing with,you ideally want to keep transmission fluid temps under 175F,
engine oil temps should stay in the 190f-215F range , hopefully only occasionally while under acceleration loads reaching 215-220F (this allows moisture that can form acids in oil to burn off),
on a 4x4 pick-up that added deeper trans fluid pan,
might help marginally, as clearance is not an issue,
on a corvette its asking for a major problem, in either case an oil cooler with a fan is far superior.
the short answer.... NOT A GOOD IDEA!
mount a decent fan cooled transmission fluid cooler or maybe a dual oil cooler and trans fluid cooler, it will be if properly installed a much more effective way to cool trans fluid
(and maybe engine oil also)if you get a dual path cooler
(theres very few good places to mount a large capacity, added trans fluid or oil cooler on a c4 corvette)
READ THESE LINK's and SUB LINKS AND LOOK AT THE PICTURES
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ffective-trans-cooler-on-a-c4-corvette.10514/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...mps-and-driveway-enterances.10516/#post-83070
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...g-off-that-c4-corvette.3954/page-2#post-91804
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...r-transmission-fluid-cooler.15375/#post-90261
engine oil needs to run hotter than trans fluid
As startup the engine is cold (pressure high, temperature low)
As the engine warms up (pressure low, temperature high)
As the rpms increase (pressure up, temperature up)
At some point the oil begins to thin (temperature up, pressure down)
Ideal oil temperature is between 180-220F
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/transmission-over-temp.12832/#post-78273
" can I skip the tranny cooler install, and run a deeper trans fluid pan to compensate?"
lets look at a few facts, having done this in the past, let me point out...
if you and a buddy jump into your c4 corvette,
and you have a third friend try and slide a section of 4x4 wood beam around under the car youll more than likely find you have a great deal of trouble as that 4x4 wood beam (which actually measures about 3.6" x 3.6" won,t clear the stock oil pan, headers and transmission pan,
now swap to a decent quality deeper transmission oil pan
like this one from JEGS and you find its sticking down an additional 1.5"- 1.8",
making your effective ground clearance under 2" in a c4 corvette with that 2 added quart capacity oil pan.
adding the deeper oil pan with its added 2 additional quart capacity only SLOWS the rate the trans fluid heats up,
it has very little effect on the upper temps being eventually reached,
and its the operational temp that potentially damages a transmision.
because you're now trying to heat a larger volume of trans fluid,
and the slightly larger volume has little benefit for cooling,
but it will eventually reach almost the same potential high temps as the cooling effect of the marginally deeper oil pan is MINIMAL
https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Perform...XFWg2oayC2WBH1ZdZKZ119C6spGJJOpBoCAQ8QAvD_BwE
Cast Aluminum Transmission Pan 4-1/2" Deep
Part Number: 555-60173
I recently had a friend ask if adding a trans fluid cooler like this might be a good idea?
$571 seems rather over priced
Thermo-Tec 38166 Thermo-Tec Thermo-Flow Modular Coolers | Summit Racing
Free Shipping - Thermo-Tec Thermo-Flow Modular Coolers with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Fluid Coolers at Summit Racing.
www.summitracing.com
while the heat sink style pictured above, $182 seems far more reasonable
certainly may help, reduce trans fluid or oil temps,
it has far less ability to rapidly and constantly transfer excess heat out of the fluid ,to the outside air flow,
than something like the fan equipped radiator style fluid coolers linked below
Derale Cooling Products 15850 Derale Atomic-Cool Remote Fan-Mounted Oil Coolers | Summit Racing
Free Shipping - Derale Atomic-Cool Remote Fan-Mounted Oil Coolers with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Fluid Coolers at Summit Racing.
www.summitracing.com
Flex-a-lite 600029 Flex-A-Lite Stacked Plate Transmission Coolers with Fan | Summit Racing
Free Shipping - Flex-A-Lite Stacked Plate Transmission Coolers with Fan with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Fluid Coolers at Summit Racing.
www.summitracing.com
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15900 $188
adding a cooler like I pointed out in the previous link inside the existing spare tire carrier does not cause any added ground clearance issues
IF YOU DON,T THINK OIL PANS AND FRAMES HIT SPEED BUMPS WHERE ARE ALL THE GROOVES IN THE CONCRETE FROM??
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ffective-trans-cooler-on-a-c4-corvette.10514/
something like this makes a noticeable improvement
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15800
keep in mind oil does almost all the initial engine cooling so adding a larger efficient oil cooler with a fan
, and as large an oil pan as clearances allow goes a long way toward reducing engine temps,
you certainly will see a difference if a properly sized and installed oil cooler is used.
you don,t need something this large in most cases
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/flx-700040
something like this makes a noticeable improvement
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15800
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15230
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/prm-13311
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/prm-3318
remember to accurately measure the area you intend to install any oil cooler,
and leave lots of room for the connecting high pressure oil feed & return lines and access to connect them.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-13266
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-13267
these in line fluid coolers like the one pictured above are not as effective as the larger surface area fan equipped fluid coolers
like the one below but theres no doubt they can be used to lower the transmission fluid or oil temps if,
your very limited on available space to mount a fluid cooler
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15850
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-temps-and-engine-wear.6327/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/viscosity-centistoke.15612/#post-93303
next time you have the trans oil PAN OFF, IF YOUR TRANS PAN DOES NOT have a drain plug, WHY NOT WELD or BRAZE IN A TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAIN
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Derale/D13010.html?feed=npn&msclkid=ed59f86c184d1ec57af198592458ab09&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Bing | Shop - Accessories and Parts - RLSA&utm_term=4577129470680387&utm_content=General
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