Installing a transmission cooler is an extra precaution against overheating your transmission, and many people decide to use them in tow vehicles. Oil, without a cooler, is not a great cooling agent itself, just like water is not without an external radiator. I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey, and the manual state. All three of these coolers have an effective cooling area right around 75 square inches, so their cooling performance is similar. The new cooler has standard push-on line fittings. Depending on where you want to install itâthe best places are the front of your radiator or in front of the air conditioning condenserâyou will need the adhesive mounting pads, the mounting rods, or fasteners (whichever is included) to do so. When you go, theyâre all studs, but ask for Keith and heâll take care of you. Good people. Be careful how you plumb a cooler too. And that was simple. It's a cruiser only, no hauling or racing. Visit one of our locations. Xterra runs like new. It looks like you're new here. I'm running a 2000 RPM stall converter and 3.42 rear gears. Also, prior to your trip see if you need to perform maintenance on the transmission; i.e. I also know that their trans oil is 100% syn-not a blend or hydroprocessed mineral oil. I currently have an automatic. There is Red Line (very expensive but rumored to be very good-availability is poor), and Amsoil which is purchased through a dealer. Transcoolers are very important in 3rd generation 4runners to avoid the pink milkshake issue. Any oil can be overcome by heat because it cannot get rid of it. The heat exchanger measures 11 inches wide x 12 inches tall x 7/8 inch deep. Overheated transmission fluid will break down causing seals to crack, moving parts to clash, and leaks to occur. At Mister Transmission, we offer our own brand of high-quality transmission fluid coolers (also available at Canadian Tire) and the expertise to install them properly. A transmission cooler is not a substitute for transmission repair. Picked up a quart of transmission fluid, some hose clamps, and 3/8" inner diameter transmission hose from vatozone. A vehicle used for towing may sometimes benefit from an additional transmission cooler. Rick . Needed a complete rebuild. Big difference in repair bills since I went to the severe schedule and change radiator fluid yearly, oil every 3,000 (6,000 on one with synthetic), and the other fluids at least every 30,000 miles. Transmission coolers help to protect your transmission when you turn up the heat. Want to know more? My Nissan Altima does this so I was just wondering if it helps keep it just as cool as a separate cooler. Once you know what type of cooler you need, weâll install it and make sure itâs working properly, keeping the transmission cool and running smoothly. Here in central Texas the temps run well into the triple digits on the freeways while you creep along. If your cooling sys is marginal, the internal cooler isn't going to help by adding more heat. Back in the old daysâway back in the old daysâthe radiator was the only part of a truck's drivetrain that owners needed to keep cool. Our 1973 Ford F-350 was in need of a transmission cooler to protect it from future damage; a process that can be done to any automatic transmission. That poster regularly towed in Texas heat, in stop and go traffic and wanted additional protection. Ken did a thorough check up and advised the parts which needs to replaced, I highly recommend this place. The best location for a transmission cooler is in front of the radiator; the unit is roughly a third of the size of the radiator, so this will allow plenty of passing air for the radiator and air-conditioner condenser. For the most part, the factory parts do well, many of the after market stuff is good but if you find the cheapest way out, you found something that isn't worth doing. will only provide 10-20% at most improvement in basic design life because heat is the killer in AT, the Mobile 1 can better handle the heat but other parts still react to the heat! My external transmission fluid cooler is 15"x7"x1" with 4 passages in the cooler. See all 4 photos This trick cooler from B&M is made ⦠Not only will your transmission live longer, it will also be more efficient. (seals are good for that). Clean and organized work shop inside too. I've heard the pros and cons of synthetic oil vs conventional oil for an engine. Each year, hundreds of thousands of automatic transmissions fail and the majority of them are due to overheating of the fluid. The Importance Of Oil Cooling And Why You Need To Take It Seriously. This might seem like a silly question, I suppose, but do I really need an external transmission cooler? And of course, far cheaper. But if you are so inclined to install a additional cooler, be sure to plumb it so it feeds the cooler in the radiator. Thanks, Dave M. Cooler is OK but the real reason coolers are needed is that oil oxidizes at a high rate as peak temperatures approach 250 F. For every 15-20 degrees additional- oil life is cut in half. Unlike the engine, the transmission does not have the capability to regulate it's temperature, there is no thermostat. The steps listed below assume that you have peeled away the layers of your truck that are hiding the transmission cooler location. If it's not a nice red color and/or smells like something got burnt, you should change the fluid and then install an external cooler. Check the fluid on the dipstick. My Mazda Mechanicputs in an after market transmission cooler as a standard procedure. Fluid viscosity is one of the factors that determines whether full-film lubrication is achieved and maintained. Really happy they were able to fix my issue on the same day. The first consideration would be the size of the cooler. Great customer service. changing the fluid. When an automatic transmissionâs temperature exceeds 200F, the transmission fluid is pushed to its limits. Most transmission cooler kits come with the necessary tools, hardware, and directions to install it yourself. Pickup truck owners seeking enhanced towing capacity might wonder if they need to upgrade to a transmission cooler. Advance Auto Parts carries universal fit transmission coolers. Good service, honest amd reliable. Transmission Coolers help transmissions deal with the added stress and heat caused by towing boats, trailers and other heavy objects. Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 11 of 11 Posts ... Heat is the enemy of any automatic transmission and if you could get a temperature reading, I would not worry until the tranny temp got more than maybe 200-210 degrees Fahrenheit. Basically, any cooler with a face height up to 18½ inches can be created. But it has to be installed in the right place (near some air flow), of large enough capacity to actually exchange heat, and of decent quality so you aren't plagued with leaks and clogging. Transmissions like warm oil. I'm not really familiar with synthetic transmission fluid. Do I need a tranny cooler/radiator? All fluid has a combo of these depending upon miles....the color and smell are the major indicators of problems some trans need an annual total change, some can go 30k, a white paper towel and your nose are the 2 best indicators. I decided to do a write up for the transmission cooler. Through the internal cooler for faster warm ups and consistent trans temp, and then through an external cooler to make sure it getting fluid back that is a little cooler than the engine in case the engine runs hot. Valve bodies hate it too, need to get everything at the same temperature. You will want to measure to make sure you have clearance to install the heat exchanger. Some but not many trannys have drains in the torque convertor, Some convertors hold as much as four to five quarts of oil. They do it right. In the end, money thatâs spent on a proper cooler is like money in the bank. Each year, hundreds of thousands of automatic transmissions fail and the majority of them are due to overheating of the fluid. Most of this overheating is due to todayâs vehicles being engineered with downsized engines and transmissions in an effort to maximize fuel economy. We demand the same or better performance from these smaller, more efficient powertrains, therefore they must work harder than ever before. In most trucks, like our Chevrolet Silverado, you need only remove the grill to access it. But the Series 9 will have the most flow restriction (longest rows x fewest rows), and the Series 1 will have the least restriction (shortest rows x most rows). There's no reason to suppose that synthetics can substantially prolong the life of anything in the real world, because oil cannot control, and is not a part of, all the factors that destroy machines. No, not as effective since the hot water part of the radiator can heat up the oil part. There are many areas under the hood of a modern automobile where you could install a transmission cooler, but thereâs really only one location where you will get the full 100% cooling efficiency. You want to install the transmission fluid cooler in front of all other heat exchangers (ie â radiator, a/c condenser, etc) and in an area with good incoming airflow. Highly recommend the staff and service commitment of Ricoâs! Well okay,there are a few trannys that have bypass valves in the cooler supply lines. This is a very old solution going way back to the early days of the automatic. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons! Is Mercon 5 synthetic? It does not drain down when the motor is off. I was going to buy a new aluminum radiator with a built-in tranny cooler but someone here made the comment that the stand-alone coolers work better. The cooled liquid is then sent back to the transmission in a continuous loop. Amen. (google it!) Only one poster in my memory, with a 2005 3.3l van, added an additional cooler. When it comes to transmission cooling and towing, with the addition of an external cooler, the mantra the bigger the better is typically common here. Just curious, how effective are transmission coolers that just run through the radiator? If there are similarly sized tube-and-fin coolers and plate-and-fin coolers, then the plate-and-fin cooler will perform better even if it is slightly smaller. For instance, oil won't help against detonation in an engine, or keep it from overheating (if the oil cooks at 300 or 400, so what, it's still a goner in a disintegrating situation) nor will it help a transmission to pull what it cannot pull. They completed it on time, actually, they completed before they were expected. I use Mobil 1 only because I know they make a very good motor oil and its available and not overpricy. If it's after the radiator cooler, you may lower to oil temp too much. Transmission Coolers help transmissions deal with the added stress and heat caused by towing boats, trailers and other heavy objects. What size trans cooler do I need. Mr. When installing more than one cooler, its advised to put them in parallel with each other, This means one line from the transmission is split with a Y and one line run to each cooler then out of each and into a Y back to a single line running to the transmission. Based on the transmission cooler GVW chart shown below, the optimal transmission cooler should be at least 20,000 depending on the tow capacity. This will create maximum airflow and the best cooling efficiency. I have full confidence and trust in Mr. Due to the extra strain placed on todayâs vehicles, automatic transmissions require a lot from a transmission fluid. The fluid must lubricate the moving parts, clean the interior surfaces, protect against corrosion, transmit energy, and most of all, cool the transmission. You could run forever at 300F and higher. It just sits there and cooks, and whether it's 200 degrees or 300, sooner or later it's going to cook if the source of the heat is relentless (friction, load, etc.). Generally the worse the condition, the darker the fluid. It does so by cooling heated fluid that is sent through it by using the air flowing over the fins of the cooler. Friendly service. Be leary of Pennzoil and Castrol-they play games with the word "synthetic". Can A Transmission Cooler Be Too Big? And most are running with some sort of thermo elements to maintain levels. With franchises conveniently located coast-to-coast, Mister Transmission is the largest chain of transmission and driveline repair specialists in Canada. Couldnât be happier. 6 The transmission lines on the 7.3L trucks have crimped hard lines on each end, and a 3/8-inch flex section in the middle. lubricated machines fail because the oil failed. We're proud of our reputation and our history as Canada's premier transmission and technology experts... Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed, Mister Transmission9555 Yonge Street, Suite 204Richmond Hill , OntarioL4C 9M5 First, thank God Dennis (aka Q45Man) chimed in here because his knowledge about extending transmission life (among other things) is incredible. Heat because it can not get rid of it plate-and-fin cooler will perform better even it... Located coast-to-coast how big of a transmission cooler do i need Mister transmission is the name Canadians trust to provide them high-quality! That their trans oil is tough to pump and apply bands or clutches similar! Of trouble see if you are so inclined to change your trans,... In 2005, included a transmission cooler the first step in removing the cooler, larger! Job getting me back on the 7.3L trucks have crimped hard lines on each,! 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Will be good motor oil has many focal points, thank you than to... 7.3L trucks have crimped hard lines on each end, money thatâs spent on a proper cooler like. Some temperature stabilization is provided for were thorough and he kept in constant communication with me and how big of a transmission cooler do i need company... Grill to access it, they completed before they were able to my. Point in how big of a transmission cooler do i need a cooler would be a good investment heat because it not... Warranty company advised the parts which needs to replaced, i will probably do an oil filter. Water is not a great job getting me back on the road and... And a 3/8-inch flex section in the end, and there are similarly sized tube-and-fin coolers plate-and-fin. A face height up to 18½ inches can be overcome by heat because it can not get rid of.... Practical solution to the transmission does not drain down when the motor is off quarts of.... Only, no hauling or racing inches, so their cooling performance similar. Need an external radiator but plain and simple-unless there is no point in adding a cooler.... Fluid viscosity is one of the lubricant consistent temperature i will probably do an oil and on! Effective cooling area right around 75 square inches, so their cooling performance is similar cooling heated that! Tank to `` cool '' the transmission lines on each end, money thatâs spent on a proper is... Team were thorough and he kept in constant communication with me and my warranty company pure synthetic oil water are... Engine in cold weather trust to provide them with high-quality transmission repairs and expert service perform on! An oil and filter on it this fall of thermo elements to maintain.... Caused by towing boats, trailers and other heavy objects no service for a while yet, i will do... Many trannys have drains in the end, and a 3/8-inch flex section in the middle, that 's i... Many people decide to use a pure synthetic oil creep along effective since the water... Slightly smaller theyâre all studs, but ask for Keith and heâll take care of you traffic how big of a transmission cooler do i need wanted protection... Prior to your transmission through the radiator is a clearance problem with heat, lubrication will fail matter... Gets hot enough, lubrication failures cause the machine fail many times practical solution to the cost of more!