mostwanted
1/2 ton status
Was thinking of making a homemade tranny cooler. Only concern is this appears that it might hold a few more quarts of fluid and that the pump might have a hard time pumping the fluid thru it. What do yall think?
CK5
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home made tranny cooler
- Thread starter mostwanted
- Start date
1-tonmudder
1/2 ton status
I dont think it would be any different than running a deep trans pan.
Might make the tranny too cold. Maybe installed with one of those thermostat thingys.
As long as it isn't a restriction, and there is a smallish pressure drop across the cooler, I don't see a problem with it.
As long as it isn't a restriction, and there is a smallish pressure drop across the cooler, I don't see a problem with it.
Bow-Tie-Boy
Registered Member
ryan22re said:
Can you run a tranny too cold? What is the danger if it is too cold? I have a very large tranny cooler that I am looking at running. So if it is possible to run too cool, I may be re-thinking this cooler.
Seem to remember hearing 150 deg. mininum temp.
Bow-Tie-Boy said:
You want a tranny to get up to a temp that will get rid of any condensation...
That cooler isn't much bigger than the stacked plate I use. I plumbed it thru the aux cooler first, then thru the stock cooler. The added volume isn't a problem. Only likely problem would be if it was too restrictive and cut down total flow thru the cooler system.
Coolers follow the same rules as resistors for total flow resistance when in series or parallel. Stringing a bunch of coolers together in series is likely shooting yourself in the foot, but two (particularly with the manifolding of that one in the pic) in series shouldn't be any trouble.
Second on getting the trans warm enough to boil off condensation. Number I heard or read was 160*f.
Coolers follow the same rules as resistors for total flow resistance when in series or parallel. Stringing a bunch of coolers together in series is likely shooting yourself in the foot, but two (particularly with the manifolding of that one in the pic) in series shouldn't be any trouble.
Second on getting the trans warm enough to boil off condensation. Number I heard or read was 160*f.
lurtch-k20-(78-90)
Registered Member
This should help http://www.tciauto.com/Products/TechInfo/trans_life_expectancy.asp
Beat The Heat!
There's More To Coolers Than You Think: It's no secret that heat kills automatic transmissions. And in high-performance street-strip applications, the problem is especially acute. Small diameter torque converters coupled with stop-and-go traffic greatly increase the heat level in an automatic transmission. In most cases, the extra performance heat under the hood can have the same effect as heavy loads, trailer towing and desert conditions.
How hot is too hot? The ideal operating temperature for automatic transmission fluid is between 175 and 225° F. At approximately 240° F, important additives in the ATF begin to cook. The result is the formation of varnish inside the transmission. At approximately 260° F, internal transmission seals (which are typically manufactured from a polyacrylate material) begin to harden. The end results are leaks, both internal and external, simply because the seals lose their elasticity. At approximately 295° F, transmission clutch plates begin to slip because the oil is breaking down further. At approximately 315° F, seals and clutches effectively burn out. Carbon forms in the oil and for all intents and purposes, the transmission is junk. Just for your information, a typical transmission will die within 2000 miles if subjected to 300° F+ heat
Beat The Heat!
There's More To Coolers Than You Think: It's no secret that heat kills automatic transmissions. And in high-performance street-strip applications, the problem is especially acute. Small diameter torque converters coupled with stop-and-go traffic greatly increase the heat level in an automatic transmission. In most cases, the extra performance heat under the hood can have the same effect as heavy loads, trailer towing and desert conditions.
How hot is too hot? The ideal operating temperature for automatic transmission fluid is between 175 and 225° F. At approximately 240° F, important additives in the ATF begin to cook. The result is the formation of varnish inside the transmission. At approximately 260° F, internal transmission seals (which are typically manufactured from a polyacrylate material) begin to harden. The end results are leaks, both internal and external, simply because the seals lose their elasticity. At approximately 295° F, transmission clutch plates begin to slip because the oil is breaking down further. At approximately 315° F, seals and clutches effectively burn out. Carbon forms in the oil and for all intents and purposes, the transmission is junk. Just for your information, a typical transmission will die within 2000 miles if subjected to 300° F+ heat
Chrisblazzer89
1/2 ton status
Where did you get or how did you make that cooler?mostwanted said:Was thinking of making a homemade tranny cooler. Only concern is this appears that it might hold a few more quarts of fluid and that the pump might have a hard time pumping the fluid thru it. What do yall think?
lurtch-k20-(78-90)
Registered Member
Also,
Should I use an external transmission cooler in conjunction with the oil cooler supplied in the radiator?
Answer: Unless operating in an environment where the outside temperature is below 0°F, you should cap off the radiator cooler line openings and run your cooler lines directly to a new cooler mounted in front of the radiator. This allows the transmission to have its own cooling system and doesn't allow the engine water temperature to heat the fluid.
What is the correct size cooler for my application?
Answer: Unlike a lot of items you buy for your vehicle, bigger is predominately better when it comes to transmission coolers. The answer would be as big as you can get or to run multiple coolers in series, again staying away from the factory radiator cooler lines.
Where should I mount a transmission cooler?
Answer: TCI® highly recommends mounting your external transmission oil cooler in front of the radiator. This allows for adequate airflow. If this is not possible then you should mount it in a location where the cooler can receive airflow. In extremely tight quarters, you may also mount the cooler and build an air dam that would allow the cooler to have air pass through it.
Both Posts were copied from TCI's TECH write ups I personaly don't have a TCI trans, But I plan on using this info on mine. Hope this helps also there is an emence amount of info @ the link I posted in the first part at the top of the page
Should I use an external transmission cooler in conjunction with the oil cooler supplied in the radiator?
Answer: Unless operating in an environment where the outside temperature is below 0°F, you should cap off the radiator cooler line openings and run your cooler lines directly to a new cooler mounted in front of the radiator. This allows the transmission to have its own cooling system and doesn't allow the engine water temperature to heat the fluid.
What is the correct size cooler for my application?
Answer: Unlike a lot of items you buy for your vehicle, bigger is predominately better when it comes to transmission coolers. The answer would be as big as you can get or to run multiple coolers in series, again staying away from the factory radiator cooler lines.
Where should I mount a transmission cooler?
Answer: TCI® highly recommends mounting your external transmission oil cooler in front of the radiator. This allows for adequate airflow. If this is not possible then you should mount it in a location where the cooler can receive airflow. In extremely tight quarters, you may also mount the cooler and build an air dam that would allow the cooler to have air pass through it.
Both Posts were copied from TCI's TECH write ups I personaly don't have a TCI trans, But I plan on using this info on mine. Hope this helps also there is an emence amount of info @ the link I posted in the first part at the top of the page
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The problem with ignoring the stock cooler is that cold weather can turn the ATF to nearly wax. I wouldn't have believed it if it hadn't happened to me north of Springfield, Ill one February morning. ATF 'gelled' and helped blow the line off the cooler leaving me stranded in a road-side rest area. This was Texaco brand ATF. No idea if that's good or bad but the team's owner insisted on using it. If you keep the stock cooler in the system the engine can warm up the trans quicker. Keep in mind that the stock trans cooler is in the 'cold' radiator tank, so it adds little to the thermal load on the radiator.
mostwanted
1/2 ton status
That cooler belongs to a friend of mine. He said it came off an old turf mower. It was the hydraulics cooler.
You can get a great trans cooler from flex a lite that accommodates trannys in the 22-26K lb class vehicle for around $50 -$65. Just get one of those. Plus they come with a complete install kit too. Why do people try to go cheap on vital components like these? Some parts you just need to spend a bit more money on and all it really is is just cheap insurance. Or just spend $1100 on a new tranny rebuild because you used a lawn mower cooler rather than the right one for your application. No offense, but why are some people such cheap a$$es sometimes? Buy the cheap cigarettes and beer, not important truck parts.
Is that an evaporator? If it is, it seems to me that regardless of the fitting size, it would restrict the flow of transmission fluid. Also, automatic transmissions are just like engines in that they have a temperature range they must be kept in for correct operation and performance.
Given that it's a hyd cooler I've no doubt that it can flow more than enough fluid to not be a restriction. If you can get it clean enough I'd say give it a try. And monitor trans fluid temp to see how well it works.
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