Aux. tranny cooler questions

[JohnM]

I'm interested in getting an aftermarket aux. tranny cooler (my truck doesn't have one, not counting the one in the radiator).

1. What size do I get? Do I get the biggest one that will fit?
2. Are there concerns with making the fluid too cold in the winter (I live in Rochester, NY)? If I block it off in the winter, that'll also block off a portion of the radiator. I don't want to potentially cause over heating problems.
3. If the aux. cooler is in front of the radiator, does the added heat, to the radiator, cause the engine to run hot?
4. Most of the coolers that I've seen come with barbed fitting, though I can get them with threaded fittings. Has anyone had a problem with the barbed ends; ie: lines blowing off, leaks, etc.?
5. For those of you who have installed an aux. cooler in an Explorer, where do you put it? Directly in front of the radiator, under the bumper (some what) in front of the radiator, a frame rail type cooler mounted on, you guessed it, the frame?
6. Do I leave the radiator trans cooler in series with the aux. cooler or disconnect it?

Right now the truck is used only for city/highway driving. No off-road or towing. But, I do plan on getting a camping trailer (up to 4000 lbs) in the future. I just have to convince the wife that we really, really need one!

Thanks in advance,

John M
Stock 1996 Explorer XLT 4x4, 4.0 liter
4R44E Automatic transmission, 3.55 gears

 

[SteveVB]

size as big as will fit.

I dont think you can overcool an auto trans, and anyway I think the A4ld-E (44E and 55e) have a cooler flow valve which opens at a specified temp. (saw that someplace and cant remember where). So shouldnt have a problem in snow bound Rochester.

The factory aux. cooler on my 91 is about 7"x 12" x 3/4" its a "long" style plate type cooler (B&M coolers are the same type) hooked into the cooling lines with rubber hoses and hose clamps on barbed fittings. The cooling lines run from the tranny to the rad. cooler to the aux. cooler. Its part of the super cooling pkg on the early models. Cooler is mounted in front of the rad& A/C condensor on the driver side towards the top. Never had a problem with cooling in 160k miles.

Summit racing has a B&M rated at 19,000 GVW for around $50.00 with hoses mounts etc. which I think will fit.
Dead Link Removed - search B&M part number 70268

[Edited by SteveVB on 09-15-2000 at 04:01 PM]

 

[Alec]

Just wanted to add my 2¢. I tow stuff all the time with my truck, and I've never had a problem with tranny temp, even in 110° Texas heat. In my opinion, when you get the camping trailer, take it on a few short trips and see how your truck does. Then you can decide if you really need it. However, after pulling many trailers around central Texas, I think the stock cooler is more than good enough.

 

[01EB5.0]

I got the cooler just to be safe..heat is what kills auto. trannies in the long run, so I would get one just to be safe. $50 is a lot better then $1500 for a rebuild.

 

[Stephen S]

I'd like to revive this topic because I am also looking into getting an aftermarket trans cooler this summer and I have a bunch of the same questions. I found the ones mentioned before from Summit racing. I am thinking of getting the largest B & M plate style coolers that I can fit in front of my radiator. They look a little more durable and stronger than the tubes and fins on other models. I think I want to mount it where the stock one would be if I had one. Good or bad idea??

My questions involve installation. To you guys who have installed aux trans coolers, how is the cooler hooked into the system?? Will the cooler in the radiator need to be bypassed or can they both be used? I am also concerned about the barbed fittings as opposed to threaded fittings. Do I have to worry about the barbed ones??

 

[CADDYBILL]

When I had my trany replaced at the local place the guy added a tranny cooler to my truck. Did'nt even charge extra for it he gave my it for the same price as the estimate. My X already had a aux cooler he put this in line with the new one. The new one has barbs and flex hose. Only problem in 50k was that I had to tighen one of the hose clamps.

 

[SteveVB]

Originally posted by Stephen S
I think I want to mount it where the stock one would be if I had one. Good or bad idea??

My questions involve installation. To you guys who have installed aux trans coolers, how is the cooler hooked into the system?? Will the cooler in the radiator need to be bypassed or can they both be used? I am also concerned about the barbed fittings as opposed to threaded fittings. Do I have to worry about the barbed ones??

Good idea to mount it in the stock location- in front of the radiator keeps the efficiency up- I think you lose 15-20% if it gets moved behind the rad.

The B&M units are manufactured by the same co that does the OEM Ford units. I think the Long ( they are the mfr) units are the best I have seen- except for the Earls plate units.

The hook up is to keep the cooler in the radiator, and put the aux cooler between the return from the rad cooler and the trans. So the rad cooler takes some of the heat then the aux brings it down some more.

The stock aux coolers are plumbed with rubber hose , hose clamps on barbs to the cooler.
You can cut the steel tubing return to the trans, and put two 90 degree bends towards the front of the vehicle and attach the hoses. That is what my stock lines look like. The only problem I could see would be that the steel line wont have a grove or bump on it to give the hose a more positive connection. If you have a flaring tool or can borrow or rent one you could put one on in a few minutes. I doubt you would have any problems though if you check it at oil changes.

Have fun

 

[Stephen S]

I see now, just install the cooler after the radiator cooler. Take the return line from the radiator, stick it into the aux cooler, then run from the cooler back to the original return line back to the transmission. Sounds easy as cake. Now, which line on the radiator is the return line??

 

[yob_yeknom]

Originally posted by 95XLT
I got the cooler just to be safe..heat is what kills auto. trannies in the long run, so I would get one just to be safe. $50 is a lot better then $1500 for a rebuild.

Where'd you put it? In front of the radiator? On the frame? I'm looking into getting on also.
Pics would be nice...

 

[Roger Babich]

I have added/replaced trans coolers on all my vehicles (6 big old Ford V-8s) as soon as I get them, our '92 Explorer included. I use the largest aluminum flat plate type made by Borg Warner (sold with various other names on them) that will fit in front of the radiator. I bypass the radiator cooler entirely and use hoses to connect them. I use 5/16" steel brake line tubing to keep the hoses down to minimum length. When the factory lines are cut I use 2 hose clamps on the hose. Usually, I replace the lines or can get tubing connectors and a brass fitting adapter to go from tubing to 3/8" hose (NAPA, Pep Boys). I do not use the in-radiator coolers for 2 reasons - they can crack and get coolant in the trans (very bad) and radiator removal is much easier. My work horse vehicle, a '77 Ford E-150 with a 351W C-6, is used to tow everything - 22' camping trailer, 18' tri-hull, tent trailer, utility full of concrete, car transporters, etc. The trans was rebuilt for the first time at 265,000 because the tailhousing bushing had spun. The friction plates were paper thin so it was time. All my other vehicles had/have over 150,000 on them with their original trans. Keep 'em cool and change the fluid!

Roger Babich
'92 Explorer XLT 4 dr 4x4

P.S. I add the smallest flat plate coolers to the power steering pump return line and have replaced 1 pump (leaking seal) in 30 years of driving.

 

[espnfreak]

so hows it going with the aux. tranny coolers? i am looking into getting one from B&M

 

[yob_yeknom]

jas, I'm still waiting on the time and money to get one myself. (A/C just went out so there goes all my money) If you would take some pictures of how you put yours in I'd really appreciate it.

 

[BajaXplorer]

Im also thinking of replacing my stock cooler thats mounted in front of the radiator. I would think I could just unhook the stock lines and re-hook them up to the new BIGGER cooler?
I even found one that mounts to the same spot as the factory cooler.
About $50 or so.

any reason why this wouldnt work?

Im of the KEEP IT SIMPLE" school

Doug

 

[Stephen S]

Baja, I see no reason why that woudn't work just fine. Just make sure you are swapping in a cooler that is better than the stock one or you will be wasting your time.

I've got a truck without a stock tranny cooler, but I want to add one. My radiator has two transmission lines running to it on the driver's side of the truck: one near the top and the other near the bottom of the radiator. Which of these is the return line for the fluid going back to the transmission?? I want to run the fluid through the new cooler after it goes through the radiator.

 

[BajaXplorer]

Eassiest way to tell is to start it up for just a second and see which line (disconnected of course) flows that will be the delivery line . Usually the top line is the feedand bottom is return. But on the X I think they are vertical(havent checked real close)check a service manual. If I had mine at work I could tell you.

Good luck,
Doug

 

[Stephen S]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna look for a service manual or someone who has already installed one and use the disconnect and start it up method as a last resort.

 

[Stephen S]

Gimp, it's gonna help me when I go to install my tranny cooler. That sounds like the logical way for the fluid to go to me. That's how I thought it would be hooked up. Thanks.

 

[yob_yeknom]

Did anyone ever decide which line is the return line? I'd like to put in an extra tranny cooler tomorrow while I have the bumper off.

 

[tbomb]

i know this is an old thread, but is the general concensus to use those zip strip thingies that you shove through the radiator and the a/c condensor? or is there another method? does anyone make a tranny cooler that will bolt up with brackets like the stock aux cooler? (i wanna replace my stock aux cooler with a better one.)

right now, im leaning towards this b&m supercooler from summit. it looks pretty good and a bunch of people have it and love it.

thoughts?

 

[yob_yeknom]

Mine used the little strip thingies, and I've had no problems with them. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen one that has mounts that bolt on instead of the strips.