Installing A Auxiliary Transmission Cooler (2002 Explorer 4 door)

[Explorer_gal]

Hi Everyone

I was just wondering if someone might know which cooler line when looking from the top of the radiator might be the one returning to the transmission after going through the factory rad cooler. Really I didn't want to bump the engine to watch where the fluid might come out after disconnecting a line because of the difficulty of putting the lost fluid back into the transmission. Oh and btw I do have the factory tow package but don't see a separate transmission cooler.

Thanks kindly for any help.

 

[Explorer_gal]

:Bump! Anyone know? ;o)

 

[corkey]

you could splice into either line, there is the same amount of pressure at either one,, i am thinking that if adding another cooler the bottom one would be best as that way it is a bit easier to hide the hoses as they run to the cooler,,

 

[Explorer_gal]

Thanks for your reply corkey

The lines are only clamped at the rad originally from the factory so pulling either one and re clamping isn't an issue. What i am trying to figure out is how to find the direction of transmission fluid flow. An auxiliary transmission cooler is supposed to be connected in series AFTER the factory cooler. I don't want to turn the engine over to find the direction of flow because of the transmission fluid I would lose. I don't have the tool necessary to refill the sealed transmission. Pre-filling the axillary cooler and lines before i actually attach them to the system wouldn't be hard. I do have a Haynes Manual for my truck but it doesn't give this information.

 

[jrford]

You should have a cooler, i don't have a pic handy but i did post it earlier. Its down low between the Radiator and the A/C condenser, if you pull the plastic on top of the radiator support up a bit you might see it. Its hard to see though but its there, about 12" high and 36" wide.

If you still want to mount one and since the trans cooler is separate from the radiator, it really doesn't matter anymore. They used to run trans fluid through a tank in the Radiator and then in theory it would exit the first tank at 180F and be cooled again by the external cooler.

Pic of one out of an '03
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239184&highlight=trans+cooler

 

[Explorer_gal]

You should have a cooler, i don't have a pic handy but i did post it earlier. Its down low between the Radiator and the A/C condenser, if you pull the plastic on top of the radiator support up a bit you might see it. Its hard to see though but its there, about 12" high and 36" wide.

If you still want to mount one and since the trans cooler is separate from the radiator, it really doesn't matter anymore. They used to run trans fluid through a tank in the Radiator and then in theory it would exit the first tank at 180F and be cooled again by the external cooler.

Pic of one out of an '03
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239184&highlight=trans+cooler

My truck is a 02 and i definitely don't have a separate cooler just the one that's in the rad. I was easily able to trace the the lines from the transmission directly into the lower rad and back. My best guess after running the truck for a little bit is that the top line in the rad is the one that goes back into the transmission. I would be connecting the extra cooler in line at that point. Still not sure if i have the right line tho? lol

 

[Explorer_gal]

Gawd Was I Wrong! *laughing*

jrford... thank you for the picture... I had the lower rad shroud and a few other things apart when i first looked at the lines. I didn't have the inner most top rad covers off and as soon as i did that if found the lines DO run into a separate cooler... it's quite a large cooler at that and at this point i don't think I'll bother adding another cooler.

Thank you to everyone that replied... Have a great day! ;o)

 

[corkey]

Glad we could help,

 

[jrford]

no problem . . .glad you could save some $$$ hopefully.

 

[Explorer_gal]

no problem . . .glad you could save some $$$ hopefully.

Thanks jrford... yes i did save some money tho i do get all my car parts extremely cheap... a fringe benefit of working in the automotive parts supply industry *smile*