Torque Converter Oil Cooler (on engine)

[Solar1]

Hello folks,
Im hoping you experience guys (or gals) can help clue me ina little bit here.

While in the process of pulling both front fenders of my 96, I tokk the oportunity to dive deep visually inspecting the general condition of external engine parts, lines, etc.

I found the lower metal pipe coolant line in terrible shape, actually, they look like they are ready to blow out due to rust. These line go the a large long cylinder (aprox 3" dia) under the exhaust manifold. Looking it up on Cummins quickserve, it states it is called torque converter oil cooler. Now, I have not yet followed the trans cooler lines to it, but i believe this is used in addition to the radiator mounted front trans oil cooler....is that correct?

I am going to check with Cummins today for those metal engine cooler pipe lines.
Im assuming those parts are Cummins only parts? Part numbers 3914823 and 3916285 using 3 rubber elbows part #3918266.

I found these on detail TK9002-05 drawing on Quickserve.

My questions are these:
In an emergency, can the engine coolant lines that serve this unit be bypassed temporarily if needed without detrimental effect on trans oil temp? (no towing)

Any other known sources for these pipes other than Cummins? When I needed the upper engine located metal coolant lines, I was told be Cummins they were not available, but called back a few days later, spoke to a different counterperson and was able to order them.

Any thoughts regarding this system to educate me would be appreciated.

 

[Solar1]

Just a follow up... I checked with Cummins; they show the parts are available, but cannot sell to me due to legal agreement with Mopar. The parts can still be ordered from Mopar: long pipe Mopar#4428123, $198.00, short pipe Mopar#4429285, $148.00. 90 degree rubber hose,3 req. $160.00 each!!! (not a typo!) the hose fittings have a Dayco equivalent, # A70001, about $6.00 each.

I will now attempt to find alternative sources rather than the dealership parts order counter.

Anyone with some suggestion for alt. sources?
(already checked ebay, a bit over $100 each)

 

[BigPapa]

Yes, the tubes will have to be purchased from a Mopar dealer. Evidently, FCA got tired of folks buying parts from Cummins and "forced" Cummins into the "agreement". I would suggest looking on car-part.com and getting them from a salvage yard in the south or west.

You can buy the elbow hoses from Cummins, they're just a different part number, 4930889, or, you can get them at O'Reilly's. They have their house brand for $6.50 or Gates for $13.00.

 

[Solar1]

Hi BigPapa, yes, I see that Gates has an elbow also, thanks.

I just tried car part .com but, call me stupid, I could not find any catagories that included those cooling tubes. I guess I'm not using a good name to look for it.

I have found a couple random sellers that show the Mopar parts, prices vary from around $85 to $115 or so.

Doesn't look like I can do much better than that. There are zero diesel trucks in the yards here in Michigan, at least not in the yards I have checked in with. Of the yards with diesels, what's left on them is as bad or worse shape as my 96.

 

[BigPapa]

I see what you mean on car-part.com. I know a couple fellows that have used stuff for our trucks. I'll check with them.

 

[Solar1]

Thanks, I appreciate that.

 

[Timd32]

Edit, I mixed up the 98 from another post and see yours is also a 96.

I replaced all my hard lines on the top and side with ones from Cummins in 2014. When did they stop.

Sucks they won't sell you any, you can try the parts counter in NJ and see if they will.


Here is what I did. (Mines a 96)

I got a Mr. Bob's kit, they had to make a kit back then, not sure if they are still available, they are pricey but super. Hope he is doing well.

Can check out this post as well. 2 posts down is where I got an actual "cooler" / heat exchanger, those have always been thousands of dollars from Cummins.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/trans-pre-cooler-lines.266115/#post-2579480

 

[Timd32]

Forgot the link for the NJ place.

They ship anywhere.

 

[Solar1]

thanks TimD32, I have not got in there yet to really inspect the cooler, but it look real bad from a glance.
Your link for the cooler is appreciated.

Ive got the fenders off right now for replacement so its a good time to deal with this, but Id hate to also need to pull the turbo setup as well.
Hopefully it can access it. Although I had not planned it, I think i should replace the cooler because the way it always goes, if i don't, i know damn well it will start leaking in the middle of winter after the truck is back together.
In another year or so, Im pretty sure I wont be able to do the work on it due to my health. And, with my extremely tight budget, I wont be able to afford for a shop to do it.
This is the last chance!
by the way, nice job on your install of the system.

 

[Timd32]

Thanks. It was a labor of love for sure, mine was a NE PA truck it was rough.

I will take a look at my old ones and if they are still OK will send them your way, just PM an address.

I also have some extra parts for mine, I have given a bunch away but if you can use any your welcome to those as well, I will look tomorrow for what's left.

Mine only has 200k on it was a PA truck, and some was looking rough I have a new blast cabinet that I'm plumbing in should be up and running hopefully next week, they might clean up in that with some light glass bead. I do some delicate copper with this cabinet so it won't weaken good metal, it should find bad spots on the tube.

No known leaks of mine it was running when I redid mine in 2014.

 

[Solar1]

Thanks for the kind offer Timd32,
I appreciate it. please keep me posted.
I plan to get a good look at my setup later today.
I hope to get a good look at the cooler condition...i know the lines look like heck.
Thats why I think the cooler is way bad as well.
I dont know the cylinder wall thickness so maybe it not as bad as it seems.

 

[BigPapa]

Sorry it took so long. My guy in KY has the tubes and a heat exchanger, rust free from a ‘98 12-valve auto from TN. He said he’d ship them to you for $350.

The heat exchanger itself changed between’95 and ‘98. The coolant tubes and the bracket are the same. I’m not sure if the transmission line fittings are different.

If you’re interested, PM me and I’ll give you his contact info. He’s a great fellow and knows his stuff.

 

[Timd32]

I could only find one tube, the others are either eluding me in my hoard, or I tossed them.

It's pretty rusty in the one corner.

I think is is one of them but not really sure.

Sound like the above is a solid offer.

My heater has two 1/2NPT threaded adapters to the hose and hard line. The fittings unscrewed from my old one and I reused it in the new one.

Not sure on the 98, but if he can send you a pic. You can see.

Your still welcome to this one, and if I find the others. No charge and will drop ship, but probably not worth it.

At some point I will get it all cleaned up and see how bad the rust really is.

 

[Solar1]

Hi, That is the long one, I think it matches mine, I just came in from the shop, I will need to take a look at it again to confirm.

Yes, Im interested in the above parts..maybe they are my answer
thanks

 

[Timd32]

I did get my blast cabinet up and running this weekend.

Just for fun I did that tube.

Wow they use a pretty robust process, except where of course it was all rusted off.

Was quite the process getting the cabinet all set up. Still not in its final spot, but had to use it was too close to wait another week.

 

[Solar1]

Timd32, congrats on the blast cabinet.
i've been on the lookout for years trying to find one used at a reasonable price. The auction units around here seem to sell for almost the cost of a new one.

looks like the coolant tube cleaned up nice.
any weak areas or blow thru from sandblasting?

style and part number on the photo matches my part.
i doubt the long tube on my truck would survive a blasting.

 

[Timd32]

It looks pretty good. I kept the pressure pretty low and it's a pretty fine media not super aggressive.

If I had this set up 6 years ago I would pime, paint and re-use it.

To be sure I can actually pressure test it for a little while to make sure there is not some thing major going on. I know how hard it is to get this one in place. Having it leak would be terrible.

Will take a deeper look at it today to make sure I have enough parts to put some light pressure to it, might need to find some parts at the shop to do that part.

 

[Timd32]

Seems good.

Figure it's a 16lb Radiator cap on mine.

 

[Solar1]

looks good!