Trans cooler screw up?

[AndrewKing]

HI All,



I was getting my truck ready to do some heavy pulling for this weekend so I bought a large Plate style trans oil cooler for my truck ( Hayden brand largest plate style w/ push on hose connectors... . don't have the model # since I just bought the biggest one and the mechanic threw out the box when done)..... Anyways, I dropped the truck off w/ the mechanic and picked it up later that day..... Much to my surprise and disappointment the mechanic removed the factory cooler (the little plate style one in the upper right of the radiator area when viewed from the front of the truck and spliced in the new cooler using those lines running to the factory cooler (which is now gone)... . He claimed he did it to have adequate room to mount the new cooler and that the factory one was not needed anyways (new cooler was mounted in front of the AC condenser)... The factory cooler was tucked up out of the way so I don't think it would have been a problem anyways... . I asked him for the factory cooler back but he said it was already thrown away and gone... ... Whay do you think?... . Is this a real mess up or was the factory one not worth a darn anyways?... . My thinking was the more cooling the merrier... . at least for the transmission... . Also by mounting the trans cooler in front of the Ac condenser will this hurt the AC?... . My regular mechanic always mounted the coolers I brought him in back of the AC condenser and in front of the radiator..... Does the factory have the under the bed unit there for a reason?... . As in keeping the heat away fron the intercooler?

Thanks for any and all help / advice... .



Andrew



PS - I do have a long brand plate style trans cooler but that was a little too thick for easy behind the grill install and would have required me buying thread in fittings etc..... I was kinda pushed for time which is why I used a different mechanic (mine was booked solid)... . Myabe I'll install the otherone in series with the new cooler to make up for the lost factory cooler or do you think I am fine as is?... . I hate to think I am back to square one in putting in a cooler and losing the factory cooler... .

 

[Greenleaf]

Any additional heat into the condensor will lower efficiency. Same as the IC and radiator. The factory set up seems right IMHO as the condensor is first, then the IC and then radiator. Probably why the factory option was the under bed mount with the fan etc. etc.



Scott

 

[Philip]

I asked him for the factory cooler back but he said it was already thrown away and gone

You didn't tell him to remove it. I would tell him to give it back. If he has pitched it like he said. Tell him the Dodge dealer most likely can get him a replacement.



Then find another mechanic.

 

[cerberusiam]

Just one word of advice, HOOK UP THE PYRO!!



Unless you are pushing the envelope on fuel and boost, IMO you are better off with the bigger cooler for the trans. Towing with a fluid coupling generates a lot of heat and while you may loose efficiency in the IC the extra cooling for the trans is the lesser of 2 evils.



I kinda feel the same way as the guy that installed the cooler, factory one is about worthless and better off gone. If it wasn't for the big fluid to fluid cooler on the engine all the autos would die from heat. The best place is under the bed with a fan of coursE, but in a piNch what you have is better than stock.



However, if you really want some piece of mind



HOOK UP THE PYRO!!!