Trans cooler ?

[GOODE11]

To those of you guys w/ automatics that pull heavy:



How many aux. coolers do you run, size,brand, etc... ?

I pull pretty heavy loads and need a extra cooler up front on my '92.



I have my TT sender in the stock location of the sensor that supposed to keep it out of OD when transmission fluid is too hot/cold. I run about 210-220 when heavily loaded and up to 230 briefly.



I've spoke to Bill K about it, but I was just curious about what you guys run.



Thanks



GOODE11

 

[DBF]

Dodge stocked an under-the-bed, driver's-side, trans cooler with fan, that they called a "Super-Duty Cooler". It installed in-line with the so-called "Heavy-Duty Cooler" that's part of the tow package and resides in front of the radiator. Also in-line in the cooling path is the heat transfer exchanger with the engine coolant, located on the passenger side of the engine.



That "Super-Duty" cooler is no longer available from Dodge. When this forum found there were only a few left, they went like hotcakes. I got one of them.



The thing to remember when engineering an alternative is to keep the pipe size of the new cooler the same as the piping size on the truck - not smaller, as then that would act to restrict coolant flow, the very last thing you want to do.



If you search on "transmission cooler" only in the first-gen forum, you'll find some answers from the past.



I'm certain others will chime in here and tell us how they did it.



DBF

 

[GOODE11]

DBF, thanks for the reply.



I was just curious as to what brands others are having luck using and what sizes. That way I won't get one too small or buy a "cheapie".



Thanks again--

 

[GOODE11]

Ok, I did a search. Now after looking at 125 different posts I am still on the fence about what cooler to purchase.



Anybody have any suggestions? Or am I the only one running a auto 1st gen that pulls heavy w/ it?



Just kidding, but I thought I would elicit more than one response.



GOODE11

 

[sgriffing]

Good question

I am looking for the same info.

I pull heavy (26K) and really need help in the transmission cooler department. When the DPO repowered this truck, they put the engine back without the engine coolant heat exchanger. I have a couple of 2nd Gen tanks laying around. Can I use one of those? Should I use one of those?

 

[DBF]

A little more from my perspective - you can't have too much cooling. Hot oil breaks down, and soon the trans is gone. Very expensive.



Do you *need* cooling? If you don't have one, Install a trans temp gage & sender so you know if you're being killed. When you see temps climbing, you can slow down temporarily and later install more cooling.



The fluid on my truck goes thru the Superduty cooler, then the Heavyduty cooler, then thru the heat exchanger with the engine coolant. Engine coolant is regulated at about 170* by the thermostat. If the trans fluid is hotter than 170*, it gets cooled some by the engine coolant; if it's cold (running in Minnesota's winter), then it gets warmed some, so the trans is running with normal temperature fluid.



I think my setup is about right for my towing (7500# hi-front 5er), my tweaked-up engine, and my trans (DTT-improved A518). I can run up 5% hills at road speed just fine, unless it's really hot. When it's hot, I drive by the temp gage - slow down when it gets too high. One size does not fit all. YMMV.



DBF

 

[backroad]

SuperDutyCooler...

Since the Dodge superduty trans coolers are no longer available and were at best, not very cheap, I have found a very nice unit from a very helpful company by the name of Derale. They are out of southern California, but do not sell to the public. There products can be purchased from Summit Racing.



I did just recently purchase one of their coolers. It's a 16 pass cooler with a 10 inch fan mounted to it with some very clean brackets. They rate it at a 25,000 GVW cooler and claim that no other cooler is need with it, although with our trucks we still need to use the heat exchanger for warmups. They offer coolers in both 6an and an 8an fittings, which relate to 3/8 and 1/2 inch.

The cooler with the fan is under $140. Also available (which fits directly to the cooler, in thermostat switch that turns on the fan at 180 and off again at 170. The switch is another $22. The cooler can be mounted ANYWHERE. On my ford/cummins swap, I amy mounting it in the stock Dodge location, which is under the bed and in front of the drivers side duals. There is simply NO room in front of the radiator. (too much intercooler)...



I went through a bunch of questions in my mind about the size of the transmission lines. They are definitely 1/2 inch lines, but if you look a little closer, you'll find that there are pipe fitting reducers on both the transmission and the heat exchanger. I did still stay with the larger lines.



Hope this helps a little...



Backroad... . in Az.

 

[DBF]

Derale

backroad, I just went to the Derale website:

http://www.derale.com/fanmountedoilcoolers.shtml



They have some nice-looking units there. I think I'd go that way if I had to replace mine. Thanks for pointing out this source.



DBF

 

[backroad]

DBF, glad to be of some help. It's nice to help payback some of the massive help I've received from all the nice folks at TDR.



Backroad...

 

[GOODE11]

Thanks for the info guys, I will be making a purchase this week. I will post results.



DBF, what %TC do you have from DTT?

 

[DBF]

what %TC do you have from DTT

89%. As you can see in my sig up the page somewhere, I tow a 5er. Bill K felt I was better off with an 89 vs 91 and I agree.



When I first took off with this mod, I couldn't believe it was the same truck.



Best investment yet in this truck.



DBF

 

[sgriffing]

On the right track

I was looking at the Derale.

Looks like that and the factory heat exchanger will be going on SOON.



Thanks guys!!

 

[GOODE11]

DBF, I have the 91% w/ the VB, one of the first ones Bill made. It pulls great, but is hard on u-joints.



Thanks again!!!