transmission cooler on the block

[CBrabec]

My transmission cooler on the block is leaking. I checked all the fittings and everything is tight. When the truck is running, the leak appears on the bottom of the cooler right under the bottom black hexagon shaped piece that meets the cooler ( This is looking through the front drivers side wheel well). Im gonna call the dealership tomorrow and see if they have one on hand (I hope) and try and tackle it tomorrow. If anyone has done this job, any tips or suggestions I'll need to know? Also, how much am I looking at spending?



Thanks,

Chris

 

[Bill Stockard]

There have been problems with the coolant and transmission fluid lines rubbing and creating a leak in the area just above the cooler. In the upcoming TDR Issue 71 the problem is discussed. Check this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ns-2003-2007/226207-cooler-line-problems.html



Bill

 

[CBrabec]

I checked all my lines and none of them touch we well as they are all dry. Also the outside of and the front part where both lines top/bottom come out is wet. Could there possibly be a crack somewhere on the torque converter cooler thats causing the leak?

 

[Bill Stockard]

Could there possibly be a crack somewhere on the torque converter cooler thats causing the leak?

Yes, that's possible; however, I don't recall reading about or hearing of that being a common problem with the cooler.



Bill

 

[AH64ID]

See if you can clean it off and get it dry (brake cleaner does this) and then put some baby powder on it and the surrounding area (may be easier to remove the wheel well liner if you haven't yet) and see where its coming from.

If you do find that cool itself is cracked then I would check your trans/coolant to make sure there was no cross contamination.

 

[CBrabec]

Good idea, I'm gonna try that first. I just called the dealership and they want $900 for a new cooler.

 

[AH64ID]

WTF thats crazy money!!

Post up a wanted add on this and the other diesel sites, I bet you find one. . There are people that remove them.

 

[mwilson]

Chris,

Please provide your Engine Serial Number.

DO NOT ORDER ONE UNTIL I VERIFY THE PART NUMBER USING YOUR TRUCK'S ESN.

I am only using my truck's ESN to give you a general idea of price and availibility.

That cooler is a Cummins part and using my '06 as a reference came up with Part # 4930582. That would sell for $323. 70 here.

Just checked stock and there 148 of them at the Cummins Factory.

Item # 10 below.



Let me know if I can help.

Mike.

 

[cerberusiam]

First question, is it trans fluid or coolant leaking?



Have seen both types of leaks.



The trans fluid lines rub and create a leak, the fitting into the cooler cracks and leaks.



The coolant lines crack and leak then the coolant runs down and drips off the heat exchanger. Verify what is leaking first and check all the lines even away from the exchanger for leaks.



Good luck.

 

[mwilson]

Chris,

If it turns out to be coolant leaking and is indeed a rubber hose that chafed through then those are Cummins items as well.

Would be #11 and #13 in the illustration.

Will be far cheaper thru Cummins instead of Dodge.



If it is leaking transmission fluid from a steel line those will be Dodge items only. :{



Mike.

 

[CBrabec]

Mike, I will get you the serial number here in a bit i just got home from work. I will take you up on your help, also it is definitly transmission fluid and not coolent. When the truck runs it drips red fluid. I just sprayed the cooler with brake cleaner so I'm going to let it dry and them put some baby powder on it and the lines and fittings and start it up and see where its coming from.

 

[mwilson]

Hi Chris,

Will be calling it a day soon but will check first thing in the morning to see how you made out and what you may need looked up.



Hope that it is just a fitting or hose leaking but if your luck runs like mine it will be the cooler... ... ... ... . :-laf:{



Mike.

 

[CBrabec]

Well I finally got some time to see where the problem is. I cleaned everything off with brake cleaner and let it dry. Then I put baby powder on the cooler and fittings and the leak is coming from the top of the torque converter cooler. I noticed that there is a piece of the cooler chiped off and the transmission fluid is coming out of there. Its on the lip of the cooler right above the top coolent line on the left. My question is, before I drop on a new cooler does anyone think JB Weld would work? The piece that is chipped off ( Probably happened when being reinstalled onto the new short block I had to have put in, that's a whole nother story ) but it's a piece about 1/8-1/4" wide. I took pictures but don't know how to post them. What do you guys think?



Chris

 

[mwilson]

Chris,

Do you know how to attach them to an e-mail???



If so, send them to me and I will post them. Be a lot easier to help with the advice if we can see the damage.



-- email address removed --



Mike.

 

[CBrabec]

Sorry mike I will send you an email soon, been very busy. A quick question though, for the time being I zip tied a rag to the bottom side of the cooler to catch the fluid that leaks, becasue i dont want to drip transmission fluid on people's driveways I plow. So I was wondering if I will run into heat issues or any concerns with that rag being there since it sits right on top of the starter?

 

[TCDiesel]

The Company that Makes the Heat exchanger is US. The ******* is stealing again, That cooler cost $225. 00 if You look hard enough.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Will be far cheaper thru Cummins instead of Dodge.

Is that specific to this part? I just got the fuel hose elbow leading to the prefilter/heater for my 96 @ Genos. On their web page, the Cummins part is priced ~3x higher than the Dodge. Yet when I got my cheaper Dodge part, it was in a Cummins bag with a Mopar label glued over the Cummins #.



Just sayin'...

 

[CTRice]

I just got home and saw a small leak stain on my driveway. It is dark, so I looked under the truck and found coolant leaking off the bottom of my bell housing. Upon further inspection, I saw that the coolant was dripping off of what loooks like an armored rubber heater hose sized hose about 3-4 inches long with hose clamps at either end. I can't tell if the hose itself is leaking or something above it is leaking. In looking at your diagram, the area and related parts look like the area where the leak is occuring. Would you be able to tell me where your diagram can be copied or send me a copy with part names and numbers. I have an 06 3500 4x4 with less than 60,000 miles and would like to resolve this issue asap. Thanks in-advance for your assistance. Chuck Rice

 

[sag2]

Your leak is most likely the short heater size hose behind the turbo. Do a search, there is a new Cummins PN available. In the mean time, snug the clamps down a tad. They usually only show a leak when cold.

 

[CTRice]

Thanks sag2.



I have to clear a space in my garage first, but will check it out sometime tomorrow and provide some feedback. Chuck