ATF cooler location

[Apache]

This is where mine is going.

Once fitted, I'll make a grille for it, and get Mark :wink: to sort out a piece of curved tube welded to the front crossmember under the rad to curve along the bottom of it follwing the line of the bumper.

I have a small fan off a mitsubishi to fit behind it for when moving slowly following 2.4s...

[europa88]

It's certainly not blocking the rad is It? Thats prob the only place still in the airflow that you can put It!

Might get some sh*te thrown at it though from the tyres.

I would like to move mine but theres nowhere really to relocate it! I got another in the bashplate!

[Apache]

I'm going to put a grille at the back too, so it should be OK.

[MattF]

I would like to move mine but theres nowhere really to relocate it! I got another in the bashplate!

That looks like it's pretty much begging to spring a leak at some point.

[europa88]

That looks like it's pretty much begging to spring a leak at some point.

Yeah it does ! but ,It's been on for 2 1/2 years now no probs! It's steel braided where It could chafe.Any way if it does, it's easily removed.

I dont use it much in the winter(unless i'm towing) and have a chequerplate alli bashplate which wraps around the front drawbar also.

i'm just in the process of bypassing the inbuilt trans cooler so see if that works when towing on a hot day in wales!

[Apache]

I'm going straight for bypassing the in-rad cooler. If it's all OK after a few months of testing, I'll change the rad for a manual one, or maybe a bigger rad off something else? Anyone fitted a non-Surf rad?

[MattF]

Yeah it does ! but ,It's been on for 2 1/2 years now no probs! It's steel braided where It could chafe.Any way if it does, it's easily removed.

I dont use it much in the winter(unless i'm towing) and have a chequerplate alli bashplate which wraps around the front drawbar also.

i'm just in the process of bypassing the inbuilt trans cooler so see if that works when towing on a hot day in wales!

It's obviously withstood the time test then. Looks can be deceptive.

Bypassing the inbuilt cooler should be fine. The things you risk losing by doing so are regulation and quick warm up, although both *may* be fine.

[europa88]

It's obviously withstood the time test then. Looks can be deceptive.

Bypassing the inbuilt cooler should be fine. The things you risk losing by doing so are regulation and quick warm up, although both *may* be fine.

Matt

What do you reckon to thermostat on the transoil lines to encourage warm up in the winter? Demon Tweeks do one that opens at 80c which I think is optimum for the transmission oil.

[europa88]

I'm going straight for bypassing the in-rad cooler. If it's all OK after a few months of testing, I'll change the rad for a manual one, or maybe a bigger rad off something else? Anyone fitted a non-Surf rad?

That sounds familiar, I was looking at having an aluminium one made. Allisport said they could do one if I dropped in a pattern or good drawing(or rad)but they couldn't fit a inbuilt cooler. That and the cost of ally rads put me off a bit!

[Apache]

I was just thinking along the lines of a larger rad rather than a custom built. If I take out the aircon (cant really find many reasons to leave it in there given our climate) then there's plenty of space to play with, though it might be that the standard manual Surf rad will perform better without the aircon rad in the way.

[europa88]

I was just thinking along the lines of a larger rad rather than a custom built. If I take out the aircon (cant really find many reasons to leave it in there given our climate) then there's plenty of space to play with, though it might be that the standard manual Surf rad will perform better without the aircon rad in the way.

I'm willing to bet that removing the aircon condenser is gonna be a good move, but the air con is handy when the family's in the Surf, so I'm gonna try other options first ,though it may come to that!

[MattF]

Matt

What do you reckon to thermostat on the transoil lines to encourage warm up in the winter? Demon Tweeks do one that opens at 80c which I think is optimum for the transmission oil.

Personally, my opinion has always been that it is preferable to keep the inline cooler connected and use one of those thermostatic valves to switch over to the auxilliary cooler once upto temperature. Granted, in real world terms, it may not make much difference to the speed at which the ATF heats up to optimum temp, but I prefer to err on the side of caution for the sake of around thirty quid. Plus, it also serves the purpose of cutting back in when it cools down to again regulate the ATF temperature. Fluid stability should theoretically be far better. An underheated system has it's own set of quirks, just as an overheating one does.

[europa88]

Personally, my opinion has always been that it is preferable to keep the inline cooler connected and use one of those thermostatic valves to switch over to the auxilliary cooler once upto temperature. Granted, in real world terms, it may not make much difference to the speed at which the ATF heats up to optimum temp, but I prefer to err on the side of caution for the sake of around thirty quid. Plus, it also serves the purpose of cutting back in when it cools down to again regulate the ATF temperature. Fluid stability should theoretically be far better. An underheated system has it's own set of quirks, just as an overheating one does.

Do these thermostatic valves actually bypass the rad cooler when switched then?If so that would be a good option, I'm really trying to separate the influence that the transoil has on the cooling system.It seems to me this way you can have your cake and eat it.

I believe the ECU controls shifting of the transmission based on coolant temp ,so what your saying is that it could be possible to shift at the wrong points etc etc with transoil not up to specified operating temps If you bypass the rad cooler.Not that that would happen very often but I suppose in theory you could let the engine idle for some time to get warm then give It some immediate welly!

[MattF]

Do these thermostatic valves actually bypass the rad cooler when switched then?If so that would be a good option, I'm really trying to separate the influence that the transoil has on the cooling system.It seems to me this way you can have your cake and eat it.

Can't remember specifically, offhand. Have a peek on the Mocal site. I believe they have some decent tech info on there regarding their units.

[TonyN]

though it might be that the standard manual Surf rad will perform better without the aircon rad in the way.

Our standard auto rad works waaay better just without the ATF fluid going through the cooler at all. Not needed to upgrade the rad, kept the air-con and much cooler engine temps towing big trailers up hills.

You might need a bigger ATF cooler than that though.

We have one of these...

http://www.jcwhitney.com/B-M-SUPER-C...7258_10101.jcw