ATF cooler fitted

[Bogus]

Yesterday I fitted an ATF cooler. I bypassed the stock one completely and have also fitted a Mocal oil thermostat and a temperature gauge. On normal sedate driving I notice that it takes a good while for the ATF to come up to the temperature where its passing through the cooler. Its several miles/minutes after the engine water jacket has reached operating temp. Tomorrow I,ll see how it behaves when pulling a 1500kg trailer load around, but obviously Im hoping that both ATF and engine jacket water temps will not stray too far from the 80-85 deg mark. Im particularly hopeful of this on the ATF front as part of my return line from the cooler is in fuel hose with a temp rating of 100 deg. I didn,t have enough of the proper hose and it was all that I could get at the motor factors. On reflection I wish I,d gone for one of those BM coolers and I probably could have dispensed with the stat, but I used a Hayden 678. All I need now is proper plugs to plug off the connections for the stock, in rad cooler.

[dazandcaz]

Yesterday I fitted an ATF cooler. I bypassed the stock one completely and have also fitted a Mocal oil thermostat and a temperature gauge. On normal sedate driving I notice that it takes a good while for the ATF to come up to the temperature where its passing through the cooler. Its several miles/minutes after the engine water jacket has reached operating temp. Tomorrow I,ll see how it behaves when pulling a 1500kg trailer load around, but obviously Im hoping that both ATF and engine jacket water temps will not stray too far from the 80-85 deg mark. Im particularly hopeful of this on the ATF front as part of my return line from the cooler is in fuel hose with a temp rating of 100 deg. I didn,t have enough of the proper hose and it was all that I could get at the motor factors. On reflection I wish I,d gone for one of those BM coolers and I probably could have dispensed with the stat, but I used a Hayden 678. All I need now is proper plugs to plug off the connections for the stock, in rad cooler.

Hello, while replacing the front bumper a couple of weeks ago i noticed that my inline cooler hoses were cracking. These were only fitted about 12 months ago but were of the 100 deg type. They have now all been replaced with 180 deg ones. i'm sure they would be fine for a while but i would change them when you get a chance.

Dazza

[Bogus]

Hello, while replacing the front bumper a couple of weeks ago i noticed that my inline cooler hoses were cracking. These were only fitted about 12 months ago but were of the 100 deg type. They have now all been replaced with 180 deg ones. i'm just wanted sure they would be fine for a while but i would change them when you get a chance.

Dazza

Good advice. Thanks. I think Id probably have done it anyway. I was a bit uncomfortable using fuel hose, but just wanted to get it finished.

[Albannach]

Alex, do you have links to the parts you used?

[Bogus]

Alex, do you have links to the parts you used?

http://www.raceparts.co.uk/cart/basket.asp

Thats where I got the stat. I bought the cooler last October when I was in the states, and the gauge and sender were from McGill motor sports. I bought them last year when I did my extra water temp gauge.

[Albannach]

Thank you.

[dieselboy]

http://www.raceparts.co.uk/cart/basket.asp

Thats where I got the stat. I bought the cooler last October when I was in the states, and the gauge and sender were from McGill motor sports. I bought them last year when I did my extra water temp gauge.

Hi Alex,
Is it the 3/8th stat? - http://www.raceparts.co.uk/products/...2F+Thermostats

Also, going buy your experience would it then be wise to run the normal line through the rad to aid in the heating / temp regulation of the ATF?

[Bogus]

Hi Tony. Yes its the 3/8th stat. I think it might have been better in terms of temperature control to forget the stat and keep the stock cooler as well, but I also wanted to remove the chance of the " strawberry milk shake "
Although at highway speeds on a cold day my ATF temp is lower than stat opening temp it doesnt seem to affect gear changes, so im sticking with the set up.

[dieselboy]

Thanks Alex. I spent a good while this morning looking forum posts etc. Then I realised it was lunch time and I had done no work!

After reading your posts I think that the oil should leave the tranny, enter the aux cooler run off a thermostat and then enter the bottom of the rad to then return to the tranny. When the oil is cold, it should bypass the aux cooler and enter the bottom of the rad. When it is hot it should enter the aux cooler to take the edge off that makes our water temp increase.

Although at what temperature does the thermostat open? The ATF oil may take a while to come up to temperature as standard. I'm guessing neither of us have fitted a temp guage without any other modifications

Thanks for your post about BM Supercoolers, I'll look those up in a mo. I'm wondering what the most cost effective solution will be, as the stat is around the same price as a fluidyne cooler.

[Bogus]

If you are keeping the stock cooler in the system I cant see why you need a stat. The stock cooler should maintain temps at 80-85 same as the jacket cooling system. I only put in a stat as Ive bypassed the stock cooler. If you are keeping stock I think most people go from tranny to new cooler then into stock ( which will either cool it further or warm it back up to 80 ish, all depending on various factors ( work, airflow, tranny cooler sizing ), then back to transmission pan.

[dieselboy]

If you are keeping the stock cooler in the system I cant see why you need a stat. The stock cooler should maintain temps at 80-85 same as the jacket cooling system. I only put in a stat as Ive bypassed the stock cooler. If you are keeping stock I think most people go from tranny to new cooler then into stock ( which will either cool it further or warm it back up to 80 ish, all depending on various factors ( work, airflow, tranny cooler sizing ), then back to transmission pan.

I have just notice the B&M fitting instructions states you should go:
Tranny hot oil > standard rad cooler > B&M cooler > back to tranny

But I disagree with this, because if the oil in our trucks is hot enough to heat our engine water up (mine does when under load in summer) then I need to cool that oil down before it gets to the standard rad cooler.

Another question if I may, do you have any details on the temperature sender that you used? I cannot find one that would do transmission fluid on the McGill website.