Testing a transmission fluid cooler.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Testing a transmission fluid cooler.
Hi all. My car is gonna get a full range of fluid coolers. Aside from the radiator, I will have a power steering fluid cooler, non-fan...an engine oil cooler, non-fan, and a transmission fluid cooler, fan cooled.
I have a nice big transmission fluid cooler, that was pulled off of my Durango when I had some work done a year or so ago. They claimed it was bad, but the new one wasn't much. Just to be safe I asked for the old one back, and they gladly handed it over.
I was wondering what the line pressure is in a transmission fluid system, and what the best way to test it is. I was thinking of setting it up with threaded, barbed nipples, and rigging it inline of a garden hose. With one end open, turn on the hose and watch for leaks. To test pressure...I would slowly start closing a valve on the end...increasing the pressure within the cooler.
How much pressure does the average house garden hose have, and it it safe to let the cooler go under the full pressure? Is there a better way to test cheaply and myself?
I have a nice big transmission fluid cooler, that was pulled off of my Durango when I had some work done a year or so ago. They claimed it was bad, but the new one wasn't much. Just to be safe I asked for the old one back, and they gladly handed it over.
I was wondering what the line pressure is in a transmission fluid system, and what the best way to test it is. I was thinking of setting it up with threaded, barbed nipples, and rigging it inline of a garden hose. With one end open, turn on the hose and watch for leaks. To test pressure...I would slowly start closing a valve on the end...increasing the pressure within the cooler.
How much pressure does the average house garden hose have, and it it safe to let the cooler go under the full pressure? Is there a better way to test cheaply and myself?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
If you can find a tank to sink it in it would be easier to see the trail of bubbles.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
That's true, and I am going to do that...but I want to test it under pressure. It may not leak with just fluid in it...and I install it and it leaks under pressure.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
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Instructor
Joined: May 2006
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From: Kennesaw GA
It sounds like if you can show no leaks at 100 psi you should be fine. If you have your outside spigot for your water hose on the 'unregulated' side of your house, then depending on your water supplier you may have upwards of 100psi.. but that varies from city to city. You can get a cheap guage to put on the end of a water hose to check.
The air pressure idea seems the easiest to do, and I build a 'Doctor Seuss' looking rig myself for pressure testing radiators and heater cores (only up to about 12 psi or so though). I made it from PVC with a pressure guage and screwable fittings for the ends to allow large and small hoses. I was able to just watch for pressure drop, and if I see one I spray it down with a soapy water solution and watch for bubbles. Just bring the pressure up slowly as a pinhole can open up quickly under a lot of pressure.
The air pressure idea seems the easiest to do, and I build a 'Doctor Seuss' looking rig myself for pressure testing radiators and heater cores (only up to about 12 psi or so though). I made it from PVC with a pressure guage and screwable fittings for the ends to allow large and small hoses. I was able to just watch for pressure drop, and if I see one I spray it down with a soapy water solution and watch for bubbles. Just bring the pressure up slowly as a pinhole can open up quickly under a lot of pressure.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
Next question. If the leak is in a certain spot, or not very big...is it repairable? It's a free cooler, pretty big, and perfect for use. If it's fixable I would almost like to have that done.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
You can always go to a scrapyard and find an a/c evaporator. Have used those for years for tranny coolers. Work great. Many sizes available too.
Instead of pressure checking, you can also leak check by vacuum. Usually you can find smaller leaks this way too.
Good luck
Instead of pressure checking, you can also leak check by vacuum. Usually you can find smaller leaks this way too.
Good luck
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
I thought about that since I have a few of those lying around...I just like the small compact nature of this one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
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"Cooler cheap, tranny $$$$$$$$".
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Oh I'll toss it if I half too...I just like the design. It fits exactly what I want, and most aftermarket coolers are not like this. It's a Chrysler specific unit that I like a lot.