Transmission Cooler install
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Harlev Denmark
Transmission Cooler install
I have a B & M transmission cooler https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/bmm-70297
my engine in 555 "BBC and 6 x speed 4L80E TCI automatic transmission, BeCool aluminum radiator, my stall speed is 3400, my question. should the transmission cooler install on the BeCool radiator, or directly from Automatic transmission to B & M Cooler.
what gives the best cooling......
BR
/Kim
From Denmark
my engine in 555 "BBC and 6 x speed 4L80E TCI automatic transmission, BeCool aluminum radiator, my stall speed is 3400, my question. should the transmission cooler install on the BeCool radiator, or directly from Automatic transmission to B & M Cooler.
what gives the best cooling......
BR
/Kim
From Denmark
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Water, being more dense than air, makes a much better cooling medium so run the cooler line to the engine radiator, then from the radiator to the auxiliary trans cooler and back to the transmission. If you mean where should you mount the cooler, then ahead of the engine radiator is the normal and preferred location. Do not run those plastic pins through the engine radiator to hold the aux trans cooler. You can mount the cooler to the radiator support, but mount it with a bracket-type mounting kit or make your own mounting brackets.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I use a go to hell engine oil cooler for my 200 4r automatic.....thing is about a foot square and at least 1.5 inches thick, I can run out on a 100f day off the freeway into stop/go traffic on way home, engine at 200f or so, and just with the cooler in the trans circuit....trans runs at 140f temp....Dual Spal fans, wish I could run my trans at 50f or so, take a HELL of an air conditioner, but colder it is, better it like to shift..put it this way, I KNOW when it shifts in what passes for winter down here.....
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Harlev Denmark
Water, being more dense than air, makes a much better cooling medium so run the cooler line to the engine radiator, then from the radiator to the auxiliary trans cooler and back to the transmission. If you mean where should you mount the cooler, then ahead of the engine radiator is the normal and preferred location. Do not run those plastic pins through the engine radiator to hold the aux trans cooler. You can mount the cooler to the radiator support, but mount it with a bracket-type mounting kit or make your own mounting brackets.
Thanks for the answer,
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,000
Likes: 299
From: New York
I disagree a million percent with using the cooler in conjunction with the radiator. And if someone comes on here and says the rad helps heat fluid in cold climates I may slap them .. lol...
I use to run 2 transmission shops . performance , towing and HD use we never connected a trans cooler to the radiators cooler .... Matter of fact GM issued service bulletins for many S-10 trucks to by pass radiator and install a stand alone cooler when a client was towing with the s-10 .
The ideal trans temp is 170 and lower. Easily maintained using a stand alone cooler. I run a 427 SBC with a 4L80e and a stand alone transmission cooler. Temps even on a humid killer hot day never break 172 degrees even when my motor is hitting 197-200 degrees.
So go it alone ... leave the radiator out of it and get a cooler rated for 28,000 pound tucks or greater.
I use to run 2 transmission shops . performance , towing and HD use we never connected a trans cooler to the radiators cooler .... Matter of fact GM issued service bulletins for many S-10 trucks to by pass radiator and install a stand alone cooler when a client was towing with the s-10 .
The ideal trans temp is 170 and lower. Easily maintained using a stand alone cooler. I run a 427 SBC with a 4L80e and a stand alone transmission cooler. Temps even on a humid killer hot day never break 172 degrees even when my motor is hitting 197-200 degrees.
So go it alone ... leave the radiator out of it and get a cooler rated for 28,000 pound tucks or greater.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,461
Likes: 980
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
I disagree a million percent with using the cooler in conjunction with the radiator. And if someone comes on here and says the rad helps heat fluid in cold climates I may slap them .. lol...
I use to run 2 transmission shops . performance , towing and HD use we never connected a trans cooler to the radiators cooler .... Matter of fact GM issued service bulletins for many S-10 trucks to by pass radiator and install a stand alone cooler when a client was towing with the s-10 .
The ideal trans temp is 170 and lower. Easily maintained using a stand alone cooler. I run a 427 SBC with a 4L80e and a stand alone transmission cooler. Temps even on a humid killer hot day never break 172 degrees even when my motor is hitting 197-200 degrees.
So go it alone ... leave the radiator out of it and get a cooler rated for 28,000 pound tucks or greater.
I use to run 2 transmission shops . performance , towing and HD use we never connected a trans cooler to the radiators cooler .... Matter of fact GM issued service bulletins for many S-10 trucks to by pass radiator and install a stand alone cooler when a client was towing with the s-10 .
The ideal trans temp is 170 and lower. Easily maintained using a stand alone cooler. I run a 427 SBC with a 4L80e and a stand alone transmission cooler. Temps even on a humid killer hot day never break 172 degrees even when my motor is hitting 197-200 degrees.
So go it alone ... leave the radiator out of it and get a cooler rated for 28,000 pound tucks or greater.
I obviously don't have your experience as a professional but I have been running stand alone coolers since 1979 in all my cars that I own or have owned outside of the radiator. I agree that this nonsense that coolers should be run in conjunction with the radiator cooling is counterproductive to what you are trying to achieve by using a tranny cooler. ......the lowest tranny fluid temp possible. Yes, water is a better cooling medium than air but only if the water temp is low which it is not in a car cooling system. BTW-my 2008 Chrysler 300 which is driven all year round and in very cold climates has an air to air tranny cooler from the factory (no radiator cooling thank the Lord)...no radiator cooling....Maybe the OEM's finally woke up about not heating the tranny fluid with very hot coolant. I use a 28,000 GVW Long/Dana double stack cooler in conjunction with the factory air cooler...no issues.Run (2) Long 18,000 GVW coolers in the grand prix coming up on 200,000 on the tranny in the winter as well...runs about 125 degrees which is just perfect...135-140 in the summer..temp control built into the cooler...works perfectly.
BTW-Never have had a tranny fail on any of my cars a few with BIG mileage...hmmmm. so much for those that subscribe to theories
Last edited by jb78L-82; Aug 22, 2016 at 08:45 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
I have a B & M transmission cooler https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/bmm-70297
my engine in 555 "BBC and 6 x speed 4L80E TCI automatic transmission, BeCool aluminum radiator, my stall speed is 3400, my question. should the transmission cooler install on the BeCool radiator, or directly from Automatic transmission to B & M Cooler.
what gives the best cooling......
BR
/Kim
From Denmark
my engine in 555 "BBC and 6 x speed 4L80E TCI automatic transmission, BeCool aluminum radiator, my stall speed is 3400, my question. should the transmission cooler install on the BeCool radiator, or directly from Automatic transmission to B & M Cooler.
what gives the best cooling......
BR
/Kim
From Denmark
But,.....when I blew my first 700r4 the vender got out of honoring the warranty because of this. We both knew the tranny did not fail because of any heat related issue, but it was his way out. Just saying......
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,461
Likes: 980
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
I agree with running the cooler separate from the radiator as others have suggested. In fact that's the way I still run mine.
But,.....when I blew my first 700r4 the vender got out of honoring the warranty because of this. We both knew the tranny did not fail because of any heat related issue, but it was his way out. Just saying......
But,.....when I blew my first 700r4 the vender got out of honoring the warranty because of this. We both knew the tranny did not fail because of any heat related issue, but it was his way out. Just saying......
Last edited by jb78L-82; Aug 23, 2016 at 12:47 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
The cooler I have is I think rated at 34,000 lbs and is a stacked plate type. I have a 16 inch electric fan pulling air through the cooler and radiator.
The vender had a "installation doc" that stepped the end user through their accepted installation, and even required pressure checks recorded with their tech support department prior to driving the car. Pretty picky. Once the warranty issue arouse, again the questions were asked about the install, and me being honest,... told them I had not used the internal transmission cooler because my aftermarket aluminum radiator did not even have one. Even though I had a transmission temp gage connected and monitored that the temps never got over 150 degrees,...they voided the warranty. I even had a local transmission shop diagnose the failure and speak with them on the phone.....still not covered.
The vender had a "installation doc" that stepped the end user through their accepted installation, and even required pressure checks recorded with their tech support department prior to driving the car. Pretty picky. Once the warranty issue arouse, again the questions were asked about the install, and me being honest,... told them I had not used the internal transmission cooler because my aftermarket aluminum radiator did not even have one. Even though I had a transmission temp gage connected and monitored that the temps never got over 150 degrees,...they voided the warranty. I even had a local transmission shop diagnose the failure and speak with them on the phone.....still not covered.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,461
Likes: 980
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
The cooler I have is I think rated at 34,000 lbs and is a stacked plate type. I have a 16 inch electric fan pulling air through the cooler and radiator.
The vender had a "installation doc" that stepped the end user through their accepted installation, and even required pressure checks recorded with their tech support department prior to driving the car. Pretty picky. Once the warranty issue arouse, again the questions were asked about the install, and me being honest,... told them I had not used the internal transmission cooler because my aftermarket aluminum radiator did not even have one. Even though I had a transmission temp gage connected and monitored that the temps never got over 150 degrees,...they voided the warranty. I even had a local transmission shop diagnose the failure and speak with them on the phone.....still not covered.
The vender had a "installation doc" that stepped the end user through their accepted installation, and even required pressure checks recorded with their tech support department prior to driving the car. Pretty picky. Once the warranty issue arouse, again the questions were asked about the install, and me being honest,... told them I had not used the internal transmission cooler because my aftermarket aluminum radiator did not even have one. Even though I had a transmission temp gage connected and monitored that the temps never got over 150 degrees,...they voided the warranty. I even had a local transmission shop diagnose the failure and speak with them on the phone.....still not covered.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
Definitely run the transmission cooler independent of the radiator..... You don't need hot engine coolant heating up the transmission.. You want the transmission to run as cool as possible.
The B&M 70297 cooler with the fan is a damn good one.
The B&M 70297 cooler with the fan is a damn good one.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,795
Likes: 435
From: Aarhus, Denmark
The oil cooler is Kim's (OP's) old cooler. I'm not sure what brand/type it is.
Do you Kim?