Est. Temp. Drop With Transmission Cooler
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Est. Temp. Drop With Transmission Cooler
greetings,
i have been reading posts on transmission coolers and have a simple question.
if a transmission cooler was added BEFORE the input to the radiator, what could be expected (if any) as a water temperature drop in the radiator since the transmission fluid is being "cooled" before hitting the transmission?
**i know that there are a lot of variables so actual temps don't apply, just the difference in number of degrees as an ESTIMATE or suspected guess of drop (if any).......thanks.
i have been reading posts on transmission coolers and have a simple question.
if a transmission cooler was added BEFORE the input to the radiator, what could be expected (if any) as a water temperature drop in the radiator since the transmission fluid is being "cooled" before hitting the transmission?
**i know that there are a lot of variables so actual temps don't apply, just the difference in number of degrees as an ESTIMATE or suspected guess of drop (if any).......thanks.
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From: FL
That's definitely a different approach, the air to air coolers are normally added after the radiator as the fluid returns to the transmission. I'd be surprised if you would get much drop in radiator or engine temp but it is just a guess based on the fact that I'm aware of no difference in normal operating temps between automatic and manual cars. Maybe someone else has more factual information.
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Originally Posted by toptechx6
That's definitely a different approach, the air to air coolers are normally added after the radiator as the fluid returns to the transmission. I'd be surprised if you would get much drop in radiator or engine temp but it is just a guess based on the fact that I'm aware of no difference in normal operating temps between automatic and manual cars. Maybe someone else has more factual information.
**this post is strictly for automatics**
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Originally Posted by toptechx6
It is an interesting concept, let me know your results if you give it a try! 
Racer
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From: Alpine California
Some tranny shop's over the years have advocated putting the aux. cooler on the inlet side of the radiator's cooler with the claim that the Aux. cooler COULD cool the fluid too much, and that running it through the radiator last would ensure a sufficient operating temp. Although I suppose it is conceivable, I've never had the problem of a tranny that ran too cool (wish I could get that lucky!), and I think the theory is 
! As far as your original supposition, I'm not sure it should make a difference, if the aux. cooler is on the outlet side of the rad., wouldn't it cool the tranny fluid further than than the radiator did, therefore supplying cooler fluid back to the tranny, which SHOULD lower the tranny operating temp., and therefore the outlet temp as well. Each cooler should remove a specific amount of heat, the only variables should be in the efficiency of the cooler due to location, airflow, etc...
! As far as your original supposition, I'm not sure it should make a difference, if the aux. cooler is on the outlet side of the rad., wouldn't it cool the tranny fluid further than than the radiator did, therefore supplying cooler fluid back to the tranny, which SHOULD lower the tranny operating temp., and therefore the outlet temp as well. Each cooler should remove a specific amount of heat, the only variables should be in the efficiency of the cooler due to location, airflow, etc...
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Originally Posted by Blownfuel1
Some tranny shop's over the years have advocated putting the aux. cooler on the inlet side of the radiator's cooler with the claim that the Aux. cooler COULD cool the fluid too much, and that running it through the radiator last would ensure a sufficient operating temp. Although I suppose it is conceivable, I've never had the problem of a tranny that ran too cool (wish I could get that lucky!), and I think the theory is ! As far as your original supposition, I'm not sure it should make a difference, if the aux. cooler is on the outlet side of the rad., wouldn't it cool the tranny fluid further than than the radiator did, therefore supplying cooler fluid back to the tranny, which SHOULD lower the tranny operating temp., and therefore the outlet temp as well. Each cooler should remove a specific amount of heat, the only variables should be in the efficiency of the cooler due to location, airflow, etc...
! As far as your original supposition, I'm not sure it should make a difference, if the aux. cooler is on the outlet side of the rad., wouldn't it cool the tranny fluid further than than the radiator did, therefore supplying cooler fluid back to the tranny, which SHOULD lower the tranny operating temp., and therefore the outlet temp as well. Each cooler should remove a specific amount of heat, the only variables should be in the efficiency of the cooler due to location, airflow, etc........the radiator will maintain the engine temp AS WELL AS the temp of the fluid going back to the trannie. the engine will run cooler and the trannie will have a fluid temp comparable to that of the radiator h20.
so, if you want to comment, please do but just leave the "
" image out from the post as it is not necessary. nobody's right when everyone has their own opinion.....
...yes, we are talking about a TRANSMISSION cooler but, the way i have stated it, will benefit both engine and trannie IN MY OPINION
Last edited by Da Mail Man; Aug 15, 2006 at 04:45 PM.
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From: WI
Here is a link where the cooler is before the radiator:
http://www.ws6transam.org/transcooler.html
If I were to add a cooler, I would plumb it in after the radiator though. I would want the max. cooling I could get. You don't want your trans. tempature any where around engine temp. it should be much lower. 175°ish for long life. To cool both the coolant and trans. more, a better radiator would do more then a small trans. cooler. Just my two cents.
http://www.ws6transam.org/transcooler.html
If I were to add a cooler, I would plumb it in after the radiator though. I would want the max. cooling I could get. You don't want your trans. tempature any where around engine temp. it should be much lower. 175°ish for long life. To cool both the coolant and trans. more, a better radiator would do more then a small trans. cooler. Just my two cents.
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Originally Posted by Aardwolf
Here is a link where the cooler is before the radiator:
http://www.ws6transam.org/transcooler.html
If I were to add a cooler, I would plumb it in after the radiator though. I would want the max. cooling I could get. You don't want your trans. tempature any where around engine temp. it should be much lower. 175°ish for long life. To cool both the coolant and trans. more, a better radiator would do more then a small trans. cooler. Just my two cents.
http://www.ws6transam.org/transcooler.html
If I were to add a cooler, I would plumb it in after the radiator though. I would want the max. cooling I could get. You don't want your trans. tempature any where around engine temp. it should be much lower. 175°ish for long life. To cool both the coolant and trans. more, a better radiator would do more then a small trans. cooler. Just my two cents.
...i sorta agree in part......the temp of the t-stat and the radiator should govern the temp of the fluid returning back to the trannie..radiator temp at about 180* is not too hot for trannie fluid returning....
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From: Alpine California
Originally Posted by Da Mail Man
.....ohhh here we go!.....look, ya don't have to get nasty about it! it is easier to maintain the engine temp by pre-cooling the trannie fluid before it gets to the radiator thus making the radiators' job easier.
.....the radiator will maintain the engine temp AS WELL AS the temp of the fluid going back to the trannie. the engine will run cooler and the trannie will have a fluid temp comparable to that of the radiator h20.
so, if you want to comment, please do but just leave the " " image out from the post as it is not necessary. nobody's right when everyone has their own opinion.....
...yes, we are talking about a TRANSMISSION cooler but, the way i have stated it, will benefit both engine and trannie IN MY OPINION
.....the radiator will maintain the engine temp AS WELL AS the temp of the fluid going back to the trannie. the engine will run cooler and the trannie will have a fluid temp comparable to that of the radiator h20.
so, if you want to comment, please do but just leave the "
" image out from the post as it is not necessary. nobody's right when everyone has their own opinion........yes, we are talking about a TRANSMISSION cooler but, the way i have stated it, will benefit both engine and trannie IN MY OPINION
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Originally Posted by Blownfuel1
Mail man, I think you miss understood me, the only thing I think is BS is the idea of the cooler cooling the transmissions too much. No offense was intended, I just don't think any of these little aftermarket coolers are going to remove that much heat. I wasn't attacking your idea, just the concept that there are all these cars on the road with tranny's that are running too cool cause they put aux. cooler on it. The whole first paragraph was basically just for info, only the second one was actually addressed to your idea... and it was only supposed to be some added info to think on. I don't actually know if it will work better, the best way to find out is to try it both ways on the same car and see what results you get. Also, I'd get one of those little laser non-contact temp. probes to check cooler inlet and outlet temp's, etc. I just picked one up at Harbor Freight that's about the same size as a car alarm remote for $9.99, and it seems to work real well.
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From: Alpine California
Originally Posted by Da Mail Man
........uh, well, maybe i barked and bit too fast as i really did misunderstand so, publicly, i will apologize for the crass retort....
I'd be real interested in seeing the results if you do get around to trying the cooler install prior to the rad. ie. before and after coolant temp's, and the contact temps on the tranny cooler lines.
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Originally Posted by Blownfuel1
No apology necessary, but thanks! Just a simple misunderstanding. As it's been said many times before, it's sometimes hard to discerne (sic) someone's intent through just the written word. On a lighter side, I thought Mail men and Dog's ("i barked and bit too fast!") wern't supposed to get along!
I'd be real interested in seeing the results if you do get around to trying the cooler install prior to the rad. ie. before and after coolant temp's, and the contact temps on the tranny cooler lines.
I'd be real interested in seeing the results if you do get around to trying the cooler install prior to the rad. ie. before and after coolant temp's, and the contact temps on the tranny cooler lines.
......i know te ac example is a bit much but, i think you van catch the drift.......i will eventually get around to doing this in late fall.
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I’d be very surprised if you noticed any difference at all. As toptechx6 said in the first reply, there is no difference in operating water temps between the manual and automatic cars. So, the trans fluid going through the radiator probably isn’t the limiting factor in your cooling system.
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Originally Posted by RollaMo-LT4
I’d be very surprised if you noticed any difference at all. As toptechx6 said in the first reply, there is no difference in operating water temps between the manual and automatic cars. So, the trans fluid going through the radiator probably isn’t the limiting factor in your cooling system.
...***i am ONLY addressing my experiences with the cars i have "pre-cooled" and automatics, NOT water temps between autos and manuals.
.....pre-cooling is all that much better because it benefits both the engine in faster cooling and possibly more regulated cooling, trannie - as it reasonable assures that the return fluid will be cooled enough before returning as that fluid is not "t-stat" regulated, and radiator in the effort and efficiency it takes to cool excessive btu's from the system....
....as long as the t-sat was working (i use a 180*), i believe that one should be reasonably assure that the return temp of the trannie should be somewhere around the rad temp.........i thought that someone said that "too cool was bad(?)".....
Last edited by Da Mail Man; Aug 16, 2006 at 11:15 AM.
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Well, it's not a big cost item to test out. If it works great, if not you haven't wasted too much. Guess it's worth a shot. Be sure and let us know the results though.
Burning Brakes
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From: Richfield Utah
It is only logical, that the trans. and engine will run a little cooler (depending on air flow). But lets look at it closer. You put a cooler before the the radiator trans. fluid cooler, then stick the cooler in front of the radiator (physically). Well the air passing throught the cooler, then back right into the radiator, adding heat soak. Much like the AC condenser. but we are getting into numbers here, and air flow. If you have enough airflow past the cooler, and condensor. It is going to run cooler, its just a natural fact. Keep in mind the trans cooler in the radiator, could be a trans warmer too. Say the trans is at 180*, and the engine is at 228*. The cooler then becomes a warmer. Much like the oil coolers that come stock on some C4 models. My car has one, as a matter of fact.
Cooling is an interesting concept in our C4's. That is why I am working on this two speed super fan. I will be able to program at what temp it comes on. Then high speed is activated, pulling around 3500-4000 CFM. Its in the works, but I have alot going on right now...
Any who, hope you come out on your cooler. My educated guess is, that the trans will in fact run cooler. The engine, I just don't know... Hope this helps, and remember, it is just my oppinion...
Cooling is an interesting concept in our C4's. That is why I am working on this two speed super fan. I will be able to program at what temp it comes on. Then high speed is activated, pulling around 3500-4000 CFM. Its in the works, but I have alot going on right now...
Any who, hope you come out on your cooler. My educated guess is, that the trans will in fact run cooler. The engine, I just don't know... Hope this helps, and remember, it is just my oppinion...
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Originally Posted by Steel Breeze
It is only logical, that the trans. and engine will run a little cooler (depending on air flow). But lets look at it closer. You put a cooler before the the radiator trans. fluid cooler, then stick the cooler in front of the radiator (physically). Well the air passing throught the cooler, then back right into the radiator, adding heat soak. Much like the AC condenser. but we are getting into numbers here, and air flow. If you have enough airflow past the cooler, and condensor. It is going to run cooler, its just a natural fact. Keep in mind the trans cooler in the radiator, could be a trans warmer too. Say the trans is at 180*, and the engine is at 228*. The cooler then becomes a warmer. Much like the oil coolers that come stock on some C4 models. My car has one, as a matter of fact.
Cooling is an interesting concept in our C4's. That is why I am working on this two speed super fan. I will be able to program at what temp it comes on. Then high speed is activated, pulling around 3500-4000 CFM. Its in the works, but I have alot going on right now...
Any who, hope you come out on your cooler. My educated guess is, that the trans will in fact run cooler. The engine, I just don't know... Hope this helps, and remember, it is just my oppinion...
Cooling is an interesting concept in our C4's. That is why I am working on this two speed super fan. I will be able to program at what temp it comes on. Then high speed is activated, pulling around 3500-4000 CFM. Its in the works, but I have alot going on right now...
Any who, hope you come out on your cooler. My educated guess is, that the trans will in fact run cooler. The engine, I just don't know... Hope this helps, and remember, it is just my oppinion...
.....not to sure of the "heat-soak"..as it will all depend on where ya mount the cooler and for the most part, the cooler will take up a fraction of the area in front of the radiator/condenser if mounted there.....as long as the radiator doesn't over heat from a closed t-stat or other engine problem, there should be cooool all the way around ........grin
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Originally Posted by Aardwolf
1) if i have a low temp t-stat (180), i have a better chance of cooling the trannie fluid down when it circulates in a +/-180* coolant environment then in a 220* coolant environment.
2) if i cool the trannie fluid down with a cooler on the INPUT side of the radiator, my t-stat/radiator would not have to get rid of so much heat (a lot absorbed from the trannie fluid from the heat transfer to the h20) and may keep the h20 temp down a bit and so the engine too.
if i placed the trannie cooler at the OUTPUT of the radiator, not only would it have to contend with cooling down the temp of the water which could be as high as 220* absorbed by the trannie fluid but, also the heat of the trannie fluid itself that was not sufficiently cooled by the radiator as well..........defense rests....
