Add-on Trans Cooler

zsmithku

zsmithku

New member
I had asked this question in a previous post, but thought I would try to gain more insight about this before I change my current setup. I am making a 1200 mile trip next week while I pull a U-haul trailer. Because of this, and remarks from other members, I purchased a Hayden add-on trans cooler rated for 2500 lbs of towing. It's dimensions are about 7 inches by 11 inches. From the instructions it said the best way to use it was to go through the stock radiator then into the add-on trans cooler which would then flow to the transmission. That makes sense since you would be getting colder fluid by having it cooled twice. However, several members said that I should bypass the stock radiator and just use the add-on trans cooler. But this doesn't seem to make sense. I can't imagine the fluid getting cooler by going through a smaller piece of equipment. Physics would say that going through both the radiator and then the trans cooler would be the most effective. Before I put all my trust in this 7x11 piece of air cooling metal I want to get all my facts straight.

Thanks again.
 
Register to hide this ad
Do you realize the actual size of the in-radiator cooler is pretty small? It has about 5 or 6 fins running lengthwise along the bottom of the radiator.

I say bypass it completely, and mount it in front of the A/C condenser. I've had mine like that for several months with no issues, although I haven't towed anything of significance, and it's been winter, ya know. With my scangauge II, I've never seen a reading above 170. Most of the time it's around 130. Anything below 200 is doing well.
 
zsmithku said:
I had asked this question in a previous post, but thought I would try to gain more insight about this before I change my current setup. I am making a 1200 mile trip next week while I pull a U-haul trailer. Because of this, and remarks from other members, I purchased a Hayden add-on trans cooler rated for 2500 lbs of towing. It's dimensions are about 7 inches by 11 inches. From the instructions it said the best way to use it was to go through the stock radiator then into the add-on trans cooler which would then flow to the transmission. That makes sense since you would be getting colder fluid by having it cooled twice. However, several members said that I should bypass the stock radiator and just use the add-on trans cooler. But this doesn't seem to make sense. I can't imagine the fluid getting cooler by going through a smaller piece of equipment. Physics would say that going through both the radiator and then the trans cooler would be the most effective. Before I put all my trust in this 7x11 piece of air cooling metal I want to get all my facts straight.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...


Dude come on I already told you it would work! The Hayden is great and its designed to cool as a separate unit for their application. The 1st priority purpose is to keep the trans fluid at cooler temperature than the stock design bypassing the rad/trans cooler part. And secondly to keep from having fluid contamination with the A/F and Trans fluids by bypassing the stock design.
 
Last edited:
rdgt4r said:
Dude come on I already told you it would work! The Hayden is great and its designed to cool as a separate unit for their application. The 1st priority purpose is to keep the trans fluid at cooler temperature than the stock design bypassing the rad/trans cooler part. And secondly to keep from having fluid contamination with the A/F and Trans fluids by bypassing the stock design.
Click to expand...

Haha. I realize you gave your opinion which was well appreciated, but I was also looking for some second opinions. Keep them coming!
 
Yeah, it's not that using both coolers wouldn't cool the fluid more, it obviously would it if it's going through both coolers - that's not the issue. The reason you should bypass the stockie is because it is a bad design and is prone to leaking and since it's located inside the radiator, when it leaks it mixes with the coolant in the radiator and then your tranny gets coolant in it and/or your engine gets ATF in it. And when these 2 fluids mix, it looks like a "strawberry milkshake" and will f*ck your shit up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 313 (members: 3, guests: 310)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,309
Messages
3,554,065
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top