Aux. Trans Oil Cooler Confusion

[biglar]

I bought the NAPA Cool Flo oil cooler and the Derale 13011 thermostat to install on my 2002 T4R 4WD 3.4L auto and completed the installation today. Now I'm a little concerned.

I made sure the bump on the t'stat was on the bottom, with the plastic part up and arrows pointing the right way. Drove to town and back (30 miles) and checked temps with a laser gun. They were in the 130º vicinity, but weren't consistent.

At the inlet to the t'stat, it might be 128º, but on the return from the cooler to t'stat, maybe 132º. I thought the thing would stay shut till 180º or so and bypass the cooler....?? I cobbled this diagram in Paint to try to show the connections I made:

???? Well, that didn't work. It won't let me drag and drop an image and I don't have a website to link it to. Now what ??

From the rear fitting on the trans to the driver's side of the radiator, the diagram I looked at on this forum shows that to be the return from the radiator oil cooler, so I cut that line.

From the radiator output I took it to the upper "in" side of the t'stat, then went from upper "out" side to upper cooler input. (I mounted the cooler sideways with the inlet and outlet pointing left) Lower cooler output went to lower "in" side of t'stat. Lower "out" side of t'stat went to return to trans. From the diagram I looked at here, and the instruction sheet from Derale, I'm very sure I got it right....but those erratic temps bother me.

I'm preparing to tow a ~<1,000# trailer from Florida to New Mexico soon - about 1700 miles and the car has 170,000 miles, so I want to be as gentle on it as I can. The oil cooler will hopefully make it easier on that old transmission.

I'm also going to take advice from here some time ago and drain the trans oil pan - about 3 or 4 quarts, I think and replace them with new. I've been cautioned on here last year about changing all the fluid on this old trans and will heed that caution.

No major mountains on the trip, but the Texas hill country west of San Antonio will give it a workout, as will the heavy climb westward out of Las Cruces, NM and the long, steady uphill from there to Deming and north to Silver City, NM. It'll be I-10 the whole way, except for 100 miles in FL and 50 miles in NM.

 

[Drew76]

I have the same thermostat, if you installed it as per the Derale instructions you should be good. Can't remember which fittings on trans is supply/return I just searched and found a good thread on here that had the info.

Forget the laser temp gun readings on the outside of the stat, get an OBD reader and use Torque app or similar, that way you can see the trans temp in real time.

Looking at my trans temp while driving I can see that the stat works perfectly as described, As the trans temps climbs above 180f, stat opens and trans temps drop, cruising at hwy speed not putting any load on the trans it sits around 165f.

I installed mine to avoid running too cold in the winter with stock cooler bypassed.

Make sure you add fluid to account for the cooler and check the level a few times, top it up as needed.

 

[biglar]

I have the same thermostat, if you installed it as per the Derale instructions you should be good. Can't remember which fittings on trans is supply/return I just searched and found a good thread on here that had the info.

Forget the laser temp gun readings on the outside of the stat, get an OBD scanner and use Torque app or similar, that way you can see the trans temp in real time.

Looking at my trans temp while driving I can see that the stat works perfectly as described, As the trans temps climbs above 180f, stat opens and trans temps drop, cruising at hwy speed not putting any load on the trans it sits around 165f.

I installed mine to avoid running too cold in the winter with stock cooler bypassed.

Make sure you add fluid to account for the cooler and check the level a few times, top it up as needed.

Thanks for the reply. I'm very sure I got it right and prob'ly expected too much out of a 30 mile drive on level ground. I did add fluid.

I'm completely unfamiliar with your temp measuring technique. For that kind of stuff, I need one syllable at a time coaching. I do have an OBD scanner and know where and how to plug it in, but from there I'm lost. Is Torque App something you can load into the scanner or.....??

 

[spartacus]

Thanks for the reply. I'm very sure I got it right and prob'ly expected too much out of a 30 mile drive on level ground. I did add fluid.

I'm completely unfamiliar with your temp measuring technique. For that kind of stuff, I need one syllable at a time coaching. I do have an OBD scanner and know where and how to plug it in, but from there I'm lost. Is Torque App something you can load into the scanner or.....??

You can download and use the app on your cell phone or tablet.

 

[3bears]

Thanks for the reply. I'm very sure I got it right and prob'ly expected too much out of a 30 mile drive on level ground. I did add fluid.

I'm completely unfamiliar with your temp measuring technique. For that kind of stuff, I need one syllable at a time coaching. I do have an OBD scanner and know where and how to plug it in, but from there I'm lost. Is Torque App something you can load into the scanner or.....??

toque pro is a very useful tool. it runs on either apple or android phones. however you need a OBD reader ( not scanner) that sends out a blue tooth signal. they are not expensive. the reader and the app will run less than 40 bucks. If I remember correct you do need to specify for both parts if your android or ? there also used to be 2 versions of torque app...a free one which does not give you all, or the pro app, which was only $5. you then can set it up to do all kinds of measurements, not just trans temps



if you go to the seach bar and type in 3rd gen torque pro app you will find plenty of info

 

[biglar]

toque pro is a very useful tool. it runs on either apple or android phones. however you need a OBD reader ( not scanner) that sends out a blue tooth signal. they are not expensive. the reader and the app will run less than 40 bucks. If I remember correct you do need to specify for both parts if your android or ? there also used to be 2 versions of torque app...a free one which does not give you all, or the pro app, which was only $5. you then can set it up to do all kinds of measurements, not just trans temps



if you go to the seach bar and type in 3rd gen torque pro app you will find plenty of info

OK, thanks. I'll check it out.

 

[Drew76]

toque pro is a very useful tool. it runs on either apple or android phones. however you need a OBD reader ( not scanner) that sends out a blue tooth signal. they are not expensive. the reader and the app will run less than 40 bucks. If I remember correct you do need to specify for both parts if your android or ? there also used to be 2 versions of torque app...a free one which does not give you all, or the pro app, which was only $5. you then can set it up to do all kinds of measurements, not just trans temps



if you go to the seach bar and type in 3rd gen torque pro app you will find plenty of info

My bad, yes OBD reader, edited my post thanks

 

[biglar]

Thinking about this, I don't think my '02 car has any temp sensors in the trans.

 

[sleepydad]

Thinking about this, I don't think my '02 car has any temp sensors in the trans.

they added a trans temp in 99 so your 02 has it. most OBD setups will give you trans temp.

 

[biglar]

they added a trans temp in 99 so your 02 has it. most OBD setups will give you trans temp.

I did a google and am some confused. Not sure what does what, but I don't really need on-going, minute by minute info - just a check from time to time.

I do have an OBD scanner now, for codes, etc. Would it have a setting that would allow me to check trans oil temp from time to time ?? It would be more to reassure me at the onset of the trip that the aux. cooler is doing its' job and would save me fussing with the phone while driving.

Otherwise, can you recommend a reasonably priced unit that would be adequate ?? Thanks.

 

[3bears]

if you dont need minute to minute, its simple, turn the app off.
I dont have it constantly on in my rig. You can select what it reads. mine is trans temp, water temp, voltage and gps.
Driving, turn the app on , look at things, turn it off. Prob have it on the most when in 4wd and hitting hills to watch temps

 

[Twisted Sid]

Go on Amazon and search for a bluetooth elm 327 odb2 reader. Then go in the Google play store and buy the torque pro app. It takes a few minutes for the setup but then it's done.

I don't think your current scanner will give you trans temp unless it does live data and most cheap units don't.

 

[sleepydad]

I did a google and am some confused. Not sure what does what, but I don't really need on-going, minute by minute info - just a check from time to time.

I do have an OBD scanner now, for codes, etc. Would it have a setting that would allow me to check trans oil temp from time to time ?? It would be more to reassure me at the onset of the trip that the aux. cooler is doing its' job and would save me fussing with the phone while driving.

Otherwise, can you recommend a reasonably priced unit that would be adequate ?? Thanks.

As others have said, a lot of us use this setup that timmy is showing in video @ the time = 149(direct link provided). you just connect it when your east bound and down loaded up and truck'en!

Timmy even provides some links to know good configs in his vid description.

Overdrive Off = Transmission Temp Drop - YouTube

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epilog: Darn it now I got that Jerry reed song stuck in my head.

Jerry Reed - East Bound And Down (Smokey And The Bandit Soundtrack) Lyrics on screen - YouTube