No need for cooler?

[wake_rider]

I've read probably far more into this than I should have, but I purchased a 14k BTU B&M Transmission cooler the other day on a late night tangent (next will be LBJ's since those seem to always fail... or alteast as is stated on T4R :biggrin1

So here's the thing, I'm still caught up between bypassing the stock trans cooler with this unit, just getting a new radiator and running this cooler inline, or just getting a new radiator and returning the trans cooler back to B&M. This last summer, I was wheeling on old Jeep/mining trails near Leadville, CO, and my transmission temps were getting around 220* (as per Torque app and an OBDII reader) at peak when crawling/climbing long, steep sections, and over highway passes I was hitting around 210* (even at highway speeds). I think that's too high. I have 135k on my truck, so I'm wondering what would be the best thing to do.

I know that this has been beaten like a stepchild, but I'm just looking for anecdotes and personal experience from those who have more knowledgeable and experienced insights than me.

Thanks all!

 

[Doc2012]

The purpose of a trans cooler is to cool the fluid, right?

The stock radiator has the trans cooler built into it, so the coolant and trans fluid will remain fairly close to each other in terms of temp.

Running it in series creates the same effect. It cools the trans fluid, then heats it back up inside the stock rad.

Running it alone will keep the fluid cool.

Just my .01¢.

 

[4Runner4TW]

I think most will say go with the external trans cooler if not replacing the radiator. If replacing the radiator then return the cooler. I personally just have the B&M Trans cooler and have not had any issues at all. And I have pulled a trailer from AZ to WA and back. The purpose of the external cooler is to avoid the pink milkshake. I finally met someone in person who that happened to only after 70K miles.

For me I prefer the external trans cooler and I believe people who have them on here have wheeled just fine with that set up.

 

[nc-grayson]

I personally run, ( as of 3/15/15 ), both a new radiator and the b&m. I bypassed the cooler in the radiator and am only using the b&m for cooling. I don't necessarily know if it's the best way to do things, but a lot on here have gone thus route with no problems. Some might see it as over kill to replace the radiator and then spend money on another separate cooler, when your new rad has one built right in....but if $ isn't a huge obstacle in this situation, why not run both for "no future pink milkshake" piece of mind?

 

[D Farms]

make sure to get the biggest one you can, my buddy got one and his transmission was constantly overheating after that.

 

[pluton]

If the radiator is original, it's 15 years old, it's made of plastic and aluminum, and it's relatively inexpensive and easy to replace.
I say replace the radiator, and add the cooler if you live/use the truck in hot places.

 

[7echo]

If the radiator is original, it's 15 years old, it's made of plastic and aluminum, and it's relatively inexpensive and easy to replace.
I say replace the radiator, and add the cooler if you live/use the truck in hot places.

That is the path I am taking currently.
I installed a new radiator last fall. I plan to watch my temps through the summer and decide on a bypass cooler or not. It gets hot here so by mid August I will have good information on the stock set up.