Transmission cooler?

[MMpridenjoy]

Looking for some advice on transmission coolers. From what I am reading, these are a very nice investment. Most claim to lower the trans fluid by 20 degrees. This in turn doubles the life of the transmission. Does anyone have experience on these or any advice? I have looking into the B&M supercoolers. Any response appreciated.

[prchrman]

MMPJ, Good question, trans guy who rebuilt my 92 Linc AOD said temp and trans shifting in and out of OD are the biggest tranny killers. I live in the mountains and OD shifting is what got mine. Run w/OD off when not needed. Someone answer this one...and does dealers offer a cooler?

[derek77]

I have some advice, DO IT!!!! I would just run a Summit or Jegs brand cool, but that's up to you. There are are a few ways to install them. Some people run them to the radiator, then to the cooler its self. I prefer to run it straight to the cooler it self. Be sure to use transmission line and not vac*** line. Also, you might want to look into getting a trans. temp. gauge.

[Black Terror]

Transmission cooler at forward bottom of Radiator. Look into coolers that are bigger than the one you already have and can install using original plumbing.

[russ in VA]

Seems like someone on here has one off of a Police Interceptor on their car, but I don't know who. Seems like a great idea to me. The factory water to oil cooler is nice, but I'd like to see an air-to-oil cooler as well. My 89 Coprice had both an air to oil tranny cooler and the water to oil one in the radiator tank, plus it had and air to oil engine oil cooler. Very nice!

[SergntMac]

Has anyone examined or evaluated the OEM MM cooler?

This is beginning to sound like the "drive shaft" issue, where the general advice was "throw it out, OEM stuff has got to be bad," and at least in my case, it was not. How about one of us MM owners take a peek at the OEM cooler, see what's up before tearing stuff out and replacing it with (maybe) less performing replacements?

I do agree with adding a trans temp gauge though, overheating will destory any trans, and I would presume that the nature of the MM will invite more spirited driving.

The MM was a ground up design using the best of in-house FMC performance parts, let's see what LM installed?

[MMpridenjoy]

Sounds like the sarge is making sense.

[derek77]

If memory serves correct, doesn't the cooler have just one bend in it? What I mean is, doesn't the fuild come in the cooler and make one turn and come back out? I can't remember.

[RCSignals]

Sarge is right. The MM has a good trans oil cooler. In fact I think it's the same as used on the Police Interceptor

Here is one on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33727&item=2405989787

[CRUZTAKER]

Originally posted by SergntMac
Has anyone examined or evaluated the OEM MM cooler?....
........see what's up before tearing stuff out and replacing it with (maybe) less performing replacements?


I am glad you said it. I didn't have the b*lls. Every motorhead I spoke to just looked at me and said........WHY?

If you are not towing a boat or a house, whats the point?

[derek77]

Originally posted by CRUZTAKER
If you are not towing a boat or a house, whats the point?

Because heat is the #1 killer of transmissions. And anyone who owns a vehicle with an AOD trans in it needs to do something to prolong the life of his or her transmission. I think in this case it is safe to say bigger is better. I can't see over cooling a transmission. :confused:

[RF Overlord]

Just for reference purposes, I got this response from TCI Automotive (http://www.tciauto.com/tci.htm)'s Tech Support:

"Actually we recommend if you are going to use an external cooler to use it only and by pass the radiator. Because , the temp of the coolant in the radiator is usually about 200 degrees,. this means the tranny fluid will never be able to get below that when run the radiator. By going external it has a better chance of cooling. If you want to retain the radiator and external go through the rad. then the external as the external will allow the fluid to cool more than the rad as explained above."

[cyclone03]

You may want to look at the stock cooler.
Look BETWEEN the stock cooler and AC condensor,hinding in there is the stock trans cooler.
Our cooler does not go into the radiator.
I don't know how far down it goes but it does run almost the full width of the radiator.

[Diocles]

My experience with the SS on the road courses taught me the stock transmission cooler (part of the radiator as well) was sufficient. What became a huge problem was the power steering fluid. As I will be road racing, my soon to be MM, I will definitely investigate the ps cooler.

Also if you do plan to race always have fresh brake fluid and power steering fluid. Age just kills the heat resistance in these fluids.

[looking97233]

Kenny Brown puts a thermaly controled aux. cooler on the marauder s. It is only used when the stock cooler cannot keep up. I don't know if they are selling this unit alone or not, but if someone is really interested, you could call them and ask.

[vaderv]

Hey srg ya saved the day again...

[JamesHecker]

Originally posted by Diocles
As I will be road racing, my soon to be MM, I will definitely investigate the ps cooler.

Where will you be road racing? I'm from the Sierra Nevada Foothills myself ( Placerville ), and just wondering what tracks are around there.

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by RF Overlord
Just for reference purposes, I got this response from TCI Automotive (http://www.tciauto.com/tci.htm)'s Tech Support:

"Actually we recommend if you are going to use an external cooler to use it only and by pass the radiator. Because , the temp of the coolant in the radiator is usually about 200 degrees,. this means the tranny fluid will never be able to get below that when run the radiator. By going external it has a better chance of cooling. If you want to retain the radiator and external go through the rad. then the external as the external will allow the fluid to cool more than the rad as explained above."

Thanks, Bob, if this is the general opinion, then I think I'll be okay for a while. I've got the 180 stat, so, let's see what happens in August?

[khc3]

curious if anyone knows the normal operating temps for the transmission?

[jgc61sr2002]

khc3 - Welcome to the site. I believe several members have a trans. temp gauge. Your answer should be forthcoming.:)

[Zack]

Originally posted by looking97233
Kenny Brown puts a thermaly controled aux. cooler on the marauder s. It is only used when the stock cooler cannot keep up. I don't know if they are selling this unit alone or not, but if someone is really interested, you could call them and ask.

I have some info to set the story straight here. The KB cars run trans fluid through the stock cooler then out to the second cooler behind the front fascia and back to the trans. There is no temperature sensor or other device at work here. The stock trans cooler works well and is shared with the PS fluid. This is called a two pass cooler. The 2 fluids never meet or mix, the trans fluid occupies half of the cooler and the PS fluid the other half and have independent inputs and outputs. I am pleased with the stock trans cooler but have already bought a second cooler to mount behind the grill. It is a permacool 10" x 14" 6 tube cooler with a 900 cfm fan mounted to it. So everyone knows, the max temp I have seen with the stall converter is 180 degrees, which is very acceptable and safe. Most stock coolers would not be able to keep the temp below 210.

[cyclone03]

I have the B&M **266,I think.It;s the biggest they make that comes with fittings and mounting brackets.
I'f I did it over I'd go with the race cooler it's much bigger.But comes without fittings and brackets.

The brackets in the kit have to be bent to fit so it's not a true "bolt on" but it's no big deal.At least not for me.

[martyo]

So Zack: Knowing what you know about my car, do you suggest the addition of an aftermarket cooler?

[merc406]

All my automatic transmission I've had in the last 30 years, I've used a/c condensor's as cooler's. With the higher stall converter's you need extra cooling. Never had a breakdown due to heat issue's. Right now have a 83 Merc with 284,000 miles on it , aod tran's, no problems. My 63 Marauder has 2 cooler's, one off a Caddy and a B&M stacked plate.

[SergntMac]

Zack's description of the KB setup is accurate, and I have since added a 7" 400 CFM Derale fan to the secondary cooler.

Having a fan on any cooler is a plus, if you are looking at a new purchase, check out the selections with fans attached. You may run shy of ideal cold air paths when mounting, and the fan will help balance that out.

[martyo]

Ok, now I am going into lazy mode.

Anyone care to share a part number for a worthwhile cooler with a fan attached as suugested by Mac? Once I get that, I guess its off to Summit for me....