Originally Posted By: PSU_Engineer
I have a question regarding placement of the Magnefine filters:
I will be purchasing 3 Magnefine filters for my vehicles:
2007 Ford F-150
2000 Ford Taurus
1992 Honda Accord
All three have automatics. Based on this thread I am will call the sponsor to verify sizing, but all three will probably be 3/8".
The question that I have is how do I verify which is the fluid return line from the cooler back to the radiator. As someone pointed out in this thread; it is better to install the filter on the "return line back to the transmission". I think that I recall reading somewhere that most radiators will have the top fitting as the input and the lower fitting as the output back to the transmission. I think that this coincides with the fact that most radiators return at the top (hot fluid); and supply to the motor from the bottom (cold fluid). Can someone verify my hypothesis here? It would definitely help when I go to install on three different brands/makes of vehicles.
The F-150 should be pretty easy, as it has a factory trans cooler, and viewing the pics that Jim Allen provided helped. I am positive that the fluid travels from the transmission, to the top fitting of the radiator; then out of the radiator to the top fitting of the cooler; then out of the cooler back to the transmission.
Thanks,
Tony
RE Which Line to Install he Magnefine: If you were starting out with a brand new vehicle, you could put it pre-cooler. That prevents debris buildup in the cooler. For a "used" trans (defined by several sources as post-1500 miles), you want the unit post cooler because the buildup in the cooler has likely already started and you want to catch anything that may break loose later before it goes back to the trans.
Engineer Abe Khalil (one of the guys that literally wrote the book on trans contamination), suggests that if you can't get the filter on the pre-cooler line within 100 miles or so, just put it on the post-cooler line. He told me that his new cars go for a tranny fluid change and an inline filter basically right from the dealership. He's done enough testing to know that most of the debris comes from assembly and the first few miles of operation... some 75 percent of the total debris buildup generated by an automatic in a normal lifetime is from assembly (or rebuild) and break-in. A hard-used automatic may generate more wear debris later in life than the average pampered car.
Kahlil has commented that, in recent years, the domestic manufacturers have improved manufacturing processes significant and have reduced the amount of "built-in" debris. The import manufacturers, he reports, have generally been much better at that. He has consulted in a lot of factories and seen whats out there. Some of eh import factories assemble automatic in NASA-like clean rooms and have extensive cleaning equipment for the cases and parts.