AT Cooler Presure Drop

[Titanium_Alloy]

Hi,

I was thinking about installation of auxiliary automatic transmission cooler. But I was thinking: what about pressure drop? There is obviously going to be some. How big is it? How it might affect AT performance and operation?
If driving steady on a freeway with auxiliary cooler wouldn't be a temperature of ATF too low to properly lubricate a transmission?

Thanks,

 

[Ken2]

What vehicle?

Another cooler probablys isn't needed unless you tow.

I like the plate-type coolers made by Long Mfg. and sold under the Long Tru-Cool, Tekonsha, B&M, and other brand names. They have an internal bypass for cold oil. If it says, "Made in Canada," it's a Long. Also good are Hayden and Permacool coolers, but only the Long has the cold oil bypass as far as I know.


Ken

 

[Titanium_Alloy]

It's a 2002 Grand AM 2.2 Ecotec. I don't do any towing or hard driving. The only reason for it I want to extend my fluid drain intervals (I'll be using Mobil 1 ATF) as much as possible, as well as extend transmission life to the maximum.
My only concern that cooler might cause additional problems in future like pressure drop, too low transmission temps on a freeway, additional place for ATF to leak considering all those hose connections.
I'm thinking about using perma-cool cooler ( www.perma-cool.com ). It seems like they have pretty good technology and lifetime warranty. Probably the basic cooler will work fine for me (Model # 1010).
I appreciate any comments on this brand.

How long does it take to install ATF cooler by myself or in the shop?

 

[QuadDriver]

It will take about half an hour to install, however, while there may be a pressure drop, it wont affect the operation of the transmission....the fluid sent to the cooler is a bypass circuit, and unless you have the stock transmission modified, only about 20% of the pumped fluid gets cooled each trip

 

[Titanium_Alloy]

quote:

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Originally posted by QuadDriver:
It will take about half an hour to install, however, while there may be a pressure drop, it wont affect the operation of the transmission....the fluid sent to the cooler is a bypass circuit, and unless you have the stock transmission modified, only about 20% of the pumped fluid gets cooled each trip

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Great info! Thanks for your help. It seems like I shouldn't worry about pressure too much.

 

[Baveux]

I've showed a one fits all transmission oil cooler to a transmission shop guy. He told me to not install the cooler since the inlet and outlet of the cooler are smaller than the original transmission piping ( 3/8 versus 1/4 ) He was saying that would make create too much restriction to the oil flow.

He showed me a 3/8 oil cooler pipe from a GM transmission beside my aux oil cooler, and visually the difference is fairly important.

That was a canadian tire made in canada cooler, but the other brand name are not better they seems to be all 1/4 cooler pipe on which you install 11/32 I.D.hose.

So your opinion about the flow restriction will be appreciated

Richard

 

[outrun]

Brilliant post on the 20% transmission fluid gets bypassed to the cooler!! Learned something new here.

I personally do not think pressure drop will be an issue based on these paramaters.

Interesting side not C5 Corvettes...they have a direct drive LS1...meaning that the Transmission is in the rear of the car totally separated to the engine except for the driveshaft.

There is an LS1 ATF electric inline external Pump Kit for this car due to the shear length of the coolant lines!! (Available from GM Performance Parts)

So if you were really snazzy you could fix that baby up to your ATF cooler lines...although IMO opinion that be over kill (or over cool LOL)

In the meantime, I will be working hard so I will own a C5 or C6?? One day

 

[Titanium_Alloy]

It's good that you brought up pipe thickness. At least perma cool says that tubes are 1/2 with 11/32 fittings. As I get from their website, coolers have some kind of twisted directional inserts inside tubes which might restrict flow a little bit. But still 1/2 is bigger than stock 3/8 diameter, which should be fine I guess.