need coolant/anti-freeze vs. air cooled education

[idriveadelsol]

well... in terms of a transmission cooler, which would be more effective? coolant from engine/radiator or atmosphere air?

basically, i have a irreparable leak at the transmission cooler fitting and leaking ATF fluid. i will need a NEW radiator to solve this problem. NOTE: this is not coolant and ATF mixing. the ATF fluid is just leaking from the fittings not seating properly.

i want to bypass my OEM transmission cooler but i am afraid it will not sufficiently cool the fluid. since it will not be cooled by coolant and now by air. the vehicle is a 94 1.5L honda civic, daily driven. i rigged my radiator switch to ON always so there is constant airflow, regardless of what my engine temperature is.

will this suffice?: Automatic Transmission SuperCooler rated at 9,800 BTU 11"x5-3/4"x3/4"

the basically stated i should get a larger (1) since i am bypassing the radiator coolant, but i am not sure if that is necessary.

http://www.bmracing.com/core/media/media.nl?id=8881&c=723089&h=aebd1b9e432dfa7a216d

 

[Donald]

Have you talked to a radiator shop about soldering or brazing or welding what is broken?

Have you priced a new radiator on RockAuto?

 

[chad8]

Originally Posted By: idriveadelsol
well... in terms of a transmission cooler, which would be more effective? coolant from engine/radiator or atmosphere air?

basically, i have a irreparable leak at the transmission cooler fitting and leaking ATF fluid. i will need a NEW radiator to solve this problem. NOTE: this is not coolant and ATF mixing. the ATF fluid is just leaking from the fittings not seating properly.

i want to bypass my OEM transmission cooler but i am afraid it will not sufficiently cool the fluid. since it will not be cooled by coolant and now by air. the vehicle is a 94 1.5L honda civic, daily driven. i rigged my radiator switch to ON always so there is constant airflow, regardless of what my engine temperature is.

will this suffice?: Automatic Transmission SuperCooler rated at 9,800 BTU 11"x5-3/4"x3/4"

the basically stated i should get a larger (1) since i am bypassing the radiator coolant, but i am not sure if that is necessary.

http://www.bmracing.com/core/media/media.nl?id=8881&c=723089&h=aebd1b9e432dfa7a216d


Skip the cooler. your 1.5 is so small just needs a radiator and they are a 2 hour install with minimal tools. I priced them at about $75 shipped for a good one.Fittings are cheap . Cut it off and splice the line or use a fitting with a rubber hose and clamp it.

 

[SteveSRT8]

You can easily do this mod, and it will work.

You will lose the 'equalization' effect of having the coolant and the ATF sharing the radiator. This can be important in the winter if it's cold.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8


You will lose the 'equalization' effect of having the coolant and the ATF sharing the radiator. This can be important in the winter if it's cold.


+1. You could possibly overcool the transmission fluid with a tiny automatic transmission and a external trans cooler. If you're replacing the radiator, won't the new one include the trans cooler? Why not use it on the new radiator?

 

[Chris142]

The in radiator trans cooler is very efficient. The cooler is surrounded by water and the ATF must go through many turns and twists before it exits.

The cooler isn't just a hollow tube. It's purposly built to cool the fluid and does an execellant job. I'd guess that the aftermarket cooler isn't as good.

 

[dparm]

I find it hard to believe that car needs a transmission cooler unless it is being driven extremely hard in extremely hilly areas.

 

[mechanicx]

I wouldn't recommend installing an air cooler in place of your broken radiator cooler. It might not keep the fluid cool enough and that is terrible for an automatic transmission. Also in cold temperatures it probably won't allow the fluid temperature to warm up as fast. By the time you buy the cooler and bother with installing it, you'd be ahead to fix or replace your radiator. Maybe you could even get a good radiator out of the junkyard for cheap.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: idriveadelsol
well... in terms of a transmission cooler, which would be more effective? coolant from engine/radiator or atmosphere air?

basically, i have a irreparable leak at the transmission cooler fitting and leaking ATF fluid. i will need a NEW radiator to solve this problem. NOTE: this is not coolant and ATF mixing. the ATF fluid is just leaking from the fittings not seating properly.

i want to bypass my OEM transmission cooler but i am afraid it will not sufficiently cool the fluid. since it will not be cooled by coolant and now by air. the vehicle is a 94 1.5L honda civic, daily driven. i rigged my radiator switch to ON always so there is constant airflow, regardless of what my engine temperature is.

will this suffice?: Automatic Transmission SuperCooler rated at 9,800 BTU 11"x5-3/4"x3/4"

the basically stated i should get a larger (1) since i am bypassing the radiator coolant, but i am not sure if that is necessary.

http://www.bmracing.com/core/media/media.nl?id=8881&c=723089&h=aebd1b9e432dfa7a216d


Its necessary. If you bypass the oil-to-water coolant in the radiator, you REALLY need a significantly larger oil-to-air cooler than you would if you were just adding it as an aux cooler. That said, you're only trying to cool a Civic, not a Cummins Ram automatic. The cooler you picked is a nice one, parallel flow, and fairly big. I have had only an oil-to-air cooler on my '66 Dodge big-block for about the last 6 years and its only about twice the size of the one you have (11x11, also parallel flow). You should be fine.

 

[oppirs]

Just replaced my leaky Trans cooler. It's on a Caddy w/4.5L V8. I was suprised how hot it got even though the trans lines still goes thru the radiator. This is an air cooler in front of the condensor.

I bought it from AAP for $60. Match my old one in size, packaging said it was for RV/5th wheel. I don't tow but again I was shocked how hot it got on a 70* day, guess that trans really needs an extra cooler.

Instructions said it can be used to by-pass the radiator cooling. You should be fine if you up the capacity for your civic. Hayden cooler made in Australia.