Which external AT cooler line filter is best?

[edweather]

I have an '06 Explorer XLS 4.0L and thinking about installing an external filter in the return line from the cooler to the transmission. I would appreciate any suggestions. A couple of people have suggested Magnefine.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Magnefine is very good, many here used it without any problems.

 

[beast3300]

I don't know anything about that particular filter, but I would stay away from spin on adapters with large oil filters.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Their is nothing at all wrong with spin on adapters and hydralic spin on filters. Some oil filters are dual rated for crankcase use and for hydralic use but not all. I have always stayed with spin on filters from Baldwin designed for hydralic filtering and never had a problem. IN fact spin on or spin in filter are used on many transmission and almost all industial hydralic systems in factories. THe ALlison used by GM in 1 ton trucks has an external spin on filter and an internal filter. THe 45RFE trans used by Dodge on their trucks and the newer models of that trans use one internal spin in filter on the return side of the cooling circuit hiden under the pan and one normal intake filter that felt style on the intake side of the trans all hidden under the pan. That is on the 4x4 models someone told me the two wheel drives do not have the cooler return filter like the 4x4 on the Dodges but I am not sure if it is true because I only owned a 4X4.

 

[Jim Allen]

I have knowledge and experience with two, the Magnefine and the SPX Filtran. I would use either. Racor also makes a spin-on conversion with a synthetic media spin on filter. There is another. "ATP" or something like that. Pluss, some other spin on kits that use engine oil filters (with bypasses).

Like JohnBrowning, I wouldn't be afraid of a home-made spin-on setup, but it needs to have a bypass valve, IMHO, in the head or the filter. You can get by without it but you have to be very careful keeping an eye on it. When lube flow stops, the trans dies. A plugging hydraulic filter in a hydraulic system gives you a warning, but there is a bypass, or pressure relief valve, built into the system. The trans gives no such warning... just STD (Sudden Trans Death).

Realistically, however, if the trans is sloughing off so much junk that it clogs the filter in a short time, it's likely to have other problems that precede the lube flow one. Once the break-in and factory installed debris is filtered out, a big spin-on trans filter could very well be a lifetime filter. According to Eleftherakis and Khalil, two guys that have been testing ATs since the '80s and have written a number of great SAE papers, 75 percent of the junk generated in and by an automatic comes from manufacturing or break in. It creates very little material after that, unless a failure occurs.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

The only external filter I've ever installed is a spin-on filter kit for my wagon. I bought the B&M brand which uses a very large common (easy to find) can filter with a built in bypass. Depending on space you can use shorter versions of the same filter, there are several sizes. I use the largest. Even with a smaller filter the whole set-up takes up a bit of room. I'd probably give the Magnefine a try if you really want to add one, I've never heard a bad word about them. Whatever fits the easiest is better than nothing. Of course most of my cars never get an extra filter and seem to survive fine.

 

[edweather]

Thanks for the feedback. If things work out like I hope, I'd probably install something like the Magnefine for 2 reasons. Instead of spending $20 on the special cooler line disconnect tool to do a flush.....I could just cut the return line, do the flush, and spend the $20 on the filter. Hopefully I can find a nice place to put the filter, and hopefully the return hose will be rubber.