Transmission cooler

Submitted: Thursday, Oct 23, 2003 at 08:42

ThreadID: 8023 Views:2906 Replies:5 FollowUps:2

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Jimmy

Hello I have a Nissan Terrano 91 2.7TD which doesn't like hill climbs, Towing or soft sand. ie it gets rather hot rather fast. I have seen several posts regarding installing transmission coolers. Where do these go? Is it mounted to the bottom of the radiator? or is it actually part of the radiator? I have removed the radiator and cleaned it out and there is to pipes connected to the bottom of it which lead back to the auto box. Do I already have a transmission cooler?
Thanks James

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Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Oct 23, 2003 at 11:18

Thursday, Oct 23, 2003 at 11:18

Either Auto Gearbox specialists, or Radiator places.

Try KB AUtos in Berwick Melb, they have them, or Seaford Radiators, in Seaford.

AnswerID: 34832

Reply By: Russell Terrano - Thursday, Oct 23, 2003 at 13:45

Thursday, Oct 23, 2003 at 13:45

There is a standard transmission cooler in the radiator which I have been assured will be sufficient. I DON"T BELIEVE them.

The last Auto Transmission guy I spoke to confimed it's existence this but also was reluctant to add an additional cooler because of the lack of space.

I will be sending it in for a check and flush before summer and watch what happens before I do the cooler thingy.

What do you call hot, mine goes to vertical in winter under long and heavy loads and just over that in summer.

My first and last caravan tow this month still only went vertical. What does yours do.

AnswerID: 34854

Follow Up By: Jimmy - Friday, Oct 24, 2003 at 07:32

Friday, Oct 24, 2003 at 07:32

Hi Russell

Mine generally sits about a third of full range deflection when highway cruising at 100 Kms on a moderate day (22- 23 degress) turn the a/c on and that goes up to just below vertical. I drove to cooktown a few weeks back and it was so hot I couldnt turn the A/C on without cooking the engine. But it was very hot 34 degress in Cooktown and way hotter on the road in. When towing it simply goes ballistic if you are not careful
I tow a 19ft fibreglass boat which weighs in at about 1000kg I guess.
Long steep hill climbs are also a killer, I you dont turn the A/C of before you start the climb, watch the needle climb for the sky!
Once in Noosa I drove about 5klm though some pretty soft sand at high tide and because all my attention was on keeping the car moving I didnt notice the needle rising, when I stopped it was just below the red line. Left it running and turned the heater on and it came down soon enough but it was a bit scary and happened so fast.
I live on the gold coast and the temp is usually quite warm to start with I imagine it would be a great car in Tassie!
I read you post about towing but I dont seem to have to much of a problem but then the roads I tow on are normally long straight and flat
Jim

FollowupID: 25247

Reply By: Mickl - Thursday, Oct 23, 2003 at 19:03

Thursday, Oct 23, 2003 at 19:03

Yes you have a trans cooler as standard (intergrated into the radiator) most modern auto cars do. As your car is an import consider this to be undersized for our climate. Aftermarket coolers are available at most parts suppliers (Repco, Super Cheap Auto etc etc...) and if you like DIY they are not difficult to fit. They are available in various shapes and sizes so finding one to fit infront of your radiator ( or anywhere else a cool supply of air is accessible) should be easy.

Something else to consider is that these cars are prone to running quite hot even in manual form, if you continue to suffer excessive engine temps you may want to consider other cooling system modifications. On Toyota Surfs (2.4 turbo) fitting bigger radiators is common, as are head modifications. I've also heard of fitting the oz spec engine head (must have a bigger water jacket?? not sure)

AnswerID: 34892

Reply By: Member - Oskar(Bris) - Friday, Oct 24, 2003 at 20:57

Friday, Oct 24, 2003 at 20:57

Jimmy
Join the club mate
I installed a separate transmission cooler that sits on the bull-bar (yes, out in full view) so as to remove the extra heat from the radiator.
There's no room any where behind the grill or any where else (maybe someone else has a good idea) and I didn't want it directly in front of the radiator.
I have already upgraded to a 3 row radiator core to get the engine cooler.
The tranny cooling system runs on quite low pressure so ordinary hose clamps are fine.
I bought a Ford one (black aluminium) from a wrecker and it seems to work OK (not that I can really tell).
My tranny temp light came on once towing my boat trailer along the beach at high tide coming back from Double Is point some time ago so that was enough for me and I fitted one as soon as I could.
Just be sure to seal off the original system that runs through the radiator so as not to get crud through the pipe-work for if you want to go back to standard.
I'm not sure that the tranny cooler will not do a whole lot for the engine temp as a lot of Terranos seem to have that characteristic.
The bigger radiator seemed to stop the Temp gauge going ballistic but it still climbs well into the "high" range when the going gets tough.
I've just learned to live with it
Cheers
OskarMrs Oskar on Big Red

AnswerID: 35027

Follow Up By: Jimmy - Saturday, Oct 25, 2003 at 08:12

Saturday, Oct 25, 2003 at 08:12

Howdy Oskar
Thanks for the input. Its something I am learning to live with also.
That cooler must be damn ugly sitting out there like that.
It can be a little depressing when you are crawling up a hill in 4wd trying not to stress the engine while other fourbys go whisltling by. All the time you know you can go faster, you just wont make it all the way :)
Actually on the trip back from the river mouth at Noosa I dropped the pressures down to 15psi Turns it into a bloody machine I just about idled all the way back to the cutting at about 30 -40 klm and at that pressure it just drives where you point it. ie doesnt follow the existing tracks and wag and slide all over the place Very cool
I have the service manuel for the TD series engines and interestingly it mentions a sub radiator for a E24 series with TD27 engine for Australia
There is very little information on it just an exploded type picture and a wiring diagram. It appears to have a separate fan and from the way the picture is drawn it may be mounted horizontally.
You seem to have a fair grasp of mechanicals I could scan it and email it to you if you like you may be able to make sense of it
my email Jumankum@bigpond.com

Cheers Jim

FollowupID: 25341

Reply By: Member - Oskar(Bris) - Monday, Nov 03, 2003 at 23:10

Monday, Nov 03, 2003 at 23:10

Jimmy
Did you get my email with the photos?

I got a copy of the Nissan TD series engine manual in the mail today from Russell and I see what you mean about the sub-radiator. Interesting but I wonder where it goes.
If only we could get manuals for the rest of the car.
Have you got an English version of the fuse box designations??
If you want one I can email one to you. I work with a Japanese lady who translated mine.
Cheers
OskarThe real oskar

AnswerID: 36127