TRANSMISSION COOLER

Submitted: Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 15:20

ThreadID: 92871 Views:3123 Replies:5 FollowUps:5

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KYLE S

I AM GOING TO TOW AN OLD 2 AXLE 6 METER VAN. WITH A 2008 SY FORD TERRITORY
I BELIEVE THE VAN HAS A TARE OF 1600 KGS.
I WONDER IF I NEED AN ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION COOLER?.
I KNOW IT CAN'T DO ANY HARM, BUT DO I NEED IT?
WONDER WHAT EXPERIENCED CARAVANERS THINK?
THANKS

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Reply By: GT Campers - Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 15:55

Reply By: Ross M - Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 17:16

Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 17:16

Think of a warm to hot day, reasonably heavy load, a bit of a head wind to make the territory work a bit. All that extra effort is largely converted to heat and this is normally added to the cooling system of the engine by the heat exchanger in the radiator.
If the engine cooling is already nearly maxed out with the engine load heating it, it then has little ability left to try and cool the transmission and may possibly over cause overheat then engine too.
A cooler plumbed into the outlet from the trans and connected to the input of the radiator will get rid of the maximum amount of heat before it hits the radiator heat exchanger. Simple thermodynamics.
Do not fit the cooler in the return line from the rad to the trans cos the heat has already hit the radiator and isn't the most effective way of fitting a cooler.
Yes I think any towing requires a cooler fitted, definitely in your case.
Make sure whoever fits it also tops up the trans with the CORRECT COMPATIBLE FLUID.
Ross M

AnswerID: 481754

Follow Up By: KYLE S - Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 17:43

Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 17:43

Thanks Ross you confirm my thinking. I have a bit of a jump in and go for it personality however, thought to ask for others opinions.
I know it would be in a transmission specialists' interest to recommend a cooler but it is good to get thought of others.
Thanks again

FollowupID: 757071

Follow Up By: Ross M - Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 20:34

Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 at 20:34

KYLE S
If you think you will be towing in hilly terrain which means slow forward speed the airflow, if mounted in front of the radiator, will only be cooled by the fan airflow which may not be very much effect.
If possible I would fit a slim printed circuit type fan/motor combination and if in hilly long pull up situations I would switch the fan on and just let it dump as much heat out of the cooler as possible cos it is in this situation where everything will be climbing up the heat tree. Losts of people totally rely on the forward flow or fan flow but it can still get too hot. The oil in the transmission when working like this will easily boil water cos it is far hotter than the radiator and the boiling point of water.