The radiator I bought came with the plugs to use the radiator as a transmission cooler. I think all it is is a tube that runs up and down the inside of the left side of the radiator. I was wondering how it would work to use the oil cooler adapter plate and run the oil through the radiator. I assume they would hold the 75 or so psi from the oil pump. I think a regular aluminum air/oil heat exchange radiator that would come with a oil cooler kit would be better, but I don't know. How cool does the oil from a transmission that flows through a engine radiator cool down. Comments welcome. Maybe I'm just trying to be cheap, but if the engine radiator would work to use as an engine oil cooler, it would be a neat setup.
Tony

 

I don't see a problem with it. The only potential down-side to this idea is the set of problems inherent with long oil lines to and from the radiator. The fluid/fluid heat exchanger is very efficient.

This would work ok with a pre-luber; a pump that primes the oil system before the engine is cranked. Otherwise, the engine would be running while the oil pump is trying to purge and pressurize the oil cooler line.

Oil changes are more complicated, too, but the same would be true of an air/fluid heat exchanger.

I could really see this working with remote oil filters, too.

 

Thanks for the thoughts. With the 460, the oil filter is in the front right corner of the engine. (looking from the front) I didn't think of the oil change problem. With the air/fliud type if it's mounted higher than the drain plug, and the tubes in the exhcanger rune horizontal, it would drain by itself. With using the trucks automatic tranny cooler tubes something should be done to push the oil from the tube. I also thought of the pre-filter or remote mount idea with this setup, somewhere on the radiator support, I suppose. I'm not sure how effective the fluid/fluid exchanger would be in the radiator though.??

Tony

 

Tony, Good point about the oil filter being in the front. I have worked on Chevy engines for so long that I tend to think in those terms.

The fluid/fluid heat exchanger should be very, very effective. If it can cool an automatic transmission towing a trailer, it should be able to handle motor oil just fine.

The transmission cooler on modern cross-flow radiators is vertical. That should help with draining.

I'll be curious to know if you make this mod. I'd thought about doing this myself.

Best regards,

 

The C***y I had before I bought this truck had their towing package, which included an engine oil cooler just as you describe. Had tranny cooler on right side, which then was connected to an oil to air cooler in front of the radiator, and the cooler on the left was connected to an adapter at the oil filter with steel lines and hoses.

Ron

'02 F-350 XLT 4X2 CC SRW V-10 6sp 4.30 Az. Beige Advance Bed Cover

 

Just curious- If you are using the transmission cooler to cool engine oil, what will you cool the transmission fluid with? :P

-----------------------
1990 Bronco XLT 302 Bone Stock

Tax Return Mods -
K&N, Dynomax Headers, Dynomax 2 1/2in Cat-Back, 160° Stat, TB Coolant Bypass

 

Personnally I wouldn't do it. The hoses that are used on the stock tranny are very small compared to the aftermarket oil cooler hoses. I would think the stock tranny hoses (tubes) would be to small and restrict oil flow.

 

 

Some good thoughts greenpus, I'll check into the diameter of the transmission radiator cooler tubes and the flow requirements of the engine etc. It looks like they are the same size fittings as what comes off the oil filter/cooler sandwich adapter. They are either 3/8" or 1/2". I'd want the 1/2" probably.

For the guy asking about what to do with the transmission cooler lines, the truck Ihave is a 5 speed and doesn't have auxillary cooler lines.

Tony

 

I used an A/C condenser as my tranny cooler. It used to get real hot before the cooler even when driving at a continuous speed. Now it never gets hot.

 

>I used an A/C condenser as my tranny cooler. It used to get
>real hot before the cooler even when driving at a continuous
>speed. Now it never gets hot.

The A/C condenser! That is enormous.

 

That is a lot of cooling for a transmission!!
Two things come to mind...

1) You may OVER COOL your transmission in the winter
2) That amount of fluid outside of your transmission may not move as much as you think, and could maybe plug up.

Make sure you have a temp gauge on your transmission. Then again you may have just made the best setup in the world for a transmission cooler. Best of luck.

 

My first thought was isn't engine oil way hotter than tranny fluid? Would that over tax the radiator and cause overheating issues?