Hey all,
First off this is my first post here, so I apologize if I'm in the wrong section!

I recently traded my Lancer for a 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada with high mileage(178k) and have been fixing it up for a cross country trip, in which I plan to tow my girlfriend's car(2013 Hyundai elantra). From Maryland to Washington.

I just replaced my shift solenoids, at filter and resealed the pan along with a drain and refill to resolve my P0753 DTC After some fun troubleshooting.

I am now looking for a proper trans fluid cooler for my new baby

If all goes according to plan I should be about 1000 lbs under the tow capability of 5000lbs on my truck, and Oldsmobile reccomends driving under 60mph and in 3rd gear for the first 500 miles of towing.

I would like to eliminate any possible transmission stress, which in this case will be mostly heat!

If anybody here has an aftermarket trans cooler, please let me know what system you are running, as well as any problems or concerns you may have faced or suggestions for helping me find the best bang for my buck

Thanks in advance!
-Avery

 

Be aware that a trans can be operated under temp also. Put the cooler before the fluid enters the radiator.

 

I would recommend totally bypassing the inferior OEM cooler in the radiator. The more cooling you can get, the better, especially when towing in warmer ambient temps. If the add on is installed before the OEM, the OEM will cancel out any cooling the add on cooler provides. If the add on is installed after the OEM, it will not cool as efficiently as it could due to the OEM heating the fluid before it enters the add on. If you install one of these in front of the AC condenser, it will maintain trans fluid temp at approximately 60F above ambient temp, (which is well below what the OEM cooler could ever hope to do). It fits perfectly between the hood latch brace and the core support, on the passenger side. Use transmission fluid rated line only for connecting it. Imperial Maxi-KoolŽ XL Transmission Oil Cooler 243012: Advance Auto Parts=

 

That cooler would be great if it had a temp regulator ie thermostat, but it doesnt. Even though the trans is electronic it still is designed to operate with a spacific viscosity fluid thru orifices and seals. As with all mechanisms, tolerances and clearances are determined by operating temps, and the more consistant the temp the happier that mechanism will be. Thats why I recommend using regulated engine coolant augmented by an external heat exchanger before oem.

 

The OEM cooler doesn't have a thermostat/regulator either. It relies on heat transfer from the engine coolant to warm the trans fluid. That's fine in the Winter, but when you really need the extra cooling in the Summer, it works against you.