Forums
Forum Tools
|
 |
00:30:25 - 12/20/2024
General Dakota Board
| From | Message |
leni
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/24/2006
13:15:39
|
 Subject: Trans. Cooler...
IP: Logged
Message:
I have a 2000, 3.9,auto, and I am looking for advice on installing a transmission cooler. Any advice would be beneficial...
|
.boB
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/25/2006
00:13:25
| RE: Trans. Cooler...
IP: Logged
Message:
There are lots of good coolers available from a variety of sources. If I was doing it, I would use a Mocal oil cooler, and -6 or -8 AN lines and fittings. Probably braided steel, just because I like the look. But socketless hose works just as well, and is cheaper.
If you live where it often gets really cold - like upstate NY or Minnisnowda - run the lines through the new cooler, and then to the radiator. That way, it won't be too cold to operate in the winter. When the oil temp is too cold, it won't shift in to OD.
OTOH, if you live in the desert, and it's never less than 40*, I would run the lines through the radiator, and then through the new cooler. That will provide maximum cooling. You could also do it this way in cold climate, but make a thermal cover for the cooler. Slip the cover over when it's really cold. If you want to get really fancy, Mocal makes a nice thermostat.
|
eddy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/25/2006
00:13:53
| RE: Trans. Cooler...
IP: Logged
Message:
I went to advance auto, got the 26000 pound GVWR Imperial Rapid-cool by Hayden. It's built for up to class A motorhomes towing up to 10000 pounds. I picked it because the next lower one in stock was a tube-and-fin design with the soft fins surrounding metal tubing, and it looked a bit too small. Stacked plate is more efficient than tube-and-fin and is usually the recommended style to go with.
The one I got is probably a bit more than I need now that Iooked further into it and depending on how my tranny performs this winter it may get replaced with something lighter duty when I get my tranny flush at the end of the year. Some say cooling the fluid too much can affect the transmission's performance negatively. Only cold weather will bring the answer for me.
I stood over the engine bay on my 04 4x4 Quad Cab V8 for 45 minutes tryin to figure out how easy the install would be. Everybody says it shouldn't take but a half hour. However, those tranny lines didn't seem to be too readily accessible. They're way down below the engine on my 4.7. GEtting the job done probly would have required removing the bottum access panel and splicing lines. I ended up payin a dealer 100 bucks to do it so I didn't have to get myself dirty and I would have someone other than myself to yell at if it got screwed up.
I had it installed in line with the stock one in the radiator so the fluid leaves the tranny, goes to the tranny cooler built into the radiator, then from there to the auxiliary cooler, then back to the tranny. This is the routing most frequently recommended by the cooler manufacturers.
Subjectively, I don't know if I'm imagining this, but there seems to be more of a firmness and less slop in the shifts than there used to be and it doesn't bang into second gear on some gentle starts like it used to.
|
| | P 1 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
|
