transmission cooler
 

So ive decided to install a transmission cooler but i just have some questions. should install it so it goes through the cooler in the radiator and then through the after market cooler or the other way around or just through the aftermarket cooler and.. which line is the return line..on top of the radiator or on the bottom end of the rad. ???


1990 Pontiac Bonneville SSE

Why?

All these things depend on which cooler you get, what your goals are and what you have available.

There are coolers that self regulate temps, some are merely add ons. If you are looking to merely bring the temps down a bit..I'd say add on. However if you bypass the radiator then you can keep the trans much cooler in the summer..warm up in the winter will be slower without the coolant temps to preheat it.

We really need to know what issues you're having with the trans right now, how many miles, condition, etc. And what your mod plans are with the car. If it's staying mostly stock, stay stock or install a small cooler. What's your climate, summer temps, etc? Planning on towing?

What prompted you to go this direction? Lots of factors.

I was going to add one, Then my cooler linestarted to leak, "I was like I have one". So I left it alone, I talked to out transmission man here he says." Factory is more and going to cover my ass when I turbo". So I would offer the same advise to you.

Mike, we need to know what MODEL you have. What engine? Please put that in your signature.

The Series 1 Supercharged cars and some non-supercharged cars got auxiliary trans coolers from the factory. The 'cooler' in your radiator isn't really a cooler.

When you go Turbo, the factory cooler (even the external cooler) will NOT be sufficient to protect your trans.

[quote="willwren"]Mike, we need to know what MODEL you have. What engine? Please put that in your signature.

The Series 1 Supercharged cars and some non-supercharged cars got auxiliary trans coolers from the factory. The 'cooler' in your radiator isn't really a cooler.

When you go Turbo, the factory cooler (even the external cooler) will NOT be sufficient to protect your trans.[/qu
Completed but donot want to jack this thread I can do my own later

When did you swap motors? Vin K didn't start until 1995.

Ok had to look backon a thread I have L motor... :oops:

ok well i plan on towing a small trailer for like atvs and a dirt bike and a small boat its only like a ten foot long v- bottom its real light but i still would like to have a trans cooler for the hot summers when i drive three hours to my cabin and just to be on the safe side

and where my cabin is there are alot of good sized hills that seem to be hard on the entire car

Instead of starting a new thread, I'll just add to this one. Oh masterful Bonneville gurus...I'm looking to add a trans cooler to my 99 (see mods). Does my series II come with an external cooler and/or do I need one? i'm planning on buying the re-programmed PCM next and figured I should get the trans cooler first. (tranny is re-built less than 10k on it.). How difficult is the install and where would I mount it? Oh, being Chicago area, hot summers, cold winters, idle time in rush hour traffic...blah, blah, blah.
Thanks,
Ken

i bought one because i figured it was cheap insurance but most ofour trans failures arent due to overheating (4t60e-4t65-e), heres a quote from intense racing
Should I run a tranny cooler?

Only if you're planning to pull a trailer through the mountains. Otherwise, we recommend against it on vehicles with the 3800 FWD/4T60E/4T65E drivetrain.

We have dissected more of these trannies than anyone else in the performance aftermarket, and we have yet to see a single heat-related failure. Hard parts break in these trannies, and these failures will not be prevented by a tranny cooler.

Tranny coolers add unnecessary weight and opportunities for fittings to leak. A leaking fitting can let your tranny run dry in minutes and ruin it far faster than a little heat ever could.

Our trannies are cooled by the same radiator used to cool the engine. So running a colder engine thermostat will make both your engine and your tranny run cooler

PA, your trans isn't a 4T65E. It's a 4T60. Those ARE prone to heat-related failures.

There are varying schools of thought on this. With a cooler, your fluid will last longer, and you'll have less slip on very hot days.

My personal belief is that GM shouldn't have stopped putting Aux coolers on the L67's in 96 like they did.

Both of my L67's came from the factory with coolers. I upgraded drastically on my 93.

I also believe that if you've had a trans failure, you should BYPASS the cooler core in the radiator at any cost. They plug up with debris, restricting circulation in the system. In addition, the 4T65E uses PWM to manage the TCC at all times. Managing slip in this manner produces friction and heat more than you would see in a 4T60.

true but i never said i had a 4t65 i have a motor home size cooler on mine just to be safe anyway- also if you want to avoid slip heres something currently in the works from us on 3800pro.com http://www.3800pro.com/forum/showthr...hlight=tractor
and here is the other link read all of this http://www.theturboforums.com/smf/in...&topic=58907.0

also: i am not advising anyone to do this just food for thought however i will be trying this and posting a writeup if anyone is interested

91PA, the topic AUTHOR has a 4T65E which you can't draw a comparison to. Your transmission is a VERY different animal.

And we already have a writeup:

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ode=cat&cat=15