[DIY] Automatic Gearbox Cooler

[ahjamm]

sifu2 sekalian.
would fitting a pajero cooling coil on crv hurt the gearbox?
cuz pajero parts macam very big2 1.

 

[Izso]

sifu2 sekalian.
would fitting a pajero cooling coil on crv hurt the gearbox?
cuz pajero parts macam very big2 1.

The Pajero cooling coil? What cooling coil? You can use the gearbox cooler from Pajero. In fact mine is a Pajero cooler. Ok what.

 

[avielboys]

cooling coil ???
u meant the oil cooler is it ?

as long small one can already ... wunt drop too much pressure...

 

[12savefuel]

Things needed :
My cooler was taken from a Volvo. Not too small, not too big. I have to saw off the metal lines and just use a little bit of the line protruding out to connect to the hoses. Make sure you clean the cooler and ensure the oil lines are not blocked. In my case one of the lines had so much rubbish it was almost clogged. Use a little degreaser and force feed the oil line with a strong water hose to clear it out.

When you sawed off the line of the original and left abit of the line protruding out to connect the hose did you flare the original pipe. If not I suggest you do as the pressure and vibration plus the slipperiness of the ATF might pop the pipe off. Use a flaring tool, if the pipe is too hard bring to machine shop to get it flared so the hose clip and the hose wont pop off.

Good DIY job by the way. I also have a similar set up on my nissan cefiro and has worked well for 14 yrs. Still using the original trans with no problems and the trans has done about 280,000km+++ with 50k oil change interval.

 

[Izso]

When you sawed off the line of the original and left abit of the line protruding out to connect the hose did you flare the original pipe. If not I suggest you do as the pressure and vibration plus the slipperiness of the ATF might pop the pipe off. Use a flaring tool, if the pipe is too hard bring to machine shop to get it flared so the hose clip and the hose wont pop off.

Good DIY job by the way. I also have a similar set up on my nissan cefiro and has worked well for 14 yrs. Still using the original trans with no problems and the trans has done about 280,000km+++ with 50k oil change interval.

That's actually a very good idea! I had to resort to using PTFE tape to wrap the line to snug-fit the hoses in. The screw-type clamps I'm using is tight enough to hold it in place, even brute force to try to yank the thing out is impossible at this point of time so I guess so far so good.

 

[ahjamm]

The Pajero cooling coil? What cooling coil? You can use the gearbox cooler from Pajero. In fact mine is a Pajero cooler. Ok what.

should be gearbox cooler. wont too cool ah?

cooling coil ???
u meant the oil cooler is it ?

as long small one can already ... wunt drop too much pressure...

not sure also. got so many cooler?
i dunno which is which.

 

[Izso]

should be gearbox cooler. wont too cool ah?

not sure also. got so many cooler?
i dunno which is which.

No such thing as too cool one la. If you can keep the gearbox oil cool all the time then you'd have a pretty good working gearbox. Before I installed this cooler I used to cook my gearbox everytime I drove aggressively up (and down) Genting since I use only gear 1 and 2, and heavily engine brake. Always end up parked somewhere by the side of the road to let it cool down before continuing. Now with the cooler I don't have that problem anymore.

What Aviel said is true, as long as the cooler isnt gigantic, you won't lose too much pressure and that won't affect the pump in your gearbox.

 

[feralee]

Do u bypass the raditor?

 

[blackfuse]

kalau nk pasang oil engine cooler kena ad adaptor ker?
or same like atf cooler just hose only

 

[PUTRA14]

It is a very good DIY especially for malaysian weather however my worries are only on oil line and oil cooler,it needs constant care on oil lines and cooler especially on leakage and pressure,as I know the pressure on the lines are more compared while on the gearbox itself so when there is slight leakage it burst out like open wound on the other hand if it is just the gearbox even any oil spill will not effect much as it drips slightly in longer period of time depends on the gasket.Whats ur opinion on this guys?

 

[12savefuel]

Do u bypass the raditor?

You should bypass the radiator because the radiator will have less heat load from the trans when its hot and vice versa the radiator will not heat the trans oil up as the radiator temp is usually about 85-90degs. Only problem with bypassing the radiator is that some trans needs to warmup to have smoother shifts without the radiator heating up the trans fluid it will take longer for the trans to warm up. If you decide to not bypass the radiator, install the external cooler after the radiator.

 

[Izso]

Do u bypass the raditor?

I bypass the original cooling line if that's what you're asking.

kalau nk pasang oil engine cooler kena ad adaptor ker?
or same like atf cooler just hose only

Engine oil coolers are the same as ATF oil coolers. The only difference is how they are connected to the car. Engine oil coolers need the oil filter adaptor and people usually use steel braided hoses. For ATF it's fine to just use rubber hoses and no need for adaptors.

It is a very good DIY especially for malaysian weather however my worries are only on oil line and oil cooler,it needs constant care on oil lines and cooler especially on leakage and pressure,as I know the pressure on the lines are more compared while on the gearbox itself so when there is slight leakage it burst out like open wound on the other hand if it is just the gearbox even any oil spill will not effect much as it drips slightly in longer period of time depends on the gasket.Whats ur opinion on this guys?

True! Always check your lines for leakages. Use good quality flexible automotive rubber hoses and use good clamps to hold everything in place.

The pressure isn't enough to make it spurt out like an open tap la. I've experienced a leak and it was because the line was bent and the clamps didn't clamp properly so it leaks like someone who wanted to pee but couldn't and just peed ins his pants.

You should bypass the radiator because the radiator will have less heat load from the trans when its hot and vice versa the radiator will not heat the trans oil up as the radiator temp is usually about 85-90degs. Only problem with bypassing the radiator is that some trans needs to warmup to have smoother shifts without the radiator heating up the trans fluid it will take longer for the trans to warm up. If you decide to not bypass the radiator, install the external cooler after the radiator.

Sifu has spoken! True and truth!

In the case of my Myvi and Wira though, it doesn't need warming up so it works great for me either way. For more advanced cars like the Golf and all, they work differently and usually for cars at that price range, they come with ATF coolers anyway.

 

[12savefuel]

In the case of my Myvi and Wira though, it doesn't need warming up so it works great for me either way. For more advanced cars like the Golf and all, they work differently and usually for cars at that price range, they come with ATF coolers anyway.

The ATF cooler in my cefiro with the radiator bypassed, when its cold the shifts not so smooth.

 

[Izso]

The ATF cooler in my cefiro with the radiator bypassed, when its cold the shifts not so smooth.

Arlow kawan, your car is a more sophisticated, more expensive and way bigger car than my 3-speed Wira and humble Myvi!

What sort of oil does it use? Is it a normal 5-speed torque converter gearbox type?

 

[12savefuel]

Arlow kawan, your car is a more sophisticated, more expensive and way bigger car than my 3-speed Wira and humble Myvi!

What sort of oil does it use? Is it a normal 5-speed torque converter gearbox type?

Ai yah don't say until like that lah, its just a 4 speed torque converter gearbox. I'm current using DexronIII by Sk lube(korean and I can get it cheap). What causes the slightly rougher shift when cold I think is because of the viscosity of the oil. When cold the oil is slightly thicker compared to when its hot which causes the slightly rougher shift.

 

[GNandGS]

12savefuel gave some good advice: the auto trans makes a LOT of pressure. Be sure you use good hose with flared lines. Regular fuel hose is NOT what you want... you need something with a better rating and doesnt break down.

ATF can burn and if you have a leak under pressure you risk killing the trans. All for a cooler very few cars actually need.

http://www.carcraft.com/howto/transmission_cooler_install/index.html
Do I Need An Auxiliary Automatic Transmission Cooler?

 

[littlewhite1027]

hi bro~~how much u bought the atf cooler?i asked at some chopshop and it is about RM250++
is it expensive?

 

[Izso]

It's about there. But if you ask for a Hayden or something like from EA Autoworks Drexchan they charge a little more for a brand new set including install. Unless you want to save that 100+ cash, I suggest you get a new one. Cuz those chopshop ones you'll need to modify to fit it nicely

 

[littlewhite1027]

ok....then i will go for hayden..thx~~:)

 

[sarled]

12savefuel gave some good advice: the auto trans makes a LOT of pressure. Be sure you use good hose with flared lines. Regular fuel hose is NOT what you want... you need something with a better rating and doesnt break down.

ATF can burn and if you have a leak under pressure you risk killing the trans. All for a cooler very few cars actually need.

http://www.carcraft.com/howto/transmission_cooler_install/index.html
Do I Need An Auxiliary Automatic Transmission Cooler?

I recently installed a 21row cooler on my Perdana V6, bought it for RM320 Hayden. Had some problems finding transmission oil hose so I used Unigawa's fuel hose that was rated to 150psi (I know I shouldn't). At least the pressure rating seemed acceptable. I am now worried about the temperature rating of the hose. The Unigawa website says it's only rated to 70 deg C. Anyway, it's still running fine now, but can you tell me where I can find transmission oil hoses for sale?

---------- Post added at 08:06 AM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 07:59 AM ----------

Engine oil coolers are the same as ATF oil coolers. The only difference is how they are connected to the car. Engine oil coolers need the oil filter adaptor and people usually use steel braided hoses. For ATF it's fine to just use rubber hoses and no need for adaptors.

QUOTE]

Errrmmm, you need to be careful. Engine oil coolers are not normally the same as transmission oil coolers. At least they shouldn't be. Engine oil pumps are gear type pumps which are what they call positive displacement (i.e. high pressure). Transmission is a centrifugal pump (lower pressure). You would normally see engine oil coolers being the fin-tube of frame type, not like the radiator style of the transmission oil cooler.