How to Install a Transmission Oil Cooler
A transmission oil cooler is a small, finned radiator that circulates warm oil to stabilize the temperature of the transmission. It is normally placed in front of the primary engine coolant radiator, directly in the path of incoming cool air. The average backyard mechanic can install a transmission oil cooler in about an hour.
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Instructions
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1
Remove the grille on the vehicle to access the engine radiator. Some models allow limited access underneath the vehicle, or through the engine compartment.
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2
Position the oil cooler radiator in front of the engine radiator and secure it with zip ties through the fins of the engine radiator. The oil cooler does not weigh much, and does not put too much stress on the fins. Most models have enough space to mount the cooler without blocking the main engine fan, but check the clearance for at least 2 inches of gap. Make sure to place the cooler so that you can connect the lines without obstruction.
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3
Connect the rubber adapter lines to the nipples on the oil cooler radiator by pushing the rubber over the line nipple, then turning the screw-type hose clamps clockwise until they are tight. The upper line is the intake, and the lower line the output, to make better use of gravity. Run the short rubber hoses to the location chosen for the steel lines.
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4
Secure the long steel lines to the frame rail, or a convenient location where they follow the best possible path from the oil cooler to the transmission. They are typically secured with zip ties or tap-screwed mounts.
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5
Connect the rubber adapter lines to the steel lines by pushing each hose over the relative line, then turning the hose clamp screws clockwise.
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6
Attach the steel lines to the transmission by turning the line screws clockwise onto the transmission's line openings. In some cases, drilling holes in the side of the transmission oil pan and transmission housing (to mount line thread nuts) may be necessary. This involves removing the pan by turning the mounting bolts counterclockwise and machining it away from the vehicle; place one hole in the front of the pan and one in the top of the housing so that the warm fluid can use the pressure of the transmission pump to push it through the cooling lines. The placement of the top hole varies depending on the model of the transmission; see the manufacturer's documentation. Typically it is drilled or placed directly in front of the transmission pump.
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Fill the transmission fluid to the proper level, compensating for the extra capacity of the cooling radiator.
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Tips & Warnings
Overfill the transmission with about a quart of the proper fluid, due to the extra space of the cooler lines.
Use extreme caution when drilling holes into the transmission.
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Comments
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how do you tell if a cooler has gone bad? my guage went wacko and I don't know if it's THAT or its the cooler....
