Basic Knowledge of Transmission Cooler

No matter which transmission cooler design you choose, rest assured that it will extend the life of your transmission by preventing heat-related failures and improving shifting performance.

Why Do You Need Transmission Cooler

An automatic transmission works harder when towing heavy loads or driving in rough conditions, so it gets hotter than usual. Extreme heat is dangerous to your transmission, and if you frequently use your vehicle for towing or hauling loads, and/or drive in rough conditions such as hilly terrain or mountainous, unpaved roads, an aftermarket transmission cooler might be a good idea. A transmission cooler helps the transmission stay cool, even when working harder than normal, which in turn lets you get the best performance and long life out of it.

How Does a Transmission Cooler Work?

Fluid heated by the transmission, engine, or power steering pump flows to the cooler. Air flowing over the fins of the cooler carries away heat and cools the fluid flowing within the fins.

The cooled fluid is routed back through the transmission via the return line. Through this continuous process, cooling beyond just the standard system of the radiator is provided to the transmission.

How Do You Install a Transmission Cooler?

There are a few different ways to install a transmission cooler. The most common way is to have the cooler attached with rods and fasteners. The rods, usually plastic, go through the transmission cooler and the radiator and secured with the fasteners.

Another way to install a transmission cooler is to use a mounting kit that includes flexible brackets for easy installation. This makes it easier if the cooler has mounting points designed for brackets.

How Do I Choose Which Kind of Transmission Cooler to Install?

There are three types of transmission coolers. Though each performs the same job – cool the transmission – each type does it a little differently. Transmission fluid can’t be cooled too much, so installing the biggest cooler that fits in your engine compartment and that provides the most cooling protection for your transmission is a good idea.

Tube-and-Fin

The tube-and-fin type consists of a tube that carries transmission fluid through the cooling unit. It has what is called “turbulators”, which agitate the fluid, which causes it to cool more thoroughly by washing up against the inside walls of the aluminum tube. The heat is absorbed by the aluminum and is transferred to aluminum fins attached to the outside of the tube, which quickly dissipates the heat. The heat is carried away by air flowing all around the fins on the outside of the cooler. The tube-and-fin style of cooler works well but is not the most efficient kind.

Plate-and-Fin

The plate-and-fin style of transmission cooler works on the same principle as the tube-and-fin but is more efficient. It forces fluid through smaller plates that cause agitation of the fluid. The small, flat plates allow more fluid to contact the surface inside the cooler, which maximizes heat transfer and minimizes pressure drop.

Stacked Plate

Whichever transmission cooler design you choose, rest assured that it will extend the life of your transmission by preventing heat-related failures and improving shifting performance. AAMCO Colorado can help you make the right decision for your car, based on your driving habits, requirements, and a transmission Vehicle Courtesy Check. Once you know what type of cooler you need, we’ll install it and make sure it’s working properly, keeping the transmission cool and running smoothly.

Whichever transmission cooler design you choose, rest assured that it will extend the life of your transmission by preventing heat-related failures and improving shifting performance.

If you overload the vehicle, no amount of cooling will make it haul or tow more than the maximum specified weight. You just need a more powerful vehicle.  Here, Mistriling, we can offer customized transmissin cooler for you. Please contact us , if you have interest.