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Yes This is a Weird Question but I am wondering CAN you over cool an automatic transmission? I have a 1995 Chevy K1500 5.7 With the 4L60E I would love to put a Large OR Two Large Axillary Transmission Coolers on my truck. Why you may ask? its not like im pulling anything with it but I want to add them for JUST in Case I ever have to tow something large in the future I wont burn up my transmission. I have heard some where around the bush that you CAN possibly cool your transmission too much that it could damage the it. I want to know what you guys think.
I have a transmission cooler in my truck already and I bypassed the stock one that is in the radiator)
here is the cooler I have on my truck now.
I Want to add this Type of cooler. Or maybe even 2.
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An automatic trans is designed to work at a certain temperature. Heat is a huge cause of transmission failures but running too cool is bad also. Just as an engine has to run hot enough the trans has to run hot enough to get rid of any condensation that builds up inside and to keep the viscosity at the correct level for best operation.
I guess trans temp is important enough for the manufactures to start installing thermostats in their transmissions on newer cars to keep the fluid hot enough.
You can always install a transmission temperature gauge
That would give you an idea if you even need a cooler. Or you could install the cooler and set the fan fro it to only come on at certain temperatures.
As pointed out.Trans temp is important.To high fluid break down.
To low fluid to thick shifting problems. The radiator transmission
cooler will do two things for you. 1- When the truck is first started
the fluid is cold.The coolant starts to warm from the engine.Which will
warm the trans fluid through the internal inter cooler. 2- Once the coolant
is up to temp.Now instead of heating the trans fluid we cool the fluid which
will keep you at at more constant trans temp providing your cooling system is
in good shape. I would hook back up the radiator trans cooler.If you wanted to
install the small trans cooler in series with the radiator trans cooler. That will
add a little extra then great. Water cooled is more efficient than air cooled.
If you just use the air method cold days and temps will affect the fluid temp to
much.So yes you can over cool a transmission.The other method I mention gives you
both worlds so to speak. If you wanted to you could get an aluminum finned trans pan
for cooling also+ it looks cool. 🙂I doubt if you can overcool it. Here in Minnesota we routinely start and drive cars with the tranny fluid at 40 below. Sometimes the temp gauge never comes off the “C” peg. The tranny is a bit slow in shifting for the first 3 minutes, but that’s about the only diff. The transmission repair guys don’t seem to buy new BMW’s more often that anyplace else.
Most Ford vehicles today have thermostats installed to keep the trans fluid at a certain temperature. The fluid does not even flow through the cooler until the trans thermostat opens.
I’m sure Ford does not install then without a good reason.
I did a trans fluid flush on a 2010 Escape recently and I had to brake torque it to get the fluid hot enough to flow through the cooler lines to be able to flush out the old fluid.
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