Radiator Question
09-02-2014, 01:33 PM
#1
On The Tree
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Saint Paul, MN
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Radiator Question If I purchase a really solid radiator, is there a need for a tranny cooler? Are there any aftermarket radiators that can kill two birds (not having to get a tranny cooler) with one stone?
Thanks!
Thanks!
09-02-2014, 02:05 PM
#2
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,044
Likes: 0
Received 1,492 Likes
on
1,074 Posts
It's not about the radiator itself, but rather the fluid temp of the coolant. Trans coolers that are internal to a radiator are fluid-to-fluid coolers, meaning that the trans fluid is passed through the coolant in the radiator tank, and "cooled" by this coolant. If the coolant is hotter than the trans fluid, then it actually becomes a "warmer". But under heavy use, the trans fluid could potentially get much hotter than designed coolant temps, therefore it would be a "cooler". Thing is, you won't be able to get the trans fluid temp down any lower than whatever temp the coolant is in the radiator tank. With an external cooler, potential cooling is greater (since ambient air temp will be lower than coolant temps) and you're also not heating up the coolant with hot trans fluid (for those times where trans fluid temp is actually higher than coolant temp).
For a stock car, you're OK with the "in-radiator" trans cooler, but an external aftermarket unit still isn't a bad idea. If you have a higher stall converter, or anything else that would generate a lot more heat than stock, it's always best to do an external cooler. Some people like to delete the factory cooler entirely when adding an external one, while others like to keep both and just put the external cooler in line *after* the stock cooler. There are good points and opinions on both sides of that debate, so you'd have to read and decide for yourself.
For a stock car, you're OK with the "in-radiator" trans cooler, but an external aftermarket unit still isn't a bad idea. If you have a higher stall converter, or anything else that would generate a lot more heat than stock, it's always best to do an external cooler. Some people like to delete the factory cooler entirely when adding an external one, while others like to keep both and just put the external cooler in line *after* the stock cooler. There are good points and opinions on both sides of that debate, so you'd have to read and decide for yourself.
09-02-2014, 02:18 PM
#3
On The Tree
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Saint Paul, MN
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's not about the radiator itself, but rather the fluid temp of the coolant. Trans coolers that are internal to a radiator are fluid-to-fluid coolers, meaning that the trans fluid is passed through the coolant in the radiator tank, and "cooled" by this coolant. If the coolant is hotter than the trans fluid, then it actually becomes a "warmer". But under heavy use, the trans fluid could potentially get much hotter than designed coolant temps, therefore it would be a "cooler". Thing is, you won't be able to get the trans fluid temp down any lower than whatever temp the coolant is in the radiator tank. With an external cooler, potential cooling is greater (since ambient air temp will be lower than coolant temps) and you're also not heating up the coolant with hot trans fluid (for those times where trans fluid temp is actually higher than coolant temp).
For a stock car, you're OK with the "in-radiator" trans cooler, but an external aftermarket unit still isn't a bad idea. If you have a higher stall converter, or anything else that would generate a lot more heat than stock, it's always best to do an external cooler. Some people like to delete the factory cooler entirely when adding an external one, while others like to keep both and just put the external cooler in line *after* the stock cooler. There are good points and opinions on both sides of that debate, so you'd have to read and decide for yourself.
For a stock car, you're OK with the "in-radiator" trans cooler, but an external aftermarket unit still isn't a bad idea. If you have a higher stall converter, or anything else that would generate a lot more heat than stock, it's always best to do an external cooler. Some people like to delete the factory cooler entirely when adding an external one, while others like to keep both and just put the external cooler in line *after* the stock cooler. There are good points and opinions on both sides of that debate, so you'd have to read and decide for yourself.