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External Trans Cooler?

Yahoo Message Number: 74492
Hi - I was wondering if anyone has installed an external transmission oil cooler. Some products are shown here:

http://www.transmissioncoolers.us/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=fan-coolers I was considering doing this to reduce heat stress. Any input from others would be most appreciated. Many thanks.

Best - Scott

2006 Allure 430 #31349
(Bus-Stead Lemon)

Re: External Trans Cooler?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74493
Are you sure that it doesn't already have one???

07 Intrigue 530 12162
C13 Cat Allison
06 Rubicon LJ

Re: External Trans Cooler?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74495
From having spent 8 weeks at the factory one time, I know 05 and some 06 Affinities and Magnas with C-13 had over heating issues with the Allison 4000 and had a supplemental transmission cooler added. I guess it was because of CC using a shared combo radiator and C-13s running hot to work efficiently didn't leave enough capacity for the transmission cooling. C-12's didn't seem to have the issue. I know when they went to the C-13 for the 05 intrigue they had to change the radiator grill covers to scoop in more air, add a flap under the radiator to make the engine compartment a low pressure area and to make the fan movement of air more efficient. There were a lot of posts by owners about what normal temps should be. Owners of newer Cats and Cummins found 180 degrees was no longer the standard. 195 degrees with Cummins and close to and over 200 were very common with the CAT C-13 and its big brother. I think sometimes the Silver leaf scared people. I know mine did when I started having fan controller issues. 216 deg F. one time and 224 another.
What amazed me was when I first saw an ISX installed in an Affinity at Home Coming. There didn't seem to be any room for air-flo.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Re: External Trans Cooler?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74501
Scott,

I had temperature issues with my Allison transmission (210 ? 230 degrees) on a summer day while in traffic, or while climbing a hill. The transmission would get hot enough that I would pull over and put it in neutral to allow it to cool down. When questioned, CC factory techs always told me that it was not a problem and that I should not worry about excessive heat causing damage to the transmission. However, I have always thought that excessive lubricant heat would in fact cause premature damage to the transmission.
My solution was to install a transmission cooler and if memory serves me correct it was manufactured by Hayden.
I have not had any transmission over heating problems after installing the cooler. My transmission temperature is always in the 185 ? 190 degree range, just a few degrees below the engine temperature. The cost of the installation was approximately $1200.00. The work was done in 2005 and I suspect that the cost would be closer to $1500.00 or more in today's dollars. It was well worth the money spent to have peace of mind about transmission not overheating. My recommendation would be to install a transmission cooler if you are having overheating issues.

Jon Gullette

2004 Inspire #51008

Re: External Trans Cooler?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74502
Mark,

There is only one external oil cooler and that is inside the radiator. I'm looking to add additional cooling capacity.

At 02:55 PM 9/15/2011, you wrote:

Quote
>

Are you sure that it doesn't already have one??? >

07 Intrigue 530 12162
C13 Cat Allison
06 Rubicon LJ

In

Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com, >Scott wrote:
>

> Hi - I was wondering if anyone has installed an external transmission > > oil cooler. Some products are shown > > here:
>

http://www.transmissioncoolers.us/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=fan-coolers>http://www.transmissioncoolers.us/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=fan-coolers > > > I was considering doing this to reduce heat stress. Any input from > > others would be most appreciated. Many thanks.
>

> Best - Scott

> 2006 Allure 430 #31349
> (Bus-Stead Lemon)
>

Best - Scott

2006 Allure 430 #31349
(Bus-Stead Lemon)

Re: External Trans Cooler?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74504
Jon,

Thanks for the advice. You're

confirming a feeling I've had for some time now. All this boils down to solving a design quirk that some of us are experiencing. I'm assuming your external cooling unit has a 12V fan associated with it? I'd be interested in the heat exchanger's dimensions so I can get an idea of what size I need. Thanks again for your input.

At 07:13 AM 9/16/2011, you wrote:

Quote
>

Scott,

I had temperature issues with my Allison >transmission (210 ? 230 degrees) on a summer day >while in traffic, or while climbing a hill. The >transmission would get hot enough that I would >pull over and put it in neutral to allow it to >cool down. When questioned, CC factory techs >always told me that it was not a problem and >that I should not worry about excessive heat >causing damage to the transmission. However, I >have always thought that excessive lubricant >heat would in fact cause premature damage to the transmission.

My solution was to install a transmission cooler >and if memory serves me correct it was manufactured by Hayden.

I have not had any transmission over heating >problems after installing the cooler. My >transmission temperature is always in the 185 ? >190 degree range, just a few degrees below the >engine temperature. The cost of the installation >was approximately $1200.00. The work was done in >2005 and I suspect that the cost would be closer >thomas w insall jr wrote:
>

> From having spent 8 weeks at the factory one > time, I know 05 and some 06 Affinities and > Magnas with C-13 had over heating issues with > the Allison 4000 and had a supplemental > transmission cooler added. I guess it was > because of CC using a shared combo radiator and > C-13s running hot to work efficiently didn't > leave enough capacity for the transmission > cooling. C-12's didn't seem to have the issue.
I know when they went to the C-13 for the 05 > intrigue they had to change the radiator grill > covers to scoop in more air, add a flap under > the radiator to make the engine compartment a > low pressure area and to make the fan movement > of air more efficient. There were a lot of > posts by owners about what normal temps should > be. Owners of newer Cats and Cummins found 180 > degrees was no longer the standard. 195 degrees > with Cummins and close to and over 200 were > very common with the CAT C-13 and its big > brother. I think sometimes the Silver leaf > scared people. I know mine did when I started > having fan controller issues. 216 deg F. one time and 224 another.
>

> What amazed me was when I first saw an ISX > installed in an Affinity at Home Coming. There > didn't seem to be any room for air-flo.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731 > >
>
>
>
>

>

Re: External Trans Cooler?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74505
If you place the cooler in front of the radiator you do not want a fan unit as that will restrict the air flow for the radiator. If you have another place available then one can use the fan unit. I would use the largest cooler I could fit in front of the radiator and let the engine fan do the work.

Leonard

97' Magna 5418

Re: External Trans Cooler?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74528
Leonard - Thanks for the information. I agree about sizing and would prefer a separate fan driving unit. Mounting it seems to be the biggest challenge at the moment.

At 08:05 AM 9/16/2011, you wrote:

Quote
>

If you place the cooler in front of the radiator >you do not want a fan unit as that will restrict >the air flow for the radiator. If you have >another place available then one can use the fan >unit. I would use the largest cooler I could fit >in front of the radiator and let the engine fan do the work.

Leonard

97' Magna 5418