trans cooler

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by ATI Performance Products

We run one on the Challenger since the 904 is small and light with all aluminum parts. I don't need it at the races (except when I went a few rounds in a row at some shortened races) but when we are testing the Challenger can run 5+ passes in a row, and the trans will get to 200+. The Super F Synthetic fluid over Conventional Type F gets us that far as with regular non synthetic it was 200 after 3 passes. I have the cooler mounted under the car, facing the ground and it has a fan on it. Its the Derale "atomic" cool that we stock.

I don't have a cooler in the COPO since we can't cool the engine and blower off fast enough to worry about it, and its a T400 with more capacity.

You can be bybassed in the pump and just plug holes as mentioned or loop the lines. I keep a loop on the COPO so I can monitor cooler pressure.

I use your converter. What are your thoughts on synthetic Trans fluid?

[Alan Roehrich]

Ed, ATI has their own synthetic fluid. Jim has been after me to try some, I've been testing other stuff, I can't give it an honest fair back to back test.

[Mark Yacavone]

The way I look at this is from my own personal experience.
If you don't plan on going quick, back to back late rounds, either in S/SS or bracket racing, then you probably won't need an auxiliary trans cooler.

[Dragsinger]

Mark, I like your comment and agree. I see no down side to running a cooler and you point out one very positive advantage.

[FireSale]

I should add that my car is street legal and will drive to the track as well as run in either GT/ or bracket. Therefore I run a cooler with braided line and -AN fittings. I don't drink beer so I plan to spend as much time as possible with my right foot to the floor.

Dale

[HandOverFist]

Personal observation - Any advantage in my case is nullified by my huge swings in reaction times lol. When I go rounds it is usually due to dumb luck on my part or incredible bad luck by my opponents.

[njk53]

We have an in-tank trans cooler (water to oil) in our radiator. I like it because it puts heat in the transmission faster than if we were just using an auxiliary cooler under normal operating conditions. The in-tank cooler is more efficient and cools better than an auxilary mounted cooler.

[Dragsinger]

Nelson,

good idea and sounds reasonable

[Tony Corley]

Originally Posted by njk53

We have an in-tank trans cooler (water to oil) in our radiator. I like it because it puts heat in the transmission faster than if we were just using an auxiliary cooler under normal operating conditions. The in-tank cooler is more efficient and cools better than an auxilary mounted cooler.

Out of curiosity, how is this different from a factory trans cooler that's mounted in the radiator? I personally like to run through the factory radiator cooler, then run the return side out of the radiator to an external cooler, then back to the trans.

[Dragsinger]

Tony,

I "think" the radiator only cooler has the "potential" to maintain a consistent trans fluid temp. Not to say that temp would or would not be ideal but it would be consistent.

Some things to consider with the subject of trans coolers:

In my opinion, we as racers, can benefit by planning to be in the final at each race we enter. By having a trans cooler of some type we have the potential to keep trans temps under control in the late, quick rounds.