Tranny cooler lines

[djb383]

I'm going to install an auxillary tranny cooler on my '06 V6 Vue. Regarding the two fluid lines connecting to the radiator - which line returns fluid to the tranny, upper or lower? I'm thinking lower but do not know. Thanks.

[WLKVUE]

Upper. The way to test is to start with a cold engine / transmission. Have someone you trust start the vehicle and let it run. Hold both of the transmission cooler lines. The one that heats up the fastest is the out put from the transmission to the radiator. The other is the out put from the radiator to the transmission. Splice into that one. It only takes 10 to 15 seconds to determine which one heats up first. Test the lines near the transmission.

I installed a Hayden Transaver Plus on my 2006 Vue last weekend. It is a stacked plate design, 11'X7"X3/4". You can access the front of the radiater by taking off the black plastic grill. You have to position the cooler just above the metal cross piece of the frame, but as low as you can, and in the middle of the radiator so that you can get to the plastic attachment rods you push through the radiator to hold the cooler on with from within the engine compartment once you have pushed them through. Slide on the plastic retainers and use a pair of sidecutters to clip off the excess rod so they will not interfere with the fan blades. I had to use a small mirror and a flashlight in order to see how to reach the rods close enough to the radiator. That is the most difficult part of the whole job.

I used a 3/4'' wood bit to drill holes in the plastic airdam under the front bumper to run the lines from the cooler back to the engine compartment and up to the transmission line. I bought 2 3/8" barbed connectors from Home Depot and 2 extra small holes clamps to splice the lines from the cooler into the transmission cooler line. The installation kit cam with 4 hose clamps to begin with. If you do it just right the hose that came with the cooler is just the right length to slice into the transmission line, but not by much. If I had not routed the hoses through the airdam the piece of hose supplied with the cooler would not have been long enough.

[djb383]

Thanks for the response, I appreciate it. If I understand correctly, the upper line on the radiator is the return back to the tranny and this is the line you spliced your cooler into? Thanks again.

[WLKVUE]

Yes, the line that comes out of the upper pertion of the radiator is the one to splice into.

The lower one is the flow out of the transmission. It will be the hotest and has more pressure on it until the fluid cools some in the radiator. That is why you splice into the outflow from the radiator. This info comes directly from the instruction sheet that comes with the cooler. At least it did on the ones I have installed. I have put on at least a half dozen and have had no problems with the exception of having to retighten a hose clamp one time. Never had a hose failure or cooler leak (knock on wood!) and I have had one on a Chevy Astro since 1988. Had to replace the engine, but the transmission still works with 145,00 miles on it.

Put a light in the engine compartment and look through the radiator and you will be able to see where to position the tranny cooler so thet you can push the attacment rods through places where you can acccess the rods to clip them off. The cowling around the radiator fans are a pain and if you do not get the rods pushed through in the right place you can't get to them.

[djb383]

Hey thanks again, I just want to be positive as to which line returns back to the tranny. I have also installed coolers on several different vehicles and some utilize the upper hose to return to the tranny and some use the lower hose as the return line. I realize that for max cooling you should splice the cooler into to the return line, however, depending on the vehicle, the return line can be either upper or lower, or in some cases, left or right, I've seen both. I can't tell which line heats up first by holding my hand on them.

I's kind os a hassle, but the absolute best way to determine which is which, is to disconnect both lines at the radiator, place each loose end in separate containers and start the motor for a few seconds. The empty container is the return line from the radiator and to the tranny and the line to install the cooler in. Obviously the other container now has fluid in it, so it is the flow from the tranny to the radiator.

Again, thanks for your help.

[AJW]

Old news here but just curious are you adding extra cooling because you tow or just for added insurance?

Soon to be new Vue 3.5 owner. :D Thanks

[djb383]

Old news here but just curious are you adding extra cooling because you tow or just for added insurance?

Soon to be new Vue 3.5 owner. :D Thanks


Towing.

[AJW]

Thanks, Mainly the wifes car but we will use it on some trips. Some of those will be across some HOT desert heat but I did not think it should be a problem.