Transmission cooler install

[hein]

Changed my transmission oil filter this morning with a Purolator PL41670.
I wasn't too keen on the no-name filter that came with the B&M kit.

Pre-filled the new filter with Z-1, spun off the old, spun on the new.
Total time: 2 minutes. Wooot!

[XRL]

Originally Posted by hein

I tow a jetski in the hot summer and I'm changing my transmission fluid right now so I'm adding a cooler and maybe even a filter. It's all going in series with lower line coming from the OE radiator cooler.

Here's the cooler I got from amazon. It's not bent; that's just the picture.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CEDYDO

The cooler fits perfectly on some factory supplied mounts that are on my 06 RL Vue. There are even some holes that work but I drilled some new holes a little lower to improve clearance with the fan shroud. Maybe the engineers had this cooler in mind but never offered it as an option.



I've also ordered a B&M remote filter kit and will install it if I can find a good spot.


http://www.amazon.com/80277-Universa.../dp/B000CIKJMY

I removed the bottom cooler line from the radiator and cut it. I will add flares to the cut ends and make up some proper crimped Flare/AN hoses for the connections. I won't be using those barb fittings supplied with the filter kit. I'll post up some more pictures as I go along.

So if I were to be doing just a simple cooler only install, would I need anything not contained in the kit? I was thinking I might just get a little bit of extra tubing and use the OEM tubing as the output of the cooler, and then use a little extra bit as the input of the aux cooler.

[hein]

I think you can just take off the lower OE hose which has a 90 tube end. Then cut off the flare, put on a JIC nut & sleeve and re-flare it (single is enough). Then connect that to the aux cooler. Then run a hose like this from the cooler back to the lower OE connection on the radiator:



Don't know how long it would need to be plus you would have to make sure the ends are rotated right in relation to each other before crimping them. It would be better to have straight hose end and a separate swivel 45 elbow at the aux cooler.

Honestly though, I considered adding only the cooler but really glad I went for the filter too.

[strikers]

Originally Posted by strikers

I installed my cooler after the OE cooler. Because the OE cooler is not as sufficient at cooling the trans fluid as the aftermarket cooler is. So you want the fluid going through the aftermarket cooler last.

The fluid could potentially heat up going back into the OE cooler where hot radiator water runs through.

I tow on a weekly basis. 2500+ lbs. I ride motorcycles. So I tow them a lot with buddies bikes in my enclosed trailer.

I stand by running trans fluid through the original trans cooler first. After market trans cooler last.

Most heavy duty towing rigs are set up this way as well on larger trucks.

[XRL]

Stupid question probably, but would adding a tranny cooler be a bad thing if water were to get into that area? It doesn't happen often, but last week for example there was some relatively deep water in parking lots from the rains. If water got to where the tranny cooler was located, would that be bad?

[los1274]

Quick question. So does the 2002 saturn vue 2.2 come stock with a trany fluids cooler? And where is it located? Sorry for the dumb question but this is my the first time here to this site and my first time working on my vue. I just installed my new motor in the truck and I guess I didn't do something right cuz my motor runs perfect but now I have no trany fluids in my truck.

[nitroussaturn]

Originally Posted by XRL

Stupid question probably, but would adding a tranny cooler be a bad thing if water were to get into that area? It doesn't happen often, but last week for example there was some relatively deep water in parking lots from the rains. If water got to where the tranny cooler was located, would that be bad?

lol no XRL you could drive with that submerged in water...water cant get in,if trans fluid under pressure isnt leaking...think about it

[djb383]

Originally Posted by los1274

Quick question. So does the 2002 saturn vue 2.2 come stock with a trany fluids cooler? And where is it located? Sorry for the dumb question but this is my the first time here to this site and my first time working on my vue. I just installed my new motor in the truck and I guess I didn't do something right cuz my motor runs perfect but now I have no trany fluids in my truck.

I'm not aware of any auto tranny that does not have a cooler. Most factory tranny coolers are located in the cool tank of the radiator with metal/rubber tranny fluid hoses between the rad and tranny.

[dab18351]

Should the cooler be located before the radiator on input or exiting the radiator after? I tow a 4x8 trailer on occasion and I tow a pop up camper twice a summer..Would this trans cooler be sufficient for this? Thanks..

Originally Posted by hein

I think you can just take off the lower OE hose which has a 90 tube end. Then cut off the flare, put on a JIC nut & sleeve and re-flare it (single is enough). Then connect that to the aux cooler. Then run a hose like this from the cooler back to the lower OE connection on the radiator:



Don't know how long it would need to be plus you would have to make sure the ends are rotated right in relation to each other before crimping them. It would be better to have straight hose end and a separate swivel 45 elbow at the aux cooler.

Honestly though, I considered adding only the cooler but really glad I went for the filter too.

[far2grumpy]

Member in post 24 suggests adding after the radiator.

I do believe that's conventional.

You might not need an aux ATF cooler. There are ways to monitor ATF temp using a ScanGaugeII with easy to add program developed for the Vue.

I use 05 and 07 Vue to tow (3.5 engine) and can monitor ATF temp full time. The fluid usually stays around 20 deg cooler than water temp at Interstate cruising speeds (WT is 180-182 and ATF is in range of 160-165).

I've found ATF temp builds rapidly in in-town stop and go traffic. However, this is also where the engine coolant gets up to 210 before the cooling fans go to high speed (ATF reaches approximately same temps).

[XRL]

Originally Posted by far2grumpy

Member in post 24 suggests adding after the radiator.

I do believe that's conventional.

You might not need an aux ATF cooler. There are ways to monitor ATF temp using a ScanGaugeII with easy to add program developed for the Vue.

I use 05 and 07 Vue to tow (3.5 engine) and can monitor ATF temp full time. The fluid usually stays around 20 deg cooler than water temp at Interstate cruising speeds (WT is 180-182 and ATF is in range of 160-165).

I've found ATF temp builds rapidly in in-town stop and go traffic. However, this is also where the engine coolant gets up to 210 before the cooling fans go to high speed (ATF reaches approximately same temps).

Question for you Grumpy.

When the (coolant) temp gauge reads 1/4 and 1/2, what does that correspond to on the scangauge?

My Vue typically runs just past 1/4 on the temp gauge, however when we took a trip earlier in the week, it shot up to 1/2 when going up a decent sized mountain (by NC standards anyways). I tried to take it easy going up the mountain to keep temps low, and it cooled down nearly immediately when coasting down the mountain.

I'm thinking it's time for a coolant flush, but after having gotten so used to actual temperature readouts on my other cars I'm not sure if I'm over-reacting to it or not.

[far2grumpy]

Originally Posted by XRL

Question for you Grumpy.

When the (coolant) temp gauge reads 1/4 and 1/2, what does that correspond to on the scangauge?

My Vue typically runs just past 1/4 on the temp gauge, however when we took a trip earlier in the week, it shot up to 1/2 when going up a decent sized mountain (by NC standards anyways). I tried to take it easy going up the mountain to keep temps low, and it cooled down nearly immediately when coasting down the mountain.

I'm thinking it's time for a coolant flush, but after having gotten so used to actual temperature readouts on my other cars I'm not sure if I'm over-reacting to it or not.

My temp gauge usually stays about one needle width above 1/4 at highway cruise (75 mph) in rolling terrain - SC varies between 179 and 183 as the thermostat does its job.

If I get bogged down in stop and go - the temp gauge can creep up to 1/2 and SC indicates about 210.

I'd think pulling up a long grade could easily build temp to 1/2 under normal circumstances (not many of those in Iowa).

Keep in mind the gauge is red-lined way toward right side and according to FSM an overheat code won't be set until temp reaches 245° F.

[cdalejef]

Unfortunately this cooler is no longer available. Would this one be a good alternative?

https://www.amazon.com/X-AVION-Unive...1zcF9tdGY&th=1