i already searched the forums but couldnt find a clear enough answer i was looking for..
i am getting a transmission cooler fitted. what i was wanting to know is what fittings are on the transmission lines at the bottom of the radiator (3.5l auto)??????? are they a 10an fitting????
also what size is recomended????
any one care to share any pics on where they have mounted theirs.....

i too want to get this done were did you buy yours and how much did you pay thanks.
as for mounting im clueless and would like to know if this is a big job for do it your self :)

In the DIY section of this forum there are quite a few projects covered including fitting trans coolers. Here is the link:
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74298

DIY is helpful thanks.....
pros and cons on installing in seiries with the stock one or bypassing it totally???? does it matter???

I posted this once

You can get good control over the temps by the way you hook it up.
Cooler climates - put it before the radiator - so the radiator heats it again before returning to the Tranny.
Warmer climates - put it after the radiator - reduces the amount of heat put into the oil from the radiator.

But the transmission heat exchanger in the radiatior does two things, collects heat from the radiator when the oils too cold and dispenses heat when its too hot. So don't bypass it.
New south welshman could do either, but if you do heavy work reguarly, or live in northen NSW I'd go after.

More reading here
http://autospeed.com/cms/title_Cooling-the-Trans/A_109772/article.html
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/equipment/accessories/transmission-coolers1.htm

I posted this once


But the transmission heat exchanger in the radiatior does two things, collects heat from the radiator when the oils too cold and dispenses heat when its too hot. So don't bypass it.
New south welshman could do either, but if you do heavy work reguarly, or live in northen NSW I'd go after.


Dont shoot me guys, but this is what I've been told by my trans specialist.

They prefer to disconnect the original trans lines that run from the radiator to the trans and basically run teh trans 100% into the trans cooler. The reason for this (as told to me) was because it eliminates any risk of coolant entering the trans or vice versa, trans fluid entering the cooling system. This can happen apparantly and its disastourous if it does.

I guess you could do it either way, but yeah this was the way all of the cars with coolers are done at this place, and he does a lot of big race trans etc

I posted this once

But the transmission heat exchanger in the radiatior does two things, collects heat from the radiator when the oils too cold and dispenses heat when its too hot. So don't bypass it.
New south welshman could do either, but if you do heavy work reguarly, or live in northen NSW I'd go after.

More reading here
http://autospeed.com/cms/title_Cooling-the-Trans/A_109772/article.html
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/equipment/accessories/transmission-coolers1.htm

I beg to differ, it was 37 in sydney suburbs on saturday and 35 on sunday. Pretty bloody warm. I would be doing everything
to keep the coolant cool.

Dont shoot me guys, but this is what I've been told by my trans specialist.

They prefer to disconnect the original trans lines that run from the radiator to the trans and basically run teh trans 100% into the trans cooler. The reason for this (as told to me) was because it eliminates any risk of coolant entering the trans or vice versa, trans fluid entering the cooling system. This can happen apparantly and its disastourous if it does.

I guess you could do it either way, but yeah this was the way all of the cars with coolers are done at this place, and he does a lot of big race trans etc

Although what you say (or rather your mechanic says is true) I have never heard of it ever happening to a Magna...in the history of AMC, no-one has reported it...yet these issues have been reported in the not too distant past with other brand name cars ( not to be named here). Thats assuming you have a Magna (that is not well kept) long enough for the problem to occur...

Remember this is everyday street cars we are talking about...not big race trans cars...and I'd imagine the "primary" and "original" reason for bypassing the factory cooler is it eliminates an extra two connections that can possible go wrong under extreme conditions, and uses less hose.

But at least you have the option of going either way, and I expect it to make negligible difference to a "daily driver".

EDIT: No I'm not shooting you down, just considering all options. I welcome your input.

Have definately heard of trans coolers inside the radiator splitting and coolant/ATF mixing, but never in a magna. (yet)

Is it a good idea to cover up the oil cooler during winter?
I lived in Moscow and in winter I saw some of the older cars running cardboard in front of their radiators. I guess in -10 degree weather they would never reach operating temperatures

little bit of debate on this one... well i did have in a vr commo i previously owned trans fluid leaking into the radiator so i am aware of how bad it can be..... cus basically i understand that you drop the operating temp of the trans fluid by 10degrees and double the life (or there abouts) of your trans... i was under the assumption that a standalone transcooler running by itself may be the best for doing this as it is away from the heat of the coolant.... however my concern was that 1. it might not drop the temp enough by itself and would need the extra cooling from the radiator 2. which i thought would be less likely that it runs too cold and the trans wouldnt like that....

i only do a little light towing atm... 6x4 box loaded with gridiron equipment for my local club on weekends for part of the year and picking up stuff from council cleanups and trips to the wrecker etc.... (can even reverse properly with the damn trailer.....)
i do however drive my car quite spiritedly on quite a few occasions so definately want to do what i can to extend the life and allow better performance from all the parts of my car.....

Is it a good idea to cover up the oil cooler during winter?
I lived in Moscow and in winter I saw some of the older cars running cardboard in front of their radiators. I guess in -10 degree weather they would never reach operating temperatures

No!.....in Moscow the temperature may stay at -10 all day plus those cars were probably running on straight alcohol. Many cars back as recently as the 50's in England and the continent were fitted with radiator blinds but thermostats and better design have eliminated that hurdle.

Hako, I meant if an addition oil cooler was installed, would it not be good to cover it in winter when not towing?
Or is there no such thing as "too cool" of transmission fluid? Sort of like engine oil which is most effective around 80-90 degrees or something

Hako, I meant if an addition oil cooler was installed, would it not be good to cover it in winter when not towing?
Or is there no such thing as "too cool" of transmission fluid? Sort of like engine oil which is most effective around 80-90 degrees or something

I guess that would be a good idea but in our mild climate probably a bit of overkill. You can buy thermostatically controlled oil coolers from the states that maintain the oil temp at the recommended temperature - some later vehicles with high tech auto transmission have this built into the transmission so that the oil does not flow thru the cooler till it is at optimum working temperature....all to achieve optimum efficiency. GM transmissions like the 4L60E constantly monitor the oil temperature although in that case I think it's to put the into LHM if the oil overheats.

Hako, I meant if an addition oil cooler was installed, would it not be good to cover it in winter when not towing?
Or is there no such thing as "too cool" of transmission fluid? Sort of like engine oil which is most effective around 80-90 degrees or something

The transmission guy I talked to about this recommended using the additional cooler in series with the radiator cooler, in those cars not known for radiator cooler problems, so that the engine coolant temperature ameliorates this issue. Canberra's winters aren't severe enough to worry about the "too cool" problem with this setup. IIRC forum member Macropod has a dual external cooler setup, for heavy towing, and it might be an issue with his setup when not towing.

So traveling at 80km/h in the top gear in -5 degree cold will not cool the oil too much?

So traveling at 80km/h in the top gear in -5 degree cold will not cool the oil too much?

With the external cooler in series with the in-radiator cooler, apparently not.

I haven't had any problems in the nearly 3 years I've had such a setup, and the ATF is still in pretty fair condition when changed - which wasn't the case before fitting the external cooler (and my car has never towed anything).

After a search of the forums this seems to be the best thread to ask in rather than create a new one;

I'm after a Auto Cooler for my TF, any ideas on a model/brand to get or are they all more or less going to give me the same improvement over the factory one?

No help at all guys?

I sell the Derale ones, these are a good fit and have fitted many to Magnas as well as have sold many more, they are $115

hit pickapart or the wreckers i got mine of a legnum (was an aftermerket one) for $10 and fitted myself.

FOr the guys that have done this, is it better to put it before or after the radiator (or both) and how hard ae they to install, is there room and places to mount them ?

Hi guys, I actually work at Fluid Drive, and I must say I've never fitted a cooler to a Magna. Falcons and Commodores are famous for dumping the coolant into the tranny or oil into the coolant. We bypass the radiator for that reason. Other cars we fit the cooler after the radiator. Just beware cheapskates out there, if you use secondhand, it might have metal or clutch pack material in it. Also beware of cheap eBay items. Some of them restrict flow and destroy the auto. If I was fitting one to my TJ, I would bypass the radiator altogether.

Sorry different school of thought here,

Agree on not using secondhand ones for same reasons

We fit these here all the time, have had great results with them as well as the Magna Third Gen really should have had one of these from the factory like the 2nd Gen. Have several customers who tow with the car on a regular basis, one did a 27k trip around australia over about 9 months towing a big camper trailer, trans has done over 300k like the car and never an issue at all.

I leave the rad connected and also dont use a cooler too large either as you can over cool the fluid just as much as you can overheat the fluid. Personally I use the Deraile ones, they are a nice fit and a good size for these cars.

I am yet to see a Magna have coolant and trans fluid issues, this is rare on a Magna poss due to the design of the cooler section for the trans

Mal,

Do you mount them before or after the radiator and what do you do about the filter ?

[QUOTE=Madmagna;

I leave the rad connected and also dont use a cooler too large either as you can over cool the fluid just as much as you can overheat the fluid.

Over cool the fluid? That's the first I've heard of this. I was always told the cooler the better from all tranny buliders. If that's the case, why do Land Rover and Chrysler Voyager both bypass the radiator from factory? They're in heaps colder climates than us

Over cool the fluid? That's the first I've heard of this. I was always told the cooler the better from all tranny buliders. If that's the case, why do Land Rover and Chrysler Voyager both bypass the radiator from factory? They're in heaps colder climates than us

Like engine oil, trans fluid has different viscosities at different temperatures. You cant compare completely different manufacturers as they are likely to have specific design reasons for bypassing the rad

Bypassing is still bypassing whatever vehicle. Picture this: You hop in your car on a cold winters morning going to work, before you start the car, the trans. oil is going to be as cold as it's going to get. Doesn't matter if it's bypassed or not. Yet you start up back out your drive and tootle off down the road, transmission shifting happily. Even a couple minutes later, thermostat still not open, still no hot water circulating through the radiator, trans still shifting fine. You do this day after day, year after year with no problems. All you mechanics out there. How many autos have you replaced for overheating and how many for over cooling. I bet it heaps and zero respectively. My aim is not to cause controversy or usurp anyone's authority. Merely create discussion before blindly believing something.