View Full Version : Trans Cooler Thermostat
JEFFTATE
09-30-2009, 06:17 AM
Is there a thermostat that controls the flow of transmission fluid through the trans cooler that is located in the radiator tank ??
( Particularly on a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 46RE . )
I was just wondering if there is a thermostat-like device that opens and closes to limit or bypass flow through the factory style trans cooler ??
I'm flushing the cooler/lines and was wondering if I should expect resistance to flow in the cooler.
Is there a thermostat made into the trans cooler that's in the radiator tank ???
GetMore
09-30-2009, 04:59 PM
I don't know. However, I don't think you will find any resistance to flow, even if there is some kind of thermostat.
I have a thermostat for my oil cooler, and the way it is set up it has both passages open when the oil is cold. As the oil warms up it then closes the bypass passage, forcing (almost) all the oil through the cooler.
I recently learned that Ford has a bypass thermostat on the transmission lines of some of their trucks. When the ATF temp is low this thermostat opens up, allowing fluid to bypass the factory cooler. All this really does is provide an alternate path for fluid flow, it doesn't block flow through the cooler.
BTW, I know B&M has stacked plate coolers that they claim to have some kind of ability to modulate the flow based on temps. (I haven't read the description in quite a while, so bear with me on that.) I think all those coolers have is a narrow passage leading to the plates after the first two. As the fluid warms up it gets thinner, allowing it to flow past this restriction and into the rest of the passages.
MonzaRacer
10-06-2009, 08:49 PM
Hayden makes a kit to install a trans cooler with thermostat, then you run it through rad also.
Basically my practice has been to run a very large aux cooler, then run it back through the radiator cooler to keep it at proper temp.
Keeping the trans fluid in the 170-200 degree range litterally doubles the life of the trans or more.
Also adding in drain plug, and I regularly give the trans pan a drain to, this keeps fluid fresh and I can check the magnet on plug.
After one or two drains you know just how much to have on hand to refill.
Also another thing I am going to get back into doing is running synthetic fluid again.
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