Anyone use the Derale cooling transmission pan?

[PT Sportwagon]

I am looking at the possiblity of using one? I want to go with a larger capacity transmission pan. With the cooling tubes the Derale pan has. It may be benificial to use one. Along with the stock in radiator cooler and an aftermarket cooler. Can you have transmission fluid too cool?

Thanks

Tim

[Steve Chryssos]

They are pretty deep. Ground clearance will be an issue of you are building a pro-touring car. Better to install a good size cooler in front of the radiator and run a good high temp fluid. We run Red Line Oil D4 exclusively.

[BMR Sales]

They are pretty deep. Ground clearance will be an issue of you are building a pro-touring car. Better to install a good size cooler in front of the radiator and run a good high temp fluid. We run Red Line Oil D4 exclusively.


Good advice Steve! You would be better served to run an external cooler up front if at all possible. I noticed you are in Wyoming..... will you be driving in cold weather conditions? What type of transmission is it?

[PT Sportwagon]

Rich, I have a TH350 with the factory cooler. I do drive it in the winter but only when the roads are clear.

Tim

[CFster]

I use a Derale plate style cooler in front of the radiator and no lie it dropped my trans temp by 50 degrees.

[Hans van der Lugt]

Quote ''Can you have transmission fluid too cool?"

Tim,
Yes, there is a certain temp range the oil needs to be in, obviously too high will cause the oil to burn up and XMSN parts to wear. But at low temperatures the viscosity will cause bad shifting and the torque converter functioning being harsh.
(Don't know if tolerances in the cold transmission will be off, like in a cold engine. Or that too thick oil would ever prevent sufficient oil flow.)

This is the reason why there is an heat exchanger for the transmission in the radiator; to heat up the oil rapidly to a certain level, and to keep it there.
I was taught that you can add an extra cooler if required, but never leave the heat exchanger out of the loop on a street car.

I'm in the off road vehicle business, on the big ones we got thermostatic valves to bypass the cooler until the transmission is warm. The smaller use just a heatexchanger in the radiator.

Hans.

[Poorhousenext]

Street use stock converter, Vs street use with stalled converter cooling needs change, and cooling needs will change again if you are going to be competing in Pro Touring events like autocross and road course Vs straight line 1/4 mile racing.

Maybe this will help with understanding fluid temp.


Automatic Transmissions

OIL TEMPERATURE MEASURED AT CONVERTER OUTLET TO COOLER:

300° F=

The maximum allowable temperature.
This is the recommended place to install a temperature gauge or sensor. Do not allow the converter outlet temperature to exceed 300° F. The temperature at this location will vary significantly because of load, hill climbing, etceteras. If the temperature reaches 300° F, reduce throttle. To lower transmission temperature with transmission in neutral, run the engine at 1,200 RPM for at least 2 - 3 minutes while keeping a close check for signs of engine overheating. A transmission in a heavy throttle, stall condition (a typical situation is rocking a vehicle stuck in mud, sand, or snow), may increase temperature at a rate of 1° degree per second of stall.


OIL TEMPERATURE MEASURED AT OIL PAN OR SUMP:

150° F=
The minimum operating temperature. Note: It is possible in low ambient temperatures to overcool the transmission with auxiliary oil to air coolers. Oil to water coolers in standard factory radiators will normally not overcool a transmission.


175-200° F=
Normal pan oil temperature operating range.


275° F=
Maximum allowable oil pan temperature for short durations during long hill climbs.


300° F=
Damage occurs to internal transmission parts, including warpage of metal parts, degradation of clutches, and melting of seals. Transmission oil oxidizes, (forming varnish-like substances causing further clutch slippage and compounding heat build up) and transmission oil life is extremely short.

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[PT Sportwagon]

Thanks for the info. I will be adding a tranny temp gauge shortly, after I run new cooler lines, the current ones are way too close to my headers.

Tim