trans cooler options

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keVIIIn

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Over the weekend I finally got around to replacing my leaky original radiator (had a slow coolant leak from the plastic tank). Well 2 days later I noticed a spot under my car so I peaked under hoping it was just some residual coolant still dripping from the core support or something..but no turns out now my trans fluid is leaking from the fitting that screws into other fitting that is pressed into the plastic tank.

fitting at top of photo with trans fluid highly visible all over it
IMAG0965.jpg


I have bad luck with this sh*t because on my old 97 thunderbird I went through 3 radiators, the original which I replaced when I bought it, the 2nd radiator which eventually started leaking coolant 2 years later and the 3rd, all of which leaked trans fluid from the fitting. I don't know if it is the sh*t quality radiator that the part stores around me sell or the fittings that they supply or what.

I used the new brass plated fittings that came with the radiator, and I compared them to the original ones from the old radiator which were identical in size, I used pipe thread sealant on them and STILL the f*cker leaks. I got under and tightened them today on the off chance they somehow loosened..and no change BOTH fittings leak..and of course I didn't save the old ones off the original radiator which went out to the garbage 2 days ago.

So basically this is starting to piss me off, and I'm about to the point where I just want to say f*ck it and just bypass it and put in a trans cooler. I eventually would like to Jmod the trans but don't really have any intentions of changing the converter..

SO does anyone have any suggestions on what I could do to either stop the leak properly or could those of you who have trans coolers post some pics of how you mounted them and list which size cooler you used.

PS I searched and could only find pics of them and no real write up on which is best.

Thanks in advance.
 
damn that sucks dude, i can't give any info here. my dad has a 03 benz C320. his tranny has to be rebuilt, turns out the radiator was cracked and the radiator fluid was mixing with tranny fluid = really bad. good luck fixing it
 
You might want to try teflon tape if paste did not do trick. Also I hope you loosened the steel tube nut after the brass fitting that is leaking when you tried to tighten stuff up again. If not, nothing will move and "seem" tight.
 
keVIIIn said:
Over the weekend I finally got around to replacing my leaky original radiator (had a slow coolant leak from the plastic tank). Well 2 days later I noticed a spot under my car so I peaked under hoping it was just some residual coolant still dripping from the core support or something..but no turns out now my trans fluid is leaking from the fitting that screws into other fitting that is pressed into the plastic tank.

fitting at top of photo with trans fluid highly visible all over it
IMAG0965.jpg


I have bad luck with this sh*t because on my old 97 thunderbird I went through 3 radiators, the original which I replaced when I bought it, the 2nd radiator which eventually started leaking coolant 2 years later and the 3rd, all of which leaked trans fluid from the fitting. I don't know if it is the sh*t quality radiator that the part stores around me sell or the fittings that they supply or what.

I used the new brass plated fittings that came with the radiator, and I compared them to the original ones from the old radiator which were identical in size, I used pipe thread sealant on them and STILL the f*cker leaks. I got under and tightened them today on the off chance they somehow loosened..and no change BOTH fittings leak..and of course I didn't save the old ones off the original radiator which went out to the garbage 2 days ago.

So basically this is starting to piss me off, and I'm about to the point where I just want to say f*ck it and just bypass it and put in a trans cooler. I eventually would like to Jmod the trans but don't really have any intentions of changing the converter..

SO does anyone have any suggestions on what I could do to either stop the leak properly or could those of you who have trans coolers post some pics of how you mounted them and list which size cooler you used.

PS I searched and could only find pics of them and no real write up on which is best.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Well, if bypassing the stock cooler and running an aftermarket cooler makes things easier for you, chit, I'd do it. The stock trans cooler is nothing to throw a stick at anyways. Avoid the tube-fin type coolers and get a stacked-plate design. (They're better) I run a Tru-Cool 40,000 gvw cooler, but I have a 3800 stall converter. You can get away with something much smaller on a stock converter. It should mount right in front of the radiator behind the air dam on the front bumper. That's where I mounted mine, and it's damn near 3 ft. long so you'll have plenty of room.
 
Right on the Mark said:
You might want to try teflon tape if paste did not do trick. Also I hope you loosened the steel tube nut after the brass fitting that is leaking when you tried to tighten stuff up again. If not, nothing will move and "seem" tight.
Click to expand...

Yeah I put a crescent wrench on the fitting and the nut and tightened both, so they are both for sure tight, but this weekend when I have a day off I'm going to remove the trans lines again clean the threads and dry them and try the teflon tape this time, and if that doesn't work still then it has to be the fitting going into the radiator that's the culprit..and if that's the case then I'm just going with a stand alone trans cooler..soo ill give it one more shot.
 
KStromberg said:
Well, if bypassing the stock cooler and running an aftermarket cooler makes things easier for you, chit, I'd do it. The stock trans cooler is nothing to throw a stick at anyways. Avoid the tube-fin type coolers and get a stacked-plate design. (They're better) I run a Tru-Cool 40,000 gvw cooler, but I have a 3800 stall converter. You can get away with something much smaller on a stock converter. It should mount right in front of the radiator behind the air dam on the front bumper. That's where I mounted mine, and it's damn near 3 ft. long so you'll have plenty of room.
Click to expand...

That large of a cooler won't block air flow to the radiator too much will it?
 
keVIIIn said:
Yeah I put a crescent wrench on the fitting and the nut and tightened both, so they are both for sure tight, but this weekend when I have a day off I'm going to remove the trans lines again clean the threads and dry them and try the teflon tape this time, and if that doesn't work still then it has to be the fitting going into the radiator that's the culprit..and if that's the case then I'm just going with a stand alone trans cooler..soo ill give it one more shot.
Click to expand...

From your reply I still take that you never tightened it really. You have to loosen the tube nut BEFORE you tighten the brass piece again. Tighten brass piece then tighten up the steel tube nut that was not showing any sign of leaking. I also have a huge 40K trans cooler in my car but also have a 9.5 inch converter.

NOTE I have to check to see if the tube nut is a flare type or is there "o" rings in fitting so it can spin on line when its tightened. If its flare it locks the tube/nut and brass fitting together. If its o ring type then your way is cool.
 
big ass trans cooler.
many people run em without problems.
even my small one made my trans tunnel cooler when driving on the highway.
 
Right on the Mark said:
From your reply I still take that you never tightened it really. You have to loosen the tube nut BEFORE you tighten the brass piece again. Tighten brass piece then tighten up the steel tube nut that was not showing any sign of leaking. I also have a huge 40K trans cooler in my car but also have a 9.5 inch converter.
Click to expand...

No I know what you're saying, I just explained it wrong, I had a wrench on both the nut and the fitting, I held the nut on the trans line in place with the one wrench and tightened the fitting with the other and watched the fitting tighten into the radiator (by doing so I really loostened the nut going into the fitting) so then I did the opposite and held the fitting in place and then tightened the nut that is on the trans line...that way both are tight

Anyways, physically how large is your cooler? I'm just worried about it hanging too low or blocking the airflow into the radiator.
 
i put a tranny cooler on mine for $60 at autozone. it mounts right in front o radiator and mine is the fin design and i believe its 11" high and the length of the radiator and doesnt obtruct air to it.for what you need it for it should be fine they make a bunch of sizes and styles and are very easy to install.
 
They also make special cooler mounting "zip tie pad units" for mounting cooler. Takes 2 seconds to mount with these.
 
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