How to Install a Transmission Cooler
Installing an automatic transmission cooler in your car will greatly extend the life of your transmission. The biggest enemy of any automatic transmission is heat, excess heat causes the transmission fluid to breakdown. When it breaks down, it doesn't lubricate properly, and heavy wear rapidly occurs. Reducing your fluid temperature by 50 degrees can add 40% more life to your transmission.
If you drive a vehicle that tows a trailer, or is frequently heavily loaded. If your driving style is a little "enthusiastic" to say the least, you should definitely install a transmission cooler in your ride. The cooler will easily pay for itself in extended transmission life, and longer fluid change intervals.
To begin the install, safely jack up the front end of your vehicle. Place it securely on 2 jack stands, before crawling underneath. Locate the transmission cooler lines under your car. These are 2 steel lines about 1/2" in diameter, that run from the transmission to the vehicles radiator tank. After you have located the cooler lines, you'll need to find a clear area in which to mount the new cooler.
Typically transmission coolers can be installed in front of the radiator core, behind the front grill of your car. Another frequently used method of mounting, is to mount it parallel to the ground, between the radiator and the engine. Mounting is slightly different for each installation. The in front of radiator mounting is the easiest to accomplish and most commonly employed method.
The cooler usually comes with a few rubber bumpers and plastic "zip tie" type hangers. Stick the bumpers to the cooler body and place bumper side against radiator core. Slide plastic"zip tie" connectors through both the cooler and the radiator core, until flush with cooler. Slide "zip tie" ends over exposed ends of plastic ties and slide until snug against the cooler. Effectively sandwiching the cooler and the radiator together.
Most transmission cooler kits come with rubber hoses. Which you could use, but be forewarned the hose deteriorates quite rapidly, from the heat and the transmission fluid. For the long lasting repair, do it like the factory does, and use steel lines. Your local NAPA dealer has a large selection of lines in stock, along with all the necessary fittings too.
Using a tubing cutter, cut one of the transmission cooler lines on the car. You'll need to install a "union" on each end of the cut lines. This will allow you to connect the new cooler lines in series with the old cooler. What this means is: one continuous path from the transmission through the old cooler, to the new cooler, back to the transmission.
A tubing bender will be needed, to make the proper bends for the new cooler lines without kinking them. After bending the lines to fit your particular situation, you need to install compression fittings on all your tubing joints. Compression fittings are very easy to use, simply slide the nut on the tubing, followed by the sleeve AKA "ferrule". Place the two ends of the connectors together and tighten snugly with a wrench.
Start the car and check for any fluid leaks, before lowering the car to the ground. Recheck your transmission fluid level on level ground, as you may have to add some, to make up for the cooler volume. Be careful that you don't overfill your transmission. With only a few hours labor, you may just save yourself that costly transmission rebuild.
