Trans cooler

["Mitchell D. Murray" <MitchellMurray@compuserve.com>]

Hey People,

There have been a few messages lately about how to mount an auxiliary
transmission cooler.

I know that some people on the list feel strongly that an auxiliary cooler is
an important addition to a Sy or Ty -- I hope I do not offend anyone
when I say I think some of the sentiment for adding a cooler is left over
from experiences from years ago before lock-up converters were being
used.  I know many years ago I had a vehicle with a non-lockup converter
which would very quickly turn transmission fluid from red to burnt brown
due to high transmission oil temperatures without an auxiliary cooler.

My own experience so far with my Syclone with a 160deg thermostat and a
stock lockup converter and with Mobil 1 synthetic transfluid is 
that the trans fluid stays nice and clear red and does not smell
burnt at all -- it does not seem to be getting very hot at all.
This is without any auxiliary cooler -- just the stock cooler in
the passenger side end of the radiator.
But most of my driving is done at more than 45mph where the torque
converter is locked up. 
I'm sure that driving un-locked-up at lower speeds, and/or up hills,
and/or in hot weather, and/or with a high stall converter could
make the trans oil get very hot -- but I would suggest that no one
should add an auxiliary cooler unless they are experiencing transmission
fluid that is getting brown in color and/or is smelling burnt.

Regards,
Mitch Murray
Syclone (VIN 1144)