Air vs Water cooled Tranny cooler

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Slow302, Jul 12, 2018.

  1. Slow302

    Slow302 Medium Load Member

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    I seen and drove trucks wih both. 07 Century with Detroit 60 and 10 speed Eaton had air cooled, 04 Volvo with ISX and 99 T2000 with 3406E both with 13 speed Eaton and both water/antifreeze colled. 07 Century i anly drove for a months so not much experience or problems. Tranny temp newer climb higher than 200f. On 04 Volvo that i drove for 10 years didnt have any problems but tranny temps were in 200-220s since ISX runs warmer with EGR. Tranny cooler was located in frame, right over tranny. Now on 99 T2000 same setup as Volvo. Tranny temp is 200F on hot day. On 99 T2000 i made all heather hoses with shut off valves and i did some testing. If i shut off tranny cooler antifreeze line, tranny will run 220F on hot day.
    Now im thinkin to retro fit Air cooler and mount it somewhere where is a lot of air passing thru. Is this setup much efficient vs water cooled setup ?
    With Air cooled setup will eliminate mixing tranny fluid and antifreeze due to tranny cooler
    Also who makes good Air cooleer tranny cooler? Part #s would be great
    Thanks
     
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  3. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    It is best if the cooler is mounted out front, the ones mounted above the tranny don’t get enough air flow when climbing long grades in the mountains during a hot day.
    I had a 2006 Century 18 spd with it above the tranny and could see temps over 300 degrees in hard conditions.
     
    Oldironfan Thanks this.
  4. Slow302

    Slow302 Medium Load Member

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    Was it Air or Water cooled ?
     
  5. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    Air cooled
     
  6. Oldironfan

    Oldironfan Road Train Member

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    Air wins every time. More reliable, runs cooler.
     
  7. W900AOwner

    W900AOwner Heavy Load Member

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    Air cooled for sure. I've had a couple of buddies that had a liquid cooled tranny fail, dumping coolant into the tranny and burned it up badly. Pulled the drain plug to find antifreeze instead of oil in the box. That's an expensive lesson. Air coolers rule.

    Check with the transmission mfgr before eliminating/bypassing the internal liquid cooler system too if you're thinking of switching over. Some of them are bypassed with just a loop from one port to the other, some others you can't just loop them together due to a pressurized pump system internally. Found that out the hard way too.

    Google radiators/charge air coolers/transmission coolers. There's several good suppliers out there that make them.
     
  8. Slow302

    Slow302 Medium Load Member

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    I have found Eaton part #s for Air cooled setuo? K-1956 for kit and optional filter base S-1404 and filter 17238
     
  9. KTM042974

    KTM042974 Bobtail Member

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    If you have a liquid cooled make sure you check your fluids regularly, found out the hard way on that myself. For me air is the way to go!
     
  10. Slow302

    Slow302 Medium Load Member

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    Here is finished retrofit air cooled tranny cooler. I coulnt foun better place so i mount it on pass side right in front of fuel tank. Now is time to test it

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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  11. Slow302

    Slow302 Medium Load Member

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    Did some testing. On idle over night temp was 145F vs 180F with. Driving on hot day 96F temp was 180F vs 205F. So there is good temp drop plus no more chances coolant mixing with tranny fluid
     
    spsauerland and Tug Toy Thank this.
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