Air vs Water cooled Tranny cooler

Discussion in 'Peterbilt 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. GrapeApe

    GrapeApe Road Train Member

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    Air coolers have 2 downfalls in certain applications. 1. Very cold weather, a water cooler brings up trans temps faster, an air cooler slows down warm up. 2. Poor airflow, slow or stopped (like off-road or PTO applications), poor air flow means poor cooling.

    If those are non issues for you, I'd prefer an air cooler for the reason you mentioned, no mixing of fluids when they fail. More coolant lines and fittings mean mores potential places to get a coolant leak. There are a lot of applications were performance of the water cooler is better, but normal over the road applications are not usually one of them unless your doing it in sub zero weather. I've also seen many OTR trucks not have a cooler at all.
     
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  4. 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
     
  5. 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]
     
  6. 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
     
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