Heat exchanger removal

[tiny2085]

I just read pattracy's thread on the heat exchanger he moved. I just put a new trans in and just ran barbed fittings on the trans out to a hayden trans cooler. What does the heat exchanger do, and do I/should I use it ?

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"We don't drive Dodges, we run Cummins. "

[408ram]

it uses the engine coolant to cool the trans temp. It works well if it is not stopped up.

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"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"
87 Toyota pu (DD)99 SWB Ram 1500 318 5 speed (cummins swap comming) 94 Dakota 408 stroker, ross pistons, bigs carb, indy intake, MSD, W2 heads, 904 auto 3k stall, 3.90 gears 99 short bed cummins, raptor, edge juice/attitude, 100hp over stock VP44, 100hp injectors, 4" exhaust, HE351 more to come.. 99 Yamaha FJR1300.(stock)

[dvt4u]

It also helps warm up the tranny when its cold.

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01 2500 ext. Cab 6spd Long box with flat bed. Edge Comp Drag, ATS exaust Minifold, 5" turbo back to 7" miters, K&N intake, Jammer 4's, south bend 3600 DD, Glaciar fuel pump, 295/70/17 toyo M/T's.

[tiny2085]

Would it be better, as in more effective to run an affter market cooler, or should I go back to the heat exchanger.

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"We don't drive Dodges, we run Cummins. "

[BRO]

If there is nothing wrong with your stock unit, I would use it. Not sure the after market users are worth the investment.

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2001, 2500 Ext Cab, Banks Exhaust, 4.10 gears, Auto, BAHF, Puke Bottle mod (mopar1973mans), Airdog 150,

[kstinson]

Originally Posted by tiny2085

Would it be better, as in more effective to run an affter market cooler, or should I go back to the heat exchanger.

Well for every 20*F over 175*F automatic transmission fluids life is reduced by half according to the experts. I have read that transmission fluid should have a life expectancy of 50k miles at 195*F. Being that your Cummins engine should pull up to 205*F under working conditions you can't expect the transmission to be any cooler than 205*F with the factory heat exchanger even under ideal conditions. Most likely it will be hotter than the engine temperature because the heat exchanger is not 100% efficient. So figuring that the fluid is sitting at 215*F this means that you would need to change the fluid every 25k miles. Now if you switched to a larger heat exchanger that only had to handle the heat of the transmission and could keep the transmission temperatures at 175*F you should be able to keep your fluid in good working order for 100k miles considering the filtration was good. I wouldn't suggest running your fluid this long but its food for thought.

I would start with a transmission temp gauge and determine whether or not you need additional cooling.

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2000 Black Dodge Ram 3500 Dually 5.9l 24-Valve, NV5600 6-Speed, Edge Juice/Attitude, AirDog 150, Hydroboost to keep the front end lubricated ;-)

[tiny2085]

I put a new trans in, and just liked the idea of an after market cooler, and simplifying all the hoses, but I need to mount a fan on my after market unit, I mounted it under the driver side floor board, outside of the frame rail. It got hot enough to kick out of OD tonight running down the highway at about 75, scared the bejebus out of me when it down shifted.

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"We don't drive Dodges, we run Cummins. "

[tiny2085]

I can't find any threads on other installs of after market coolers, does any one know of any ?

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"We don't drive Dodges, we run Cummins. "

[kstinson]

Try this Heat exchanger relocation

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2000 Black Dodge Ram 3500 Dually 5.9l 24-Valve, NV5600 6-Speed, Edge Juice/Attitude, AirDog 150, Hydroboost to keep the front end lubricated ;-)

[patracy]

Originally Posted by kstinson

Well for every 20*F over 175*F automatic transmission fluids life is reduced by half according to the experts. I have read that transmission fluid should have a life expectancy of 50k miles at 195*F. Being that your Cummins engine should pull up to 205*F under working conditions you can't expect the transmission to be any cooler than 205*F with the factory heat exchanger even under ideal conditions. Most likely it will be hotter than the engine temperature because the heat exchanger is not 100% efficient. So figuring that the fluid is sitting at 215*F this means that you would need to change the fluid every 25k miles. Now if you switched to a larger heat exchanger that only had to handle the heat of the transmission and could keep the transmission temperatures at 175*F you should be able to keep your fluid in good working order for 100k miles considering the filtration was good. I wouldn't suggest running your fluid this long but its food for thought.

I would start with a transmission temp gauge and determine whether or not you need additional cooling.

My temps never get over 155-160F on the transmission. The factory cooler does a wonderful job. Course it wouldn't hurt to have the factory front mounted one, the exchanger, and another under frame mounted one with a fan, and a deep pan.

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1999 2500 4x4 Club Cab Sport. ADRENALINE/pulse , BHAF, FBD 150 sticks, Tunnel Ram Intake plate, Byrd's intake Horn, HE351 retrofit, Hamilton 110lb valve springs, A1 head studs, 5" FBD exhaust, Isspro Boost & Drive pressure gauges, fuel pressure gauge, Mallory Comp 250 pump, 1/2" big line kit, Draw straw, TC lockup switch, Stealth VP plate, BD TC, BD VB, Billet input, Derale pan. 462hp and 920ft-lbs 11/14/09, I know I can get 500hp...