Aux transmission cooler install- CRD

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Fri May 08, 2009 9:00 pm

Well now in Phoenix it hit 104 degrees today-its pretty hot!--
So now driving my DD CRD all I dwell now is on that stock temp gauge and just thinking of my trans fluid temps.

After market gauges including water temp and trans temp are on my list but I recently installed a heavy duty cooler for trans oil cooling.
Some points to ponder.
The install positions the cooler in line AFTER the stock cooling. This is recommended by the manufacturer. Makes sense as the aux unit further cools what stock has done and this doubling up makes for a great combination.
I used a cooler recommended for 3/4 and 1 ton truck application and it was a tight fit.
It was installed partially in front of the cooling electric fan ( the first item the air hits).

Recently I went on a trail run with a fellow CRDer with a trans guage and he states oil is coolest when there is no shifting and RPMs are around 2500 - so thats how I roll too- 4LO with the shifter on 1st gear while wheeling.
Also it doesn't have to be hot outside to get your oil hot- too much shifting and TC stressing like towing can get fluid hot.

545FRE transmissions are expensive and AUX cooling is a good way to protect your investment.

Roland

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri May 08, 2009 11:52 pm

Do you have pics of your install? I am looking do this too. Now that its warming up here in the Rockies, my temp gauge spikes into the red zone when I climb long steep grades. I am assuming everything is being affected by heat soak from the OEM tranny cooler.

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2009 1:12 pm

Pic's soon- Our chapter is talking about a cooler fest install soon. Gonna try to get a CRD and a Gasser to get installations--then we will shoot pics!!

Roland

PhoenixCRD · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2009 2:04 pm

Silverdiesel wrote:

Pic's soon- Our chapter is talking about a cooler fest install soon. Gonna try to get a CRD and a Gasser to get installations--then we will shoot pics!!

Roland

I'm interested in doing the cooler fest... what would I need to bring? Beer? 2nd born child....please?

Gary

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2009 3:23 pm

Cooler Fest LOST style TBA- I am getting a location nailed soon and will announce-- Details coming!!

Roland

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2009 3:53 pm

I still don't get why people think a bigger trans cooler is needed...
I tow regularly ~5k lbs and using stock trans cooler with PML pan and I rarely get above 120 degrees.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2009 4:10 pm

RTStabler51 wrote:

I still don't get why people think a bigger trans cooler is needed...
I tow regularly ~5k lbs and using stock trans cooler with PML pan and I rarely get above 120 degrees.

I need it for the reasons stated.

I can't run a bigger pan because I need a skid for off road protection. I think it's safe to say that I drive up steeper and longer grades than you do on a very regular basis so you you really can't compare our two situations.

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2009 4:16 pm

OH I agree -- in most cases the stock system will work-- but on LOST I see more than a fair percentage of KJ's with over hot trans oil(trans temp lite on) or persons with trans oil gauges reporting hot oil over 200 degrees.
Aux coolers are a safeguard, mainly an insurance policy, And as mentioned a 545rfe is an expensive item that needs good insurance from breakdown/repalcement due to boiled/failed oil.

I tow an 18 foot double axle travel trailer with no problems but I sure feel lots better knowing while doing this the trans fluid is getting adequate cooling with aux cooling-
I guess I am trying to make my transmission last as long as the engine!

Roland

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

PML pan is great if you don't mind the lost clearance of the bigger pan.

Larger tires, power chips, offroading, increased torque multiplication factor of suncoast tq, hi temps (110+ ambient in the summer here means the temps coming off the road can reach 140) all add stress on the system. Trimming the bumper on 05-07's also makes things worse, as you loose the air d a m n. That air d a m n is worth up to 15 degrees on the trans temp gauge. I put part of the air darn support back on because of this, and now only have around 5 degrees higher reading than before trimming.

I had a huge cooler on last summer, and it ran 140 on the highway with the ac on. Stop and go got it up to 185 (it is in the output port). Offroad temps can be much higher. This winter I had to take the cooler off and am now back to stock-- I am already seeing 165 on the highway, and it was only 100 out yesterday. I will be putting the better aux cooler in for these reasons.

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Sun May 10, 2009 12:25 am

JL Rockies wrote:

RTStabler51 wrote:

I still don't get why people think a bigger trans cooler is needed...
I tow regularly ~5k lbs and using stock trans cooler with PML pan and I rarely get above 120 degrees.

I need it for the reasons stated.

I can't run a bigger pan because I need a skid for off road protection. I think it's safe to say that I drive up steeper and longer grades than you do on a very regular basis so you you really can't compare our two situations.

Point Taken.. :wink:

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Sun May 10, 2009 11:02 am

Can someone please give manfacture information on the cooler you're all talking about?

And I would general placement information.

Thank you.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun May 10, 2009 4:30 pm

I've seen a couple of variations -
this is Stan's
http://liberty.eurekaboy.com/transcooler.htm

folks should also think about a temp controlled bypass - or the ability to cover the cooler in cold weather
don't forget the trans will lock out overdrive if it's cold

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Sun May 10, 2009 5:44 pm

Thanks AT. Is that the one this thread is about? Seems kind of puny???

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Sun May 10, 2009 5:51 pm

Austin-Texas-KJ,
That is a good cooler to use and any addon cooler is good to use.
I have installed a hard metal cooler on my CRD in the same spot only installed up/down.
Pic's coming- I apologize no pics right now but will be getting actual install procedures pics too!
But our Texan's referral link has done the correct things- install cooler infront of everything including the electric fan and cut into the "return" line IOW added to stock after stock did its thing.

As far as TC lockout when fluid is cold- My KJ would not lock up when cold even before cooler install but this "cold no lockup" seems to be a pattern for all 545rfe's when cold. Simply load up the trans and the oil gets hot fast, trust me. (load up by driving a bit and letting the transmission go through its shifting/ TC burdens)

Anyway this is how I see it and was trained installing hitches, coolers, and aftermarket items,

Roland

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sun May 10, 2009 5:53 pm

I am getting one of those coolers with an attached fan from Summit and plan to install it in between the pass side headlight and the filter box. I have space now that the air intake is up on the a pillar.

If I can't fit it there, I plan to mount it above the ARB bumper skid plate.

0311_DoC · **Posted:** Sun May 10, 2009 8:08 pm

This is ironic, I was just gonna post and ask which brand and how hard of an install and extra goodies should I consider. Mine today while driving strated spiking up as well. And I will be towing a trailer to Ouray and want to make sure all is well. I was looking at these [url]http://www.etrailer.com/tran-2006_Jeep_Liberty.htm[url][/url]

FormerlyBankNote4x4 · **Posted:** Sun May 10, 2009 11:07 pm

Here's what I did

Thanks to this:

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... c&start=75

I got this:

Quantity Item Price Total
1
Automatic Transmission Cooler
24,000 GVW
14,400 BTU
11'' x 6'' x 1-1/2''
Part Number # 130-70264

And put it behind the grill subframe. When looking into the engine bay, the right side Behind the grill and behind the next plastic sub structure. I turned the cooler around to get the holes facing front and zip stripped it to the harder subframe plastic- worked perfect. Just plumb it in from the return coming out of the oem cooler.

CRDMiller · **Posted:** Sun May 10, 2009 11:35 pm

I really dont like the idea of dumping btu Into the inter cooler. I assume this cooler is in FRONT of the Cac?

If i could have it my way, the rads would not be stacked, they would all be on different extereior panels :P

Bill.Barg · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 12:38 am

This install has done well for me after 10K. (no leaks. no clogged fins)

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... nny+cooler

0311_DoC · **Posted:** Wed May 13, 2009 9:31 pm

0311_DoC wrote:

This is ironic, I was just gonna post and ask which brand and how hard of an install and extra goodies should I consider. Mine today while driving strated spiking up as well. And I will be towing a trailer to Ouray and want to make sure all is well. I was looking at these [url]http://www.etrailer.com/tran-2006_Jeep_Liberty.htm[url][/url]

Any updates with this? And would the cooler in this link fit on our CRD's?

http://www.etrailer.com/p-HH41310.htm

Aux transmission cooler install- CRD

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