|
|
Transmission coolers, external filters, synthetic fluid, & `99 4L60E 4x4
|
|
|
| |
|
|
The Kirbster
Novice
Dec 27, 2010, 4:00 PM
Post #1 of 7
(3152 views)
|
|
Transmission coolers, external filters, synthetic fluid, & `99 4L60E 4x4
|
Sign In
|
|
I've finally got ALMOST enough saved up to replace the tranny in my `99 Olds Bravada. I was strongly considering adding a spin-off external filter, a BIG magnet in or on the pan, and a transmission cooler along with the newly rebuilt tranny. I also planned on using synthetic fluid with the new rebuild. Then I saw something in an ad for a Power Cooler (has a fan built in) about it having some kind of check valve to prevent loss of oil pressure, which could cause problems with some electronic transmissions-like mine!
So, my 3 questions are--am I about to screw up by adding a transmission cooler? That seems like a no-brainer to me, or at least it did until I saw that ad about a check valve.
Am I right in thinking I'll be better off with synthetic fluid in a new rebuild? I wouldn't want to try it in an old tranny with a hundred thousand miles on regular fluid, but what about a new rebuild?
Has anyone had any experience with the spin-off external remote filters? Diesels, especially fleet trucks, mostly all have them. Is an extra filter gonna catch enough more *** to be worth the trouble of installing it? It's only around $40-$50 for all the parts. It seems like cheap insurance to me.
I'm just trying to make sure I don't cause myself more problems down the road with my ideas for "protecting" my new tranny--I've had enough problems for awhile!
Thanks for your help--
The Kirbster
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 27, 2010, 5:05 PM
Post #2 of 7
(3147 views)
|
|
Re: Transmission coolers, external filters, synthetic fluid, & `99 4L60E 4x4
|
Sign In
|
|
Your really over thinking this. Yes, all those things except the external filter are helpful things to extend the life of a tranny but would only come into play if the tranny was being abused in the first place. If your constantly towing a 4000lb boat, never changing the fluid or your son is taking it to the drags every weekend, those things may make a difference but if you are a normal driver and simply maintain it properly, meaning fresh fluid every 30 to 50K and not towing all the time, none of that should be necessary. You can never go wrong with a cooler and the synthetic makes a good substitute when your tranny requires special oil but won't do much for you otherwise.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
The Kirbster
Novice
Dec 27, 2010, 6:45 PM
Post #3 of 7
(3141 views)
|
|
Re: Transmission coolers, external filters, synthetic fluid, & `99 4L60E 4x4
|
Sign In
|
|
Well, I do a fair amount of towing with it. I pull a 6' x 8' x 5' box trailer, chunked as full as I can get it with PA equipment & guitar amps. I wind up pulling it over the Boston Mountains & back about every other month. I usually pull it SOMEwhere about every other week. It puts a little strain on the truck.
I do get it in the woods some, but not too deep. I realize it's not a serious off roader. It's more of a cut across the pasture kind of thing. Where my house is located, I can't pull around to the back door & get back out without 4 wheel drive.
So, what about the "loss of oil pressure" thing they talked about? I really think I could gain some extra miles and some peace of mind with a cooler, but is it gonna mess with my tranny? I had never heard of ANY ill coming from using a cooler until now.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 27, 2010, 6:54 PM
Post #4 of 7
(3137 views)
|
|
Re: Transmission coolers, external filters, synthetic fluid, & `99 4L60E 4x4
|
Sign In
|
|
Forget the gimmicks and check valves. A regular cooler will help considerably with the towing and do a flush more frequently. The synthetic fluid may have some benefit under those circumstances too but just changing it more frequently with regular fluid is probably even better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
The Kirbster
Novice
Dec 28, 2010, 6:53 AM
Post #5 of 7
(3127 views)
|
|
Re: Transmission coolers, external filters, synthetic fluid, & `99 4L60E 4x4
|
Sign In
|
|
I researched this a little deeper last night. Some of the better coolers (especially the ones made in Canada) have a BYPASS valve (not a check valve) built inside that will let thicker, colder fluid bypass the cooler & go straight back to the transmission. The pressure drop occurs when you try to force cold, thick fluid thru the cooler, causing a restriction. The thicker fluid doesn't want to flow thru all that little tubing fast enough, leaving your tranny starving for fluid until it warms up. That would only apply here in Arkansas a dozen times a year or so, but it's still a good idea.
If I use the synthetic fluid, the temperature changes here should not make it too thick to flow, so I'm not gonna worry about the bypass valve thing. If I flush my tranny every year or so, & change the internal filter, it eliminates the usefulness of the external filter too.
Anybody know who sells a good cheap drain plug for the pan? At least that would make pulling the pan & changing the fluid & filter a little cleaner, a little easier.
Thanks for all the help! You saved me over $100, by leaving off the xtra filter & not using the more expensive cooler, I'm that much closer to gettin' my truck back on the road.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 28, 2010, 8:42 AM
Post #6 of 7
(3124 views)
|
|
Re: Transmission coolers, external filters, synthetic fluid, & `99 4L60E 4x4
|
Sign In
|
|
Forget the drain plug. You can't change all the fluid that way. That will only get you about 25% of the total contents. Use a complete exchange machine and you get it all changed that way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
AbleSmith
New User
Dec 30, 2010, 3:37 AM
Post #7 of 7
(3113 views)
|
|
Re: Transmission coolers, external filters, synthetic fluid, & `99 4L60E 4x4
|
Sign In
|
|
You'd be better off with an microsoft transmission filter and a magnet on it, but its cost is twice than remote filter
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
mdma pills for sale : WhatsApp +33758633852
Drive Shaft Repair
2006 Toyoto Camry XLE Driver Side Electric Window Trouble
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
