Postby Lord Farquaad » Sun Feb 26, 2012 10:39 pm
I bypassed my in radiator tranny cooler a few weeks ago. Whilst driving around town with nothing hooked up to the towbar, the tranny cooler temperature is such that I can keep my finger on the cooler. It is not very hot.
This weekend I had my caravan hooked up and did a lot of mountain passes in 92F ambient temperatures. I guess the Pathy had a good workout this weekend. When I stopped at the top of some passes, I felt the tranny cooler and could not keep my finger on it, that is how hot it was. I guess, water being a better conductor of heat than air, the in-radiator cooler would have helped some.
Two questions. Has any of you done a more scientific test by comparing the ATF temperature with and without the in-radiator cooler? Guess same ambient temperature, up same incline, pulling same load? Secondly, what is the operating temperature of the ATF inside the gearbox and when should warning bells be sounded? I would like to install an electric fan activated by a temperature switch, but need to know the operating conditions. Adding a second air cooler could help, but I will be doing trips in 113F ambient conditions, and think forced cooling is maybe the better option. Maybe even some water injection.
At what temperature will an AT gearbox destroy itself?