smj999smj wrote:Issues with automatic transmission fluid are two-fold. For one, it can prevent the trans from entering lock-up if the fluid temp sensor is seeing the transmission fluid as being to cold. Second, if the fluid does not reach proper operating temperature, it will not burn off condensation that occurs inside the transmission. WHile it is easy to say that despite it being cold, the transmission fluid must be warming up to proper temperature because the transmission is shifting fine, it is impossible to tell unless you have install a gauge to monitor the transmission fluid temperature.
Per your own statement, we can tell if the trans fluid is warmed up by observing if the transmission goes into lockup. Pretty easy to determine this just by watching your tachometer, and having a good idea what the RPM/vehicle speed should be. I can tell you that based on my testing, in similar condition, it takes no longer for my transmission to go into lockup than it did when I was not bypassed. I have timed it, an
smj999smj wrote:As far as the statement, "there is no data showing that a rad from ebay is any less susceptible to a failure than what I already have," this is true; there is no such data. In fact, any vehicle with a radiator that has an integral trans cooler or engine oil cooler "could" potentially experience a failure resulting in cross-contamination of coolant and oil or transmission fluid. That said, integral coolers is not by any means a new idea; they've been used reliably for decades. I'm not sure what the first year was that had an integral trans cooler, but I do know they've been using them for over fifty years. I started working as a Nissan tech in 1985 and had never seen an integral cooler fail on a Nissan vehicle until the 2005 models.
One only needs to do a google search for "failed transmission cooler" and you can very quickly see that this component can and has been a problem on just about any vehicle out there.
smj999smj wrote:They issue we're seeing is not of the fact that the 2005-2010 Pathfinders/Xterras/Frontiers used an integral mounted cooler for the transmission fluid, but that Calsonic-Kansei made either a poorly designed cooler or had an issue of their manufacturing of those radiators. Ironically, the Pathfinders made in Spain for the European market have had no issues with the radiator cooler.
Agree on the first statement, but we don't have any data or experience to make a definitive statement regarding failures in Europe and other markets.
smj999smj wrote:I don't have any concerns of the aftermarket radiator that I installed. For those that have concerns of installing a "made in China" part, radiators from Canada's Spectra Premium can be found for around $160-170. If money is no object, I hear Griffen Radiators is making an all-aluminum unit for around $550, which is about the same as the list price for the "updated" plastic-tanked radiator from Nissan.
So based on your experience, you don't have concerns. I have no issue with that.
I also have no concerns, as my coolant and trans fluid have no possibility of ever mixing.
I think that both methods (Bypass or Rad Replacement) are valid. And if cost is a concern, then the bypass is the way to go.
