Tranny Cooler

[GreenMachine]

Now that the boat is 100%, ive been taking it out using the 03 tj, I was wondering what any thoughts were on hooking up a tranny cooler?

wondered if anyone had hooked one up on an 03 tj, 4.0, how hard is it and does it make a difference?

[BUKI]

Assuming we are talking automatic. Adding a tranny cooler is easy and well worth it.  I put one on an old Dakota I had kit came with everything incl. good instructions with pics. I can't remember the brand but super easy.

[Rubi03 jef]

Did the automatic Tj's not come with a cooler

[Nootch]

Most likely came with a cooler in the bottom of the rad that warms up the oil in the winter and cools it off in the summer.  They work great until you start really using the trans, especially on stalls or climbing.  B&M makes nice little kits that just tie into the stock trans cooler lines.  A pair of hose clamps should be enough to hold each end on the steel tubes if you can't adapt from the trans itself.  Its all low pressure oil. 

If you are in calgary i would goto Mopac and see what they have on the wall.  I wouldn't expect you would need a super huge cooler for average summer wheeling.  BUT if you decide to go this route expect some quirky driving in the cold as you will no longer be warming the oil to engine temp, and will have to work it warm.

Of course I do not know your particular jeep personally, and do not know if it comes with a stock rad/trans cooler.

[GreenMachine]

Its a 2003 tj 4.0 5 speed not auto, does this mean it could have one built in? Is there any give aways if there is one built into stock rad?

I know when it gets down to -15 or -20 the shifter gets tight, takes awhile to get the tranny warm, or longer than any of my previous standards ever took,

[binare]

Psst manual = standard. You don't have a tranny cooler, nor should you need one, wouldn't worry another second on this.

[FiEND]

manual transmission wont have one and wont need one if you keep the weight towed is within spec (2000 lbs) and maintain the gear oil and level.  check the spec though as manual will be lower than automatic and i can't remember if 2000 is auto or stick.

kinda hard to pump around oil that thick and the lubrication is friction/viscocity based not pressure based.

you can change the oil to a thinner one for winter and probably all year round even when towing but i can't say which.

[GreenMachine]

Perfect, I won't worry about getting one then. this tranny has about 45000 on it now, since gbe rebuild, any recommendations on a specific fluid to run? Manual said not to tow more than 2000 lbs, and is there a tranny fluid filter I change at the same time as the fluid?

[frenchy]

Perfect, I won't worry about getting one then. this tranny has about 45000 on it now, since gbe rebuild, any recommendations on a specific fluid to run? Manual said not to tow more than 2000 lbs, and is there a tranny fluid filter I change at the same time as the fluid?

Redline mt-90 or similar.
No filter, it's just a steel case with gears & stuff inside, like a diff.
No pump moving fluid to filters or coolers.

You could re-gear the axles to something lower for better towing and easier on the transmission, but that's not cheap.
Just go enjoy your boat!

[Nootch]

The reason your auto has a cooler and not the standards is the Torque Convertor.  Its a oil coupler that uses the resistance of oil moving between a turbine and impeller (think of how one fan's air can make another fan move) in a confined space and clearance.  This moving of the oil makes a wack load of heat.


Old man tip for your manual in the winter.  when you start our jeep, throw the tcase in neutral and let it idle in first.  moves the gears around and gets the oil flowing and warming up without a load on them.

[BUKI]

Old man tip for your manual in the winter.  when you start our jeep, throw the tcase in neutral and let it idle in first.  moves the gears around and gets the oil flowing and warming up without a load on them.

+1.  This works well.  I do this on my 300,000+ ax15.  Not hard to shift after 5-10 min.

[GreenMachine]

Old man tip for your manual in the winter.  when you start our jeep, throw the tcase in neutral and let it idle in first.  moves the gears around and gets the oil flowing and warming up without a load on them.

Definitely going to try that, thanks guys