Transmission oil cooler: stock front radiator vs aftermarket frame mount?

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by PermanentTourist, Mar 25, 2022.

  1. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

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    2016 cascadia with a eaton 10 speed

    So, I've been running without a transmission oil cooler for a while now because they bypassed the leaky lines going to the front radiator when I had my transmission replaced.

    However, I've noticed that the transmission is getting very hot to the touch after running and I'm thinking it's not a long-term solution if I want to keep this transmission...

    Should I just replace the lines to the radiator and keep this failure point?

    Or should I get one of those aftermarket frame rail mount, air-only, trans oil coolers instead, and remove the concern about coolant mixing with trans oil, etc?

    Or should I just keep running it as is and just change the transmission oil every year?
     
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  3. kranky1

    kranky1 Road Train Member

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    Throw the factory cooler as far as you can. If it leaks or fails it fills your transmission with coolant. All of mine have had those coolers taken off and replaced with a power steering cooler from an F450 mounted on the horse collar under the transmission. Problem eliminated. I only have to have a $200 cooler cost me $12,000 once.
     
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  4. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

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    I'm not advanced enough to be jury rigging multi vehicle Frankenstein contraptions unfortunately, but I did just buy this thing...

    HAY/026744 Transmission Oil Cooler – 10-4 Truck Parts
     
  5. kranky1

    kranky1 Road Train Member

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    That’s perfect. It looks almost identical to the one I made. I used the Ford cooler and a piece of an aluminum walk plate section to make the grille. What you have there is pretty much the same thing.
     
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  6. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

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    That's what I figured. My mechanical skills can best be described as " enthusiastic amateur", so I wanted something that I can easily bolt on without having to improvise too much mounting weirdness.

    Unfortunately this thing doesn't come with hoses, I'm going to still have to have somebody make me a couple. Or maybe Napa has some standard length pre-made shorty ones.
     
  7. kranky1

    kranky1 Road Train Member

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    I’m not sure what your ambient temperatures are, but you may find you need to put a “winter front” on the cooler. Winter in Canada they over-cool a bit and can be a little hard to shift.
     
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  8. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

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    My truck literally doesn't even have a transmission temperature gauge unfortunately. It's an ex fleet truck. However, I live in Nevada and I try to stay away from really cold parts of the country in the winter, so I should be all right
     
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