4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

To bypass or not to bypass stock transmission cooler.

Old 03-17-2010, 02:42 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
EsQueue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 415
To bypass or not to bypass stock transmission cooler.

I will be installing a b&m transmission cooler. I live in Long Beach, Ca so cold weather isn't an issue. I had already made up my mind to bypass the stock transmission cooler as the aftermarket should be more than enough.

I did lots of searching and found a post where he says that in stop and go traffic the aftermarket will not be enough. Is this true?

I've ran a test to see how how the stock cooler will heat up the fluid. I started the car and let it idle for 40 minutes (I forgot). The temp got as high as 160 just from idling.

I want to make sure that there isn't any other reason besides over-cooling your fluid that would encourage installers to install an aftermarket cooler in series with the stock tranny cooler. This isn't needed in my weather at all.
EsQueue is offline  
Old 03-17-2010, 03:41 PM
  #2  
Bacon Lover
iTrader: (34)
 
Tatanko's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: State College, PA
Posts: 7,672
I ran both in-line on my old auto Maxima. Only problem was long warm-up periods on cold mornings due to over-cooling since I live in PA and the cooler I had didn't have a bypass valve. I can't see why you would want to bother disconnecting the factory one, especially since it's extra volume you can have more fluid in for better cooling.
Tatanko is offline  
Old 03-18-2010, 08:37 AM
  #3  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
deezo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: FV, NC
Posts: 14,287
I've driven mine with my B&M inline for about the last 6 or 7 years and no issues with overcooling. When I lived in MA, it would take a little time (warm up time) for my OD to kick in with the cold temps up there but now that I live in NC, it's prime for the hot weather we get here. My tranny hasn't missed a beat and it has almost 300k on it. Still shifts smoothly.

Last edited by deezo; 03-18-2010 at 10:23 AM.
deezo is offline  
Old 03-18-2010, 09:42 AM
  #4  
Schnell kaputt
iTrader: (13)
 
Bonka's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,559
I also ran mine in-line with the stock cooler. Using the B&M took out any worries for overcooling, even as I ran it with synthetic ATF for further lower temperatures.

Unless you lived in a cooler climate and used an oversized plate/fin style like the Hayden don't bypass the factory unit.

I've been having problems with ATF weeping from both lines on the cooler the hose clamps that came with it don't provide enough clamping force might be worth replacing those with better quality clamps.
Bonka is offline  
Old 03-18-2010, 10:25 AM
  #5  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
deezo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: FV, NC
Posts: 14,287
I forgot to add, the B&M should have the thermostat mechanism that closes off flow until the fluid is at the right temp so that would prevent overcooling anyway.
deezo is offline  
Old 03-18-2010, 09:13 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
EsQueue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 415
Overcooling isn't going to be an issue here. I'm just wondering if it will run cooler by bypassing the stock cooler and just running only the B&M cooler.

I know that it holds more fluid but that fluid will be preheated to 160 degrees and I would like to run closer to 150 if possible.
EsQueue is offline  
Old 03-18-2010, 09:58 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
iTrader: (16)
 
Quickywd01's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NorthernNJ
Posts: 3,088
I bypassed the stock cooler and I mounted it to the bumper (not the outside bumper cover for those of you who think I just stuck this thing on the front of my car lol) rather than placing it up against the hot radiator.
http://forums.maxima.org/album.php?a...ictureid=10119
http://forums.maxima.org/album.php?a...ictureid=10118
Are you using synthetic fluid?
Quickywd01 is offline  
Old 03-18-2010, 10:19 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
EsQueue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 415
Originally Posted by Quickywd01
I bypassed the stock cooler and I mounted it to the bumper (not the outside bumper cover for those of you who think I just stuck this thing on the front of my car lol) rather than placing it up against the hot radiator.
http://forums.maxima.org/album.php?a...ictureid=10119
http://forums.maxima.org/album.php?a...ictureid=10118
Are you using synthetic fluid?

Yes, sir. I will be running Mobile 1 synthetic.
EsQueue is offline  
Old 03-18-2010, 10:46 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
iTrader: (16)
 
Quickywd01's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NorthernNJ
Posts: 3,088
When I opened my B&M cooler box it had a bag full of stuff. The rubber caps that came on the cooler inlet and outlet I put onto the stock cooler nipples and ziptied each one on. I also noticed the temp gauge didn't go up as high with the stock cooler not being used now.
Quickywd01 is offline  
Old 03-19-2010, 07:57 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
EsQueue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 415
Originally Posted by Quickywd01
When I opened my B&M cooler box it had a bag full of stuff. The rubber caps that came on the cooler inlet and outlet I put onto the stock cooler nipples and ziptied each one on. I also noticed the temp gauge didn't go up as high with the stock cooler not being used now.

Great, that is what I wanted and was hoping to hear. I'm sure that the extra heat of the hot coolant will negate the cooling effects of the extra fluid and cooling surface.
EsQueue is offline  
Old 03-19-2010, 10:10 PM
  #11  
Schnell kaputt
iTrader: (13)
 
Bonka's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,559
What was the difference in temperature between bypassing the factory cooler and running it in-line? I haven't come across any cooler install that insists on bypassing the factory cooler.
Bonka is offline  
Old 03-22-2010, 09:44 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
iTrader: (16)
 
Quickywd01's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NorthernNJ
Posts: 3,088
The ones I've seen said to use the stock cooler with the new one. Wish I had extra money to test this with dual temp gauges.
Originally Posted by Bonka
What was the difference in temperature between bypassing the factory cooler and running it in-line? I haven't come across any cooler install that insists on bypassing the factory cooler.
Quickywd01 is offline  
Old 03-23-2010, 04:21 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
z32drifter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 996
I have one of the big Hayden ones on my car. It's on the return side of the factory cooler. I've never checked the temps.
z32drifter is offline  
Old 12-30-2012, 11:46 PM
  #14  
Junior Member
 
metaverse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Massachusetts : US
Posts: 47
Originally Posted by deezo
I forgot to add, the B&M should have the thermostat mechanism that closes off flow until the fluid is at the right temp so that would prevent overcooling anyway.
Which one are you using?
metaverse is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sctludwig
3rd Generation Maxima (1989-1994)
8
09-01-2022 01:32 PM
hez8813
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
11
03-12-2020 12:06 AM
The Wizard
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
24
10-01-2015 08:47 PM
pears
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
15
09-18-2015 05:25 AM
jwright36
6th Generation Maxima (2004-2008)
0
09-08-2015 11:45 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: To bypass or not to bypass stock transmission cooler.



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:39 PM.