I saw a post a while back about getting Automatic Transmission Fluid Cooler to help preserve transmission. I was just wondering what a good kind to get is and where can I get it? Is it one of those that you just pour in? Thanks and sorry for another dumb question. IM trying to learn as much about this stuff as possible. THanks

 

Its not a fluid, it is like a radiator that cools tranny fluid. Our Maximas already have one that is located under the radiator (actually its the lower third), but some people install aftermarket coolers to aid with the cooling. Anybody for where you get them?

 

I got mine through Pepboys and had a $15 discount cause some of the fins were bent. So what did I do?....saved the $15 by spending a good hour tediously bending each one back Don't you always look for the extra work whenever possible so you could feel real accomplished afterward?

 

Im gonna be buy one soon from Pep Boys, Hayden 405 tranny cooler. My Tranny guy told me i could fit bigger but ill stick to the 405. Now I just need $100 to pay for the unit and install.

 

Thanks guys! So do you think it is really nessesary to get one? I have a 1997 Maxima SE with 86K miles on it and have had not problems with it at all. GOt it with 80K on it. The only thing is the hard 1-2 shift which ive heard a lot of Max owners say they have to and is pretty common. Thanks again for the help!

 

the ATF cooler should lower the ATF temps by 10-20 degrees, depending on the size/shape/fins. This should increase the life of any auto tranny by 10-20%. Definately worth it considering a rebuilt tranny costs 10-15 times as much as the cost of the cooler itself.

 

Ok then I probably get one. What is a good one? ny96maxse said he got a Hayden 405 tranny cooler. Will this be good for my 97 SE? ALso a buddy of mine has a 97 GXE and was wanting to get one, would his be a different size or would they be the same. ny96maxse said it would cost him 100 bucks for the unit and install, is this about what im looking at as far as price goes? That is a very reasonable price. And finally where would I get it installed? Would most Import Shops do it or would it have to be somewhere special? THanks for all the help it is greatly appreciated.

 

Anyone know? ANy Ideas? Thanks again

 

First of all, the stock setup does not have a cooler in the radiator; it is a heat exchanger. While the car is warming up, passing the transmission fluid through it warms it up. This is done to get the transmission fluid up to its proper operating temperature and viscosity. The transmission has its own temp sensor and won't do things like lock up the torque converter until the temperature reaches 176 F.
On a hot day, with the engine at its equalibrium point of 195 F, the radiator is too hot to cool the fluid much at all. It's under these conditions where a real cooler is needed, so the temp can be dropped 30-40 degrees.
Now when a real cooler is put in (in series, after the radiator) it will take longer for the fluid to heat up. There are two good solutions to this: synthetic ATF and B&M cooler. The synthetic ATF doesn't increase its viscosity as much as regular ATF when it's cold. The B&M cooler has a termostatic feature to internally bypass the cooling section when the fluid is thick (cold). The B&M cooler is also a more efficent design than the Hayden "fin and tube design". If you live in the norther part of the country, I would get the 5 3/4" x11" one, and the 7" x 11" one for warm areas.
Using a cooler and synthetic ATF (replaced every 30k miles) can double the life of the transmission.

 

I bought mine from www.Summitracing.com. I bought the one that has the same dimensions as the Hayden 404. Install is easy if you can get the car on lift. Greg Prete got the direction on how to do it in the mods section https://maxima.org/shoptalk/sub_modi...r/index.shtml.. DIY, save some $$$$ on install and if something happens to it in the future (ie. leak do to flying rocks) then you can fix it yourself. Good luck.

brubenstein-
Which model of B&M tranny cooler has termostatic feature to internally bypass the cooling section when the fluid is thick (cold) ? I would like to get a second one and install it on my wife's Acura. TIA.

 

Ok I appreciate the help but since I am so new to this some of this stuff still looks foreign to me. Now I live IN Colorado which model do you think I should get? Also I dont feel comfortable installing it myself because to be honest with you the only thing ive ever dont myself is change my oil/filter. Thats why im trying to learn about this. So where is a place I can get it installed? Did you say you have to replace the cooler every 30K miles? Thanks for the help It is greatly appreciated!

 

IMHO, Hayden 404 is OK. Hayden 403 will work also. One trade off- smaller tranny coolers will result in less pressure drop but won't cool as much when compare to bigger ones.



Best guess -You may want to call local tranmission place ?




No. Once the cooler's in place, you don't need to replace it.
You need to drain and fill Tranmission FLUID every so often tho.

 

Thanks Maxdriver I appreciate it!!! Ill go get one soon. Oh one more thing. How much do you think the install will cost? Thanks

 

http://www.bmracing.com/

70255 SuperCooler 16,000 GVW 11"x5-3/4"x3/4"
70268 SuperCooler 19,000 GVW 11"x7-1/2"x3/4"

There's very little price difference between the two, so the choice would depend on local climate and driving.
One of the other nice things about the B&M coolers is that they have mounting flanges so they can be mounted to brackets (included in kit) if you want something neater than tie-wraping it to the condensor.
These coolers are also thin enough to be sanwiched between the radiator and condensor, as one mounting solution.

 

Hayden's 5-series coolers are of a similar design to the B&M coolers. No 'thermostatic features' though. Can't say that I've seen a B&M with that feature, but it's been a while since I've seen the B&M lineup. Got my Hayden for ~ $60 at Pep Boys. Works great!

 

Now im pissed! Now my problem is I dont have a Pep Boys within 300 miles of me. Anyone know any other places that sell them besides on the net? Thanks

 

Curious why don't you buy from the net ?
Most autoparts stores in my area sell tranny coolers but it's not made by Hayden. Frankly, I think any brand of tranny cooler would do as long as it has the same or a bit smaller dimensions than Hayden 404 model.
Good luck.

 

Try AutoZone. Last time I check they have the Hayden 403 model...not sure if they have anything bigger.

 

Its not hard. go to the General forum area and look at Hayden 404 tranny install, takes 30 minutes to do And I explain everything in there. Its in the 5th gen. Forum under the sticky technical thread. And its in the Southeast forum under Tranny cooler install. So check it out save some money and do it your self. Just think, Im 19. I had a friend from the Atl maximas help me but its easy. If I can do it then you can too.