BenK wrote:
Turtle is smack on and add a few penny's of mine...
Everything has a specification and on this topic...a temperature range for *.YOUR.* truck's automatic (for the ATF spec'd out and if you change to another...then that has it's own temp range spec)
Today's TV's has dozens to over a hundred computers controlling just about EVERYTHING, which on this topic is the temperature for EVERYTHING on the TV
As long as your ATF plumbing routes it back into the main engine radiator, it will be okay to re-engineer by adding another external aux ATF cooler...again...as long as it goes BACK into the main radiator before going back to the auto tranny.
There are conditions when adding another aux ATF cooler isn't recommended and that is in extreme cold. Even routing the ATF back into the main radiator, that coolant heat management system, may NOT be able to reheat it back into the spec temp range and will be over cooled
What means is that the engine heat system has many controls that will keep the engine coolant within its own temp range spec. If your re-engineering over cools the ATF to the point that when the main radiator shuts off 99.9% of the flow into/through the main radiator...it will get over cooled by that extra external ATF cooler
But, you say N Carolina, so not that extreme cold in the winter...but it goes the other way and gets very hot some times.
The OEMs design their whole vehicle for every state in the union's conditions and 'normal' driving. TV's are at the extreme and at the highest end of their spec...if you stay within their specifications for your TV (weight, frontal area, speed, duration of WOT {duty cycle}, max incline at full spec loading, stopping at that max incline and restarting, and a big ETC) it should be okay
But if you are over any of the specification limits/ratings, then you need to re-engineer whatever to help, but it will still be over the OEM's limits/ratings
Bottom line: make sure to keep your ATF (and any other) within the OEM's spec temp range
Ben. My trans cooler is AFTER the radiator, not before it. So the fluid goes straight from the cooler to the trans, and not back thru the radiator.
