Slowly putting the 2001 back together.
I put JIC fiitings on the AW4 trans, and I am running copper/nickle trans lines.

It would be easier plumbing for me to abandon the trans cooler (heater) in the radiator,, I would put the trans cooler on the passenger side, same side the trans lines are coming up.
If the Radiator is roughly 200 deg,, how is that cooling the trans fluid??

Thanks for any insight,
Slack

 

I would advise keeping the radiator cooler then plumbing the aux cooler downstream. If installing a temp gauge you should place it in the hot line.

The factory cooler will still be pulling a good amount of heat out of the trans fluid as it gets above the coolant temp. The aux cooler is a second stage of cooling.

 

Keep the factory cooler that is in the radiator. The radiator is usually not 200 degrees, it has 200 degree liquid that is put into it.

I know it may not seem like much, but quite a bit of heat is dissipated through the cooler in the radiator. It makes it that much easier for the aux cooler to do its job.

I know I do not have an aux trans cooler in mine, and I plan to add a smaller one just to make sure it will keep its cool.

 

First thing is that the radiator trans cooler is on the return side of the radiator which is about 160°. That is about what the trans is designed to work at. Now why should you have a aux cooler? The answer lies in what kind of weather you are wheeling in. If you live in hot areas, and have trouble keeping your engine temps down, a thermostatically controlled fan on a aux cooler is a good deal. If however you live in the Dakotas where the weather is frequently below freezing, then an aux cooler can keep your trans too cool to operate optimally. So should you run one, it depends on the weather

 

Keep the cooler in the radiator and plumb the auxiliary cooler in after.

 

I have poked around about this a little here and there.
Now one thing I noticed about my '00 in colder weather.
She shifts a little funny for a bit.
And when I say a bit I mean like a 100 yards.
After she has warmed up even slightly she is good.
Some people have said if you live in a colder climate to use the cooler in the radiator.
And cause of how my Jeep behaves have a tendency to agree.
Now if you live in a warm climate.......
Also there was a bit of time here on the forum where is seemed that we had 2, maybe 3, people post about their cooler in the radiator actually leaking.
Tranny fluid in the coolant. Coolant in the tranny fluid. Betting that was a big mess.
The possibility of that problem would support bypassing the cooler in the radiator so.........
I am going to put a factory one in my Jeep and going to lay it out just like it would have come from the factory.
Using the cooler in the radiator.
Yes I do know that they really are not worth it but I don't tow so....
Just part of my "clone" build. LOL.

 

I thought one of the name brand aux coolers had a temp bypass built in,, may be an option if not using the radiator trans cooler/warmer.

 

Since you is adding a cooler, why not also add a filter? The filter should go upstream of cooler, so in as to filter hot fluid, as hot fluid will give less back pressure across the filter than cold fluid. I run Magnafine filter on the tranny, it has a stainless high pressure body, with both paper pleated media and a strong magnet inside, it also has a bypass valve inside. I also run same on my power steering, which also runs a cooler too. Available in 3/8 or 5/16 inch hose barb ends
see the linky below....

https://magnefinefilters.com/

 

Good idea,,