Thread: Auto tranny cooler questions??

So, I'm thinking about purchasing a transmission cooler for my SE-R, but while searching for the right cooler I came to the realization that....I have no freakin idea of what would suit my application! I've looked at some B&M's that fairly priced, but clicking to see what the details are, I'm confused. There's 2 race ones with different GVW's and BTU rates(15,000 GVWs & 15,000 BTUs & or 28,000 GVW & 20,000 BTUs) and there's a regular one with 19,000 GVW & 13,000 BTU...I'm confusedNow correct me if I'm wrong. GVW='s Gross Vehicle Weight...right?, so what does BTU =? Any help would be greatly appreciated, to help me with this purchase so I can help my tranny last longer! Thanks- Snoop

Posted bc I always wanted a tranny cooler

BTU= British thermal unit, a measurement of heat,
approximatly the amount of heat required to to raise the temperature of a pound of water one degree [or the amount of heat lost to lower 1lb of h2o 1*]
it's not a good way to judge here
imo

^^^ Thanks for the info yogi, but I'm still confused

WTF? 2 days... 2 replies & only 1 of them was useful!

youll be fine with the regular one, prolly the cheapest. GVWS are listed because usually only larger vehicles are equipped with transmission coolers, therefore the more load you would carry, the bigger the cooler you would need. since we only have a small car a regular cooler would give significant temp drops. mind you though, if you encounter any kind of cold climates, the tranny isnt going to warm up for shit meaning hard shifting for probably twice as long as usual

Thank you homie! Your post was very helpful

sorry snoopSER
i'm cutting down on post time and increasing out in the air time. lol

here is a broad selection, choose from the smaller ones [15,000gws is plenty]
there are two types, simple fat bent tubes like this
Derale 13303 Derale Tube & Fin Transmission Coolers

and those more protected, with finished end plates
if you are mounting this low in the frame and rocks or debris are a problem in your area ,choose the more protected ones like this
B&M 70273 B&M SuperCooler Transmission Coolers

Thanks Yogi! The B&M was the one I was actually looking at...as a matter of fact it was the same web site!

good vendor and despite the experience the sentra community had with the poor design of their short shifter
b&m generally makes good stuff
and this is a nice kit

I lucked out and got one from my friend for free so now it runs through the stock cooler and a huge (~12x8x3/8). Heat is tge number one killer of transmissions and I'm sure that is what killed mine. I was trying to find ways to lower underhood temps and prevent too much heat soak but I've been a bit distracted by the CTS V I just bought lol got it from the guy that gave me that huge cooler.

^^^ Lucky bastard lol! Im getting the B&M supercooler, & show us some pics of the CTS-V! I love the exhaust note on the earlier model ones!...Corvette motor in a 4 dr luxo car is nice!

Yea I got an 05 with the 5.7l ls6 and t56. I'm in love

is there a way to connect a trans temp gauge to this kind of setup to monitor the temp of the tranny?

Any pics of anyone's setup?

BUMP!? Would I have an issue running a B&M tranny cooler (70268) in colder weather? like Colorado? I was reading and apparently B&M's have in built by pass so it wouldn't matter so much with the tranny running TOO cold to start shifting properly. Any ideas?

So no advice...well looking into a tranny cooler with a fan...like the B&M 70298. Its 7.5 x 10" x 4", so it should fit on the right side...anyone have a layout of how the transmission fluid should be flowing, where is the outlet of the transmission fluid on the stock tranny cooler? Then I plan to install a tranny temp gauge as well

So I ordered the B&M BMM-70298, and going to get a Prosport oil temp gauge (since the don't make trans temp gauge) and monitor the temps

Main reason for the fan pushed tranny cooler if anyone asks is I like the fact it will turn on when it reaches 175 degree in tranny oil temp in the cooler, something I can use when I move to FL , with a in built sensor. I could have went cheapo and got a $50 cooler (this one was $200!), but I figured it could $$ well spent...big believer into "spend a litte more NOW or ALOT more later...especially on transmissions.

ENgine oil temp gauge isn't going to do it. Trans temps are higher. I have mine run inline with the factory cooler to keep the temps around normal, I just have a large one mounted where my a/c condenser was, it's like a third the size of my radiator.