Transmission Oil Cooler Installation

[CoachKarl]

Hello Everyone,

I have recently bought, and want to install properly, an aftermarket transmission oil cooler for my 95 3.8L Windstar. The pamphlet that came with the thing says to hook it up to the return line (the one that deliverers fluid from the radiator to the trans), while my haynes manual seems to indicate that the factory installed cooler gets the hot fluid before it goes into the radiator.

Has anyone installed one of these? Does anyone own a Windstar with the towing package? How is your hooked up? Which tube is the return line, the one attached to the top, or the bottom of the rad?

Karl

[floridatgp]

I have always heard after radiator, and that's how I installed mine. I just pulled loose the rubber hoses where they go from tranny to front end of van. It's no big deal to just start the van for a second to see which is return. If I was at home I could run out and check, but I am at work. I put my tranny cooler on at 18,000 after I bought my 96 van, I have changed it every 20-25,000 miles with mobil1 or aamco semi-synthetic. Its still going at 135,000.

[CoachKarl]

Thanks floridagp,

So to use the rubber hoses right next to the trans means that I'm going to hang this thing in front of the rad kinda on the drivers side . . . according to my instructions, this thing mounts to the existing radiator with little foam pads to inhibit rubbing. Sure looks tight. The PS cooler tube seems to be right where I want to put this thing.

I'll keep you posted.

Karl

[wiswind]

Installing a cooler is a VERY good idea.

Factory Radiator mounted cooler....the fluid flows IN at the TOP....and out the bottom....then, if you have the tow package.....it flows through the auxilary cooler....then IN to the tranny via the BOTTOM line.

I installed an auxilary cooler last spring.....as listed above. I worked with the rubber hoses that are on the driver side of the car...right in front of the tranny.....

[CoachKarl]

Quit for the evening. Trans cooler is in place, in front of the rad. But. I feel I need to drill through the sheet metal under the rad in order to comfortably hook up to that bottom line return (to the transmission) line. Am I overlooking something obvious here? like the holes already there, that the factory used to install trans coolers?

Karl.