Y33 ATF Cooler Maxnix Install: ?'s

[KingKarl]

I have decided to go with the MAXNIX B&M transmission fluid cooler install in the space forward of the driver's side wheel well. After looking at the pics and reading about the application, I need to ask Max (or anyone who has duplicated his procedure) to clarify: - I notice your Q is on a lift...will I need to do likewise or will wheel removal and Jack stands allow me enough room to drill and mount? - Is the most efficient flow to connect the the B&M cooler in series...intake line to the OEM, in-radiator cooler outflow line, B&M outflow back to transmission? - How do increases in the length that the AT fluid must travel to return to the transmission effect pumping pressure/flow volume back to the transmission? - Will my cousin Eric ever recover from the injuries he sustained when he tried to use aluminum lawn chairs as jack stands while changing the oil in his really heavy, Olds 442? (Max, he reallly tried this with predictable results. Luckily, the laws of physics prevailed before he was able to crawl underneath.)

[elwesso]

Surprised brian hasnt seen this yet, however i think i can answer your questions, ill try and be cynnical so its like brian is posting

You wont need a lift, SAFETY stands will be fine

Personally I would completely bypass the cooler, he may tell you otherwise, but i see no reason to heat the fluid, then cool the fluid!!!! PLus the stock coolers are known to clog, the B/M wont!

Remember that the transmission does not suck fluid in, simply pushes it thru. It doesnt matter which hose goes on the cooler just stick them on...

The extra distance (not much) wont have much effect on anything.... Just maintain things as good as you can, it wont hurt anything. Your doing more good by installing the cooler than ANY damange youd be hypothetically doing (which would be little to none) by extending the length...

ANd dont have your cousin eric help you!!

[FarFetched]

The only one problem I see with inside-fender install is heat shock when you stop for a prolonged time. I practice N position at every "long" stoplight. However, it is up to the owner where and how to install add-on parts. One thing I want to say my auxilary cooler gets FREAKING hot after a good drive. But I live in Washington state(Seattle) where lots of hills I would really consider using a fan assisted cooler in that area!It's my .02$Cheers!

[PoorManQ45]

Question: Any benefits from installing two coolers?

[FarFetched]

I guess you can install second radiator (full size) to take care of heat from transmission. I mean Cheers!

[PoorManQ45]

Haha, yeah I'm thinking of getting rid of the radiator that is infront of the main one anyways. It's for AC, correct?

[maxnix]

I have decided to go with the MAXNIX B&M transmission fluid cooler install in the space forward of the driver's side wheel well. After looking at the pics and reading about the application, I need to ask Max (or anyone who has duplicated his procedure) to clarify:1.) - I notice your Q is on a lift...will I need to do likewise or will wheel removal and Jack stands allow me enough room to drill and mount?2.) - Is the most efficient flow to connect the the B&M cooler in series...intake line to the OEM, in-radiator cooler outflow line, B&M outflow back to transmission?3.) - How do increases in the length that the AT fluid must travel to return to the transmission effect pumping pressure/flow volume back to the transmission?4.) - Will my cousin Eric ever recover from the injuries he sustained when he tried to use aluminum lawn chairs as jack stands while changing the oil in his really heavy, Olds 442? (Max, he reallly tried this with predictable results. Luckily, the laws of physics prevailed before he was able to crawl underneath.)

1.) I am old and don't want to die under my car like Eric. On a lift, it is trivial to remove the wheel well liner and under engine tray. Job done in 30 minutes or less.

2.) Left it in series, but you certainly don't have to do this. Connection sequence is correct.

3.) Nil as pressure is constant. Slight increase in fluid volume is a slight benefit.

4.) Eric scares me.

The changes to the 1994 and later G50 ATF heat exchanger and external filtration and seemd to mitigate the woes of the earlier designs. The FY33 ATF heat exchanger design is a large step backwards, but the demands from the VH41DE and the slightly less mass of the vehicle seem to mitigate this somewhat as reported transmissions failures on this are not as common as early (pre-1994) G50. But less miles is certainly also a factor.

Excessive idling would benefit from an auxiiary fan, but most ATF heat is generated by applied power and slipping of the internal parts. Don't hold it on a hill with the throttle. I prefer this position because it is protected from stones and won't increase thermal loading on the mariginal cooling system for the engine and AC.

The great thing about the FY33 is the passenger side wheel well liner is louvered also, so an oil cooler could go over ther with only a little more difficulty.

[FarFetched]

You mean condenser? Yes, you can put an "intercooler" for all you cooling needs(oil, transm, p/s even brakes you can spent a few $$ and get "NASCAR" system brakes with return valves (recirculators) (so fluid doesn't stay in the caliper)...That wold be a killer set up on something as heavy as Q45.
Modified by FarFetched at 10:50 PM 5/13/2005

[elwesso]

Honestly i dont like the idea of the cooler in the area brian put it in... I like it in between the radiator and condensor... Heres why

1. You need the most cooling at idle, in drive, with the foot on the brake. Where brian has his, there is no cooling happening. Where i have it, the fan is always pulling the same amount of air through.... THe condensor doesnt really get that hot (just warm)....2. At a highway cruise, you DONT need it as much. It is important but not as much.3. If you strategically place it in front of the radiator, you wont be decreasing its cooling much at all... I placed it at the upper drivers side. on th g50, at this location, the LEAST amount of cooling is occurring.... However, the fan still pulls air through there...

Id strongly reconsider putting it in the wheel well... I thought about this as well, and i decided it made more sense to do it the other way....

[KingKarl]

Thanks folks! I'm all over it as soon as the parts arrive from Joe and Summit.

Max, Eric is indeed scary. He is an Electrical Engineer...very bright but with absolutely no common sense. He perpetually tries to "beat the system." In most instances, the system he challenges relates to Newtonian Physics. Although his DIY escapades are mind-boggling, his experiences while driving motorized vehicles are really frightening. At family get-togethers I like to get him going with a "What about the time you drove the pie bakery delivery van?" In rapid succession he will go from the pie van story, to Eric gets a motorcycle (the Associated Press titled this one "So You Think You've Had a Bad Day?"), to Eric drives a Turn-about (hauling coal at the power plant during a Teamster's strike), to Eric barrows Dad's huge motorhome and buys a toll booth on the Sunshine State Parkway. His wife has been an unwilling participant in many of these events and just shakes her head as he relives them for us. Each one is hilarious and involves him trying to do something with the vehicle that can't be done, no matter how ingenious the approach. Needless to say, I will NOT consult Eric about the installation of my ATF cooler or anything else, for that matter.

[maxnix]

Honestly i dont like the idea of the cooler in the area brian put it in... I like it in between the radiator and condensor... Heres why

1. You need the most cooling at idle, in drive, with the foot on the brake. Where brian has his, there is no cooling happening. Where i have it, the fan is always pulling the same amount of air through.... THe condensor doesnt really get that hot (just warm)....2. At a highway cruise, you DONT need it as much. It is important but not as much.3. If you strategically place it in front of the radiator, you wont be decreasing its cooling much at all... I placed it at the upper drivers side. on th g50, at this location, the LEAST amount of cooling is occurring.... However, the fan still pulls air through there...

Id strongly reconsider putting it in the wheel well... I thought about this as well, and i decided it made more sense to do it the other way....

1.) Is not true as at idle there is no load or slipping unless the driver is holding the car on the hill with the accelerator. Without ducting, the fan has minimal effect on cooling airflow. Look at fan shrouds for the electric condensor fans, the engine fan, and the active fluid cooling raddiator. The condensor can reach temperatures quite near 176° F, the temperature or less at which one wants to maintain the ATF fluid. There is not much margin left in TX summer when the air temperature is 100+° F as the condensor will be at least 40° F hotter.

2.) True, unless you are south of the Red River and the temperature off the asphalt is 140° F or more. At a constant locked-up cruise, there is not slippage, but at constant up and down gear change while accelerating, there is a lot of ATF heat generated. The uphill cruise from LA to Vegas is known to have impacted severely early G50 ATF temperatures and led to premature failure.

3.) The additional heat loading is undeniable and not insignificant when placed in series with the condenser and radiator and adds additional stress to a marginal cooling system putting the car that much closer to timing retardation, especially when in a heated environment like the TX summer. The B&M70268 is probably adequate, but the B&M70264 is more adequate and recieves better unimpeded cooler airflow of greater volume when located where the active cooler is.

[FarFetched]

Let me ask why is many car manufacturers place trans coolers infront of condenser/radiator. What drives them to place it with air flow priority? Also lok at sizes of each cooler. In A/C the condenser gets hot like it suppose to. Radiator har enormous area for heat to dissipate with good help from an engine fan. Most of all engine fan affects cooling all the time by pulling air through while engine is running, more so if fan clutch lockes up. We all know, that bottom or radiator stays much cooler that top of it. Adding something as small as transmission cooler will not affect (unless cooling system is in bad shape) properly working cooling system. Important thing is no one can convince me othervise.

[maxnix]

1.) Let me ask why is many car manufacturers place trans coolers infront of condenser/radiator. What drives them to place it with air flow priority? Also lok at sizes of each cooler. [Foreign language follows] 2.) We all know, that bottom or radiator stays much cooler that top of it. Adding something as small as transmission cooler will not affect (unless cooling system is in bad shape) properly working cooling system. Important thing is no one can convince me othervise.

1.) Usually space and manufacturing costs are the determining factors. Let me ask you why Nissan didn't put the active cooler in front of the radiator and save on the extra fans?

2.) I know the G50 radiator is a reverse flow. Is the VH41DE also reverse flow? I bet it is. Cooling system is marginal in G50 and FY33. Read Dennis' posts.
Modified by maxnix at 10:59 PM 5/14/2005

[FarFetched]

Honestly I don't have a lot of expeience with Nissan and other Japan made automobiles. Most larger american cars/trucks have coolers infront of radiator (trust me). I have worked on Pick-ups with 2.4L and that is an extent of my knowlege on Nissan systems. One thing I will never forget is a PCV (cause of emiss failure in most cases)on 2.4L pick-up. You spend more time fishing it out than the whole tune-up!I compared Ford Crown Victory and Q45 cooling systems. One thing I noticed that Q45 system distributes coolant from the middle of engine block vs. CrownVic from the front which is disadvantage. Also, Q45 t-stat is dual valve that helps not only fast warm ups, but redirecting hot/cold water for better cooing. I don't know how different new (97-01) and old(96 down) cooling systems. But I know one thing that aluminum engines are easier to cool that cast iron. It all applies only to a properly working cooling system. I know (I've met with ford engineers during training) that there is cost saving factor (big one), however, they have to think of longivety of parts and systems. Especially nowadays wheere people don't give a damn about maintainance at all. So, longer service intervals are on of the key factors in building automobiles. First thing I did when I got my Old Lady, I checked integrity of Cooling system. Second, I flushed oil coolant and use long life (silicate base) coolant. I can go on forever with cooling systems I have a good field experience with coolants and their perfromances! At the end maintainance is the key for longivety!Cheers!