Transmission cooling lines with aux cooler advice needed

[chewychevy67]

Ok. I mounted my aux cooler in front of my rad. I intend to use my rad cooler and my aux cooler. Aux cooler is mounted using well nuts so its rubber mounted and it has threads on its ends so a hard line can thread right to it. Is it better to put a short section of hose in between the transmission and coolers to allow for vibration dampening or will hard line all the way between the 3 be ok?

[cadillac_al]

Good question. I'm not a fan of rubber in my trans lines because I once lost an expensive trans to a brand new rotted rubber hose. My Cadillacs have rubber hose going to the trans coolers from the factory so it must be fairly reliable. Since your cooler is rubber mounted I think you could get by without the rubber line.

[kwmech]

Just a heads up. When using rubber as a replacement for the cooler lines, you'll need to ground the radiator

[Southcity]

My current setup below if it's helpful:

1. Aluminum plate & fin transmission cooler installed in front of radiator
2. Hard lines from transmission which terminate just under the front radiator core
3. Rubber lines from hard lines to tranny cooler (it's a very short run)

I drive my vehicle often, hard and very long distances, I've never had a problem. As long as you use the correct rubber hose type for the job (I used Derale brand) it will work flawlessly. I carry a loop of extra replacement hose and clamps in my rig, if for any reason any part of the setup should fail or become damaged while on the road, it's an easy fix. Tip: use stainless hose clamps as the clamps are exposed to extreme conditions.

[chewychevy67]

Originally Posted by kwmech

Just a heads up. When using rubber as a replacement for the cooler lines, you'll need to ground the radiator

I get that the fluid acts As a conductor but Just curious why? Does it help ground the engine? Keeps the sensors grounded better? Do you have a story about a problem that grounding the rad solved?

[kwmech]

Electrolysis will degrade the radiator itself. The steel lines ground the radiator to the drivetrain. And Yes I have personally dealt with it myself on my dads truck. We did the same thing with a cooler so he could tow his 5th wheel. About 5 months later we had to replace the radiator. Had numerous pin holes through out the core. Got the heads up from the radiator shop. He soldered an electrical tab on the tank for a ground wire. No problems since

[chewychevy67]

That's good info. Thanks for sharing

[CCCC]

I have done it both ways - made hard lines with fittings and used good coolant hose. I do not mount the cooler in front of the rad - rather off to the side. I run first through cooler and then rad. I do not use rubber grommets in mounting the cooler - but just screw the mount strips to metal. Hose lines are short and hardly exposed. No problems either way.