Transmission Cooler: Description and Operation

Transmission Cooling
Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions have a transmission auxiliary fluid cooler which is mounted between the radiator and the A/C condenser. In operation, transmission fluid travels from the transmission to the auxiliary transmission fluid cooler then back to the transmission. The transmission auxiliary fluid cooler transfers heat from the transmission fluid to the outside air.

Transmission Cooling

CAUTION: Whenever a transmission has been disassembled to install new parts, a new transmission fluid cooler must be installed and the transmission fluid cooler tubes must be cleaned and backflushed.

NOTE: Cleaning and backflushing the transmission fluid cooling system, along with normal cleaning and inspection, will keep contamination from reentering the transmission and causing a repeat repair.

When internal wear or damage has occurred in the transmission, metal particles, clutch plate material, or band material may have been carried into the torque converter and transmission fluid cooler. These contaminants are a major cause of recurring transmission troubles and must be removed from the system before the transmission is put back in use.