Transmission Oil Cooler

Project:
Install an external transmission oil cooler

Difficulty Level (Easy, Medium, Hard, Insane):
Medium

Process:
When the van transmission started shifting hard and giving me the P1811 code (particularly when the engine warmed up) I knew I'd have to replace the EPC solenoid which I did later (Tranny Fix) but until all the parts got here I wanted to install a tranny oil cooler to alleviate the symptoms.

It ended up working out quite well because the oil line was close to being rusted through so that would have become an issue sooner or later.

The process was pretty simple: Finding the tranny oil return line, cut it, connect one of the external oil cooler lines to one side and the other line to the one that went back to the transmission.

Pictures:

The $4000 scan tool at Mr. Transmission showing the P1811 code

The rusted line after I took it off and cut it

The $60 oil cooler on my work bench

The return line that goes back into the tranny has been removed

The cooler mounted in front of the radiator

Using the double/bubble flare tool to put a little lip into the oil line so the rubber hose won't slip off

The piece that goes from the main radiator to the external oil cooler

This picture shows the rubber hose coming from the external oil cooler connected to the steel line that goes back to the transmission

The oil line connected to the transmission again

Tools:
Pipe cutter
Double/bubble flare kit
Side cutters
Wrenches
Screwdriver


Materials:
Tranny oil cooler

Cost:
$60.00

Time:
3hr

Savings:
Not sure how much they would have charged me to install, but I'm guessing $130 bucks or so

Conclusion:
It definitely helped in keeping the oil temperature down and prevented the hard shifts 90% of the time.