Using ATF cooler section of Radiator for oil cooler

[ErickysGTP]

Anyone who has seen new factory replacement radiators from most part stores or an auto tranny radiator will know what im talking about here. Im thinking of removing the factory water/oil cooler and using an ebay 1/2" NPT oil cooler filter adapter and running the lines to the ATF section of a new auto-DSM radiator. My car is a 5-speed so I dont have any other use for this section. Problem is I dont have any idea how much suface area is used just for the ATF section on these newer style replacement radiators. And your getting warmer air flowing thru from your front mount versus having an external 6" square cooler on the drivers side. Has anyone out there ever tried this? Was it adequate? I'm going to ask around today in Green Bay at some part stores for more info on the radiator. Any input appreciated. If this turns out to be a good idea ill post a how-to article for it since it would be very cheap alternative to buying a '90 oil filter housing and ext. oil cooler.

 

[Wpgdsm]

I know on a Chevy rad the trans cooler inside the rad is just a tube that runs from the top to the bottom. You could use it as an oil cooler but if you want something that would really work, go and get an auxilary trany cooler and use it as an engine oil cooler. Its about the same size as the oil cooler on a 1g. The trany coolers in rads do not disapate enough heat to be usefull. Aux trany coolers go for less than $100. The only problem I forsee in doing this is the input lines on a tranny cooler are alot smaller than an oil cooler so you may have an oil starvation situation if going to a much smaller line reduces oil flow.

 

[Artago]

Hey ErickysGTP, I was just wondering if you tried using the lower radiator passage as an oil cooler. I'm thinking of doing the same thing. Please let me know if you did it and how it worked out for you. Thanks.

 

[PapioGXL]

If you really want a good cooler, get a 2nd gen RX-7 oil cooler. They are very large (about 24x3), and very efficient, plus it has a built in thermostat. Best part is you can grab them for cheap from a junkyard, or <$50 shipped sometimes online.