Low range driving - cooling trans and intercooler

[MLCE WILSON]

Hi
interested in hearing about improving cooling during extended low range driving (not towing) and slow (limited airflow) ascents with caravan when even with the auto locked temps climb.
Has anyone fitted an intercooler spray kit for slow hot work to maintain output or thermo fans to intercooler and trany cooler to increase airflow. I have the 4mm Bushskinz which may limit airflow especially in slow/low speed situations
thanks

[old Jack]

We did a fair bot of work on this in Adelaide a few years back.

https://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=59603

If you are using you auto trans in "Drive" then temperatures will be higher than using sport/manual mode because in "Drive"the torque converter will unlock rather than drop down a gear or 2.Factory AT program only locks the TC in 3rd, 4th &5th gears.
If you have a torque convertor lockup kit that locks from 2nd gear upward then this also greatly reduces operating temperatures for ATF, Engine Coolant, and Engine Air intake.

We were able to successfully modify the factory steel bar /Bushskinz combination to reduce temperatures but all trials with split pan design bars (ARB/TJM/OL/Ironman) with Bushskinz showed little reduction in operating temperatures.

OJ.

[Jasonmc73]

We did a fair bot of work on this in Adelaide a few years back.

https://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=59603

If you are using you auto trans in "Drive" then temperatures will be higher than using sport/manual mode because in "Drive"the torque converter will unlock rather than drop down a gear or 2.Factory AT program only locks the TC in 3rd, 4th &5th gears.
If you have a torque convertor lockup kit that locks from 2nd gear upward then this also greatly reduces operating temperatures for ATF, Engine Coolant, and Engine Air intake.

We were able to successfully modify the factory steel bar /Bushskinz combination to reduce temperatures but all trials with split pan design bars (ARB/TJM/OL/Ironman) with Bushskinz showed little reduction in operating temperatures.

OJ.

So whats the answer OJ? If one find it A problem & common application obvioulsy.
Lock up kit, drive in Sport & monitor Eng & trans temps??
Just reading the thread you refer too, sounds like probably pay to also fit larger Trans cooler?
The list increases LOL!

[NTBenny]

One of the aspects I really like about my JT intercooler is that a fan is mounted to it which blows air through the core when the a/c is on.

My next project is to install a fan to the transcooler to improve cooling at low speeds or even when stopped.

Benny.

[old Jack]

So whats the answer OJ? If one find it A problem & common application obvioulsy.
Lock up kit, drive in Sport & monitor Eng & trans temps??
Just reading the thread you refer too, sounds like probably pay to also fit larger Trans cooler?
The list increases LOL!

Fitting the side gussets/wings/baffles to the Bushskinz intercooler plate reduced all temperatures in both the Challenger with a Smartbar and NW Pajero with MMAL steel bar.
Fitting inlet baffles behind the MMAL steel bar on the Pajero also contributed the the temperature reductions.
Both cars were run for about a year before TC lockups were fitted, I have found that with my testing and continued use of Lockup Mate and Auto Mate, that significant reductions in all operating temperatures in all conditions results.
I did some tests in regards to the impact of fitting bug screens, results are in this thread.

https://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=14614

I think relocating the Pajero intercooler from behind the swaybar and mounting it at a 45 degree angle with in inlet scoop to collect air from the split pan bullbar should give a reduction in engine air inlet temperatures, I might rekindle this project with Geopaj who was doing experiments with different design intercooler guards.

Geopaj has an additional ATF cooler and I think he has bypassed the factory ATF cooler which is incorporated in the lower portion of the engine coolant radiator, and from our tests this did reduce the ATF temps over standard but not as much as a TC lockup.

Both Twisted 32 and Letsgoplaces have upgraded intercoolers and these do reduce the engine air inlet temperatures significantly but had no effect on ATF temps but do cause a slight increase in engine coolant temperatures.

So after baffling the Bushskinz intercooler guard, the next best mod that reduces all operating temperatures is a TC Lockup kit. I am sure further gains can be made by modifying existing intercooler or fitting a larger intercooler, like wise with fitting an additional ATF cooler.

OJ.

[Jasonmc73]

Fitting the side gussets/wings/baffles to the Bushskinz intercooler plate reduced all temperatures in both the Challenger with a Smartbar and NW Pajero with MMAL steel bar.
Fitting inlet baffles behind the MMAL steel bar on the Pajero also contributed the the temperature reductions.
Both cars were run for about a year before TC lockups were fitted, I have found that with my testing and continued use of Lockup Mate and Auto Mate, that significant reductions in all operating temperatures in all conditions results.
I did some tests in regards to the impact of fitting bug screens, results are in this thread.

https://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=14614

I think relocating the Pajero intercooler from behind the swaybar and mounting it at a 45 degree angle with in inlet scoop to collect air from the split pan bullbar should give a reduction in engine air inlet temperatures, I might rekindle this project with Geopaj who was doing experiments with different design intercooler guards.

Geopaj has an additional ATF cooler and I think he has bypassed the factory ATF cooler which is incorporated in the lower portion of the engine coolant radiator, and from our tests this did reduce the ATF temps over standard but not as much as a TC lockup.

Both Twisted 32 and Letsgoplaces have upgraded intercoolers and these do reduce the engine air inlet temperatures significantly but had no effect on ATF temps but do cause a slight increase in engine coolant temperatures.

So after baffling the Bushskinz intercooler guard, the next best mod that reduces all operating temperatures is a TC Lockup kit. I am sure further gains can be made by modifying existing intercooler or fitting a larger intercooler, like wise with fitting an additional ATF cooler.

OJ.

Thanks for that,
I can see from what you outline extensive efforts which option is the path of least effort for most return for many applications, unless you want to redesign the wheel or had further problems in A given, common application.
In Ag applications you will find many with removable screen, more about grass seed removal etc but for same reasons & obviously these uses of diesel engines are at slow ground speed.
Generally as many would already know these screens are steel on the radiator face basically + screens in bonnets before that screen, not so easy to achieve in ones vehicle of course.
Radiator type coolers compressed air & air nozzle to clean them out, not hoses & water as A general practise is A bad idea.
Keep things clean & lock things up