Hello All,

Still learning about this auto in my 95 cummins. I plan on upgradeing trannys just can't afford it now. But I have tried to pull my 5er up some dirt mtn. roads and I have to stop frequently due to the tranny temp dummy light(before gauges). Can't go fast enough for TC lockup, and don't want to do it in 4low. But I have been thinking. What do you guys think about mounting a aux fan over the tranny cooler in the front grill. Will this help cool it down? Or is it one of those things that will not help much so don't bother?

 

I have no experiance with 2nd gen autos but in the 89/93 there was a dual trans cooler avaliable. The second unit was mounted under the bed behind the drivers side. The cooler was flat mounted with a shroud and a fan controlled by a thermo switch. My 93 had this and at one point I disabled it just to see, there was a huge difference and I couldent even imaging towing how I did at times with out it. I was pulling a 1800 lb camper with a 3200 lb stock trailer with 2 horses doing 5/10 mph on dirt roads uphill and it would send the temp guage to high for comfort. This was with the sender in the pan also.
So, in short ,I would say go for it, or better yet add a second cooler or a single bigger one.

 

Did you have O/D locked out? Should be able to lock the torque convertor while in 3rd gear.

 

Thanks for the input Apache.

Bmoeller, Yes O/D was locked out. When going up these dirt mtn. roads you are doing anywhere from 5-20 mph. So you do not go fast enough for the TC to lock up. I do not want to put in 4 low to get it into 3rd. I have read a few posts that the tranys stock componants are not really HD enough to do the TC lock bypass on the stock unit and you will slip the TC.

 

Ya, that speed would be too low.

One option would be to put in a 2-low kit. Then you could go low-side, with the front axle disengaged. Would need to be careful, though.

 

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/f...ight=2+low+kit

http://piersdiesel.com/DodgeUSPrice.htm

PDR5718056 2 Low Diff Switch Kit

 

bmoeller, Hmmm, I might be interested in that. Not with the mtn. towing, but for backing up my 5er. In order to get my 5er moving while backin up on any sort of incline, I need to use 4 low. If you can PM me on what to search for, I would gladly research this. I don't want to hijack this thread. Also include why I would need to be careful. Thanks bmoeller.

Jay

 

I pull on back roads about 6500lbs, but I admit not up hill. I have found keeping it in 2nd gear and a nice steady speed, the temps stay managable. I do have a fan mounted over the tranny cooler and that does help allot when the temps get really high. Kevin

 

I have also been thinking of a cooler fan but did not know if it would help enough. Have looked at several fans and they seem easy ehough to mount but have not seen anybody say yea or nay on them. As this thread is on the subject does anyone have experience with add on stock cooler fans? Do they do enough or should a second cooler stack be added?

 

I thank everyone that has contributed to this point. I think I will do the fan. I want to tow once without and watch on my tranny temp gauge. Just curoious to see the temps. Baseline. Will not pull over the dirt mtn roads. Just want a bench mark for highway and a pretty good highway mtn. road. Like Parleys Summit between Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah. Then I will install the fan to see if it helps.

As far as activateing the fan. I have a blank spot next to the O/D switch. I think it was for Fog lights. Anyways, next question.

Anyone know the mfr. of that switch? I would like to get a blank switch (push button like the O/D button) with a light for the fan on and off. If not, I will just use either the fog light switch or anther O/D switch.

Thanks,
Jay

 

OK, this is similiar to the one I used.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW

I am going on my 3rd season, no problems. I did install it upside down and the small drain for the motor was filling with moisture, freezing nd locking up the motor (blowing a fuse). That was an easy fix.

The depth of the fan is a concern. This one bairly fits. You can grind away some of the plastic grill from the inside (not seen on the inside). But it just bairly rubs without grinding.

You need to be a little creative in mounting it. I made up a bracket so no new holes need to be drilled. If anyone is interested, I can send a pic, but won't be able to for a few days.

The power draw is not allot, and you could use the factory fog light switch from a junkyard or something, but no need to make it that difficult. Just mount any old switch under the dash out of sight.

I noticed as much as a 30 degree drop when using this fan. Most noticable while towing, 90 degree heat outside, car accident on the freeway, towing 6500 lbs, stop and go to get past the accident. I also put the truck in nuetral and run the engine at about 1500 rpms when sitting still. This circulates more of the fluid thru the cooler. With the fan running, it keeps temp in control.

There is also a black plastic plate that mounts to the radiator shroud on the engine side of the shroud, behind the trans cooler. Not sure of it's function, but I find the fan works better with this plastic plate removed. I remove it for summer, re-install for winter. Might be my imagintion, but I think it cools the tranny cooler better with this plate removed. Allows for better air movement.

BTW, need a good tranny temp gauge, and it needs to be installed on the OUT line from the convertor that goes to the cooler, as close to the tranny as possible.

Kevin