Trans. Fluid / Oil Coolers
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3416
Printed Date: 16 Aug 2025 at 4:21am
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Topic: Trans. Fluid / Oil Coolers
Posted By: coopercdrkey
Subject: Trans. Fluid / Oil Coolers
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2013 at 8:31am
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As we look forward to the day when our travels with the R-Pod will take us beyond the Florida border, and likely into some terrain that is significantly more challenging than what we are used to, the topic of transmission fluid cooling and engine oil cooling is becoming important. Our Jeep Grand Cherokee has an idiot light that indicates over-heating of the transmission. It has never come on, but if it ever did, the damage will probably have been done. I have heard of an aftermarket cooler that will handle both the transmission fluid and the engine oil. Anybody have any experience or advice? Thanks in advance. ------------- Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71 |
Replies:
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2013 at 9:01am
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Personally, I switched over to synthetic oil and synthetic tranny fluid and added a tranny cooler. I wasn't too concerned about an oil cooler. After 4 years of towing my RPOD with my admittedly undersized Tribute, everything is fine - coolant and oil temps are always in the normal range, even when in hot, hilly conditions. Transmission fluid - now, that gets a wee bit hot (occasionally topping 210 degrees) and I replace it annually. To help keep an eye on things (primarily the transmission), I bought a http://www.scangauge.com/products/scangaugeii/ - ScanGauge II . Its excellent and I highly recommend it. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: bhamster
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2013 at 9:54am
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We installed a Derale transmission cooler when we originally prepped our car for towing. It seems to be doing a great job so far. It sits in front of your radiator and the fluid runs inline with the stock transmission cooling line (which in our case is the lowest part of the stock radiator). It was easy to add and fairly inexpensive. http://www.etrailer.com/Transmission-Coolers/Derale/D13502.html - http://www.etrailer.com/Transmission-Coolers/Derale/D13502.html
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Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2013 at 10:45am
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coopercdrkey you may want to check with your Jeep dealer on your trans to see what kind of fluid that is used in it. Our 07 Grand Cherokee uses a synthetic fluid. We have the factory tow package and have not had an issue in the two years that we have towed out west with some of those days being over 100 degrees during the day. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: TIDALWAVE
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2013 at 11:42am
 I used a Jeep Liberty to tow my Pod. It had the 'tow upgrade' but also did not have a trans temp display. I found out that the Jeep did have temp sensors for the computers. I bought a ScanGauge II that plugs into the OBD outlet below the dash on the drivers side. The SGII displayed the trans temp plus a lot of other outputs. The biggest plus is that the SGII will output engine error codes when the 'check engine' light comes on. I went to the Internet and printed out the nearly 100 error codes, which also came with suggestions on what is wrong and how to possibly fix it.One day the 'check engine' light came on...at first I thought "well into the service garage and a $100 minimum fee!" But then I used the SGII and looked up the code. It stated that the fuel line pressure had dropped...the first suggestion was to check the gas cap! Sure enough...less than a hour before I had refueled and had not spun the cap to the first click! The check light went out... the SGII had nearly paid for itself that time! When towing in the mountains during the summer...I monitored the trans temp continuously. The temp never got very hot...it was reassuring to look down and see that the trans was not overheating. ------------- TIDALWAVE |
Posted By: RPodWeGo
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2013 at 11:45am
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My "personal mechanic" and very good friend also installed the Derali tranny cooler from Etrailer. Inexpensive part will yield $$$ of savings later down the road and potentially a breakdown in the middle of no where! From what I have read & told, cheap insurance. ------------- RPodWeGo RPod 177 04 v8 Toyota 4Runner |