| got_s54? |
I've done a lot of reading about towing with the Pilot. I have a 1997 Seadoo Challenger Jet boat that weighs 900lbs dry + trailer that I'm planning to pull with the Pilot. I'd been pulling this with a 2001 Frontier 4x4 3.3v6 5SP M/T with no where near the HP or torque that the Pilot has. It didn't even have any special coolers, yet never had any problem towing.
In anycase, I already bought and installed a Valley Industries class 3 trailer hitch and am now planning to install an aftermarket transmission cooler and power steering cooler.
From a post referring back to the odyssey club, I read about the TruCool LPD 4452 transmission cooler. Is this big enough to use or should I go bigger, say the model TruCool LPD 4454 ?
As for the power steering cooler, could I go with the Hayden OC-1401 tube and fin? It seems like it would be more efficient than the OEM power steering cooler and is only $22.
Any thoughts and suggestions? I'm really not interested in going the OEM cooler route as they just don't look effective enough to justify their cost. |
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| iam1ru12 |
If you're thinking of going with the 4454, you might as well go with the 4543. It's a stacked plate and fin design versus the just the stacked plate design of the 4454. It's the exact same size as the 4454 (7 1/4 x 11 x 3/4 thick) however it's got a higher heat rating, 15,000 BTUs for the 4543 versus 13,000 for the 4454.
PDF for Tru-Cool ATF Coolers
I've just purchased my second Tru-Cool cooler from Makco Distributing, Inc (http://www.bulkpart.com)...one for the Odyssey and one for the Pilot. They really easy to work with, have great commincation, you can track your order via a link on their site to UPS...all in all an online retailer that's easy to work with. In both cases, I placed my order around lunch time (Eastern time) and it was shipped that same day. Makco has the 4543 for a dollar cheaper than the 4454.
If you're doing the ATF cooler install, you might as well install an inline Magnefine ATF filter as well. It takes all of 5 extra minutes to do so.
Regards,
-Mike |
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| jestmaty |
Heck.... if you have the room, and you know we PIlot owners do, put the biggest one you want to for tranny cooling.
On my wife's '04 Pontiac Vibe, I put the Tru-cool AT cooler that measures 11" X 11" X 3/4". Rated for giant RV's and such!!
I've always had manual transmissions up until '04 when we bought the Pilot and the Vibe. No, actually, we had a '92 Mazda MPV with 4 sp auto that had a tranny burn up. We bought it in early 2000 with 65,000 miles on it. I have been wary of auto transmissions ever since the meltdown at about 75,000 miles on the MPV..
In all fairness, that entire vehicle was a piece of junk, so the tranny breakdown was maybe just a random occurrence.
Back to the topic... We use the Pontiac to tow a 1500lb pop-up camper to the lake. That is pretty much at the max of the Vibe's tow rating. I check the fluid level frequently, and it is still pink and doesn't smell like it gets burned or too hot. Very pleased with the Tru-cool.
I personally would go with the biggest one you can fit behind the bumper! |
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| iam1ru12 |
quote:
Originally posted by jestmaty
.......I personally would go with the biggest one you can fit behind the bumper!
To certain point I agree with you, bigger the better, only if you have a tranny cooler with the by-pass mechanism so you're not cooling fluid that is already cool. ATF needs to be somewhat warm/viscous to protect properly. The Tru-Cool "LDP" models all have the Low Presure Drop feature built in that keeps cool fluid from going through the whole cooler. More info in the PDF link above.
However you don't want to get too big otherwise you're taking away air flow from your radiator. I have no idea how big is too big. I have made it a point to track my engine temp. since installing the cooler. My van does not run any hotter than normal with the 7' x 11" cooler blocking a portion of the radiator.
-Mike |
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| got_s54? |
Thanks for the recommendations! I think I'm going to go with the 4353 after all.
What about for the power steering cooler? Would a simple Hayden tube and fin OC-1401 be sufficient? And do you guys think this is really necessary? |
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| iam1ru12 |
got_s54?,
As far as getting the PS cooler, all I could really find was the Hayden. However I wonder if there is really a difference in the design for a PS cooler versus an ATF cooler. Obviously the ATF cooler needs to be more robust as there is more heat generated by the transmission versus the PS system (that is unless you're doing some rock crawling or serious off-roading).
I think the Tru-Cool (made by Long Manufacturing, owned by Dana Corp) also makes many of the OEM coolers. The Toyota EOM ATF cooler on the Sequoia we almost bought looks indentical to the Tru-Cool cooler. The same goes for the ATF cooler in the 2009 Pilot. Given what I've heard about Tru-Cool, I would prefer to go with their PS coolers (Link to Dana PS Coolers, however they seem very difficult to find. I would guess that as far as quality Hayden is just as good if not as good as Tru-Cool/Long Mfg/Dana Corp.
-Mike |
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| got_s54? |
Thanks guys! I went ahead and ordered the TruCool 4353 today.
I also checked out the Dana products. The OEM one looks just like it as you mentioned, but am having a hard time finding a distributor.
Then I came across this brand of power steering coolers: Derale
They make tube and fin coolers as well as frame rail tube and fin coolers.
What do you think about this one ? I figure with the brackets it has, it should make mounting it a bit easier and 24" of finned tubing should be sufficient to cool, right?
I'm guessing I'd need the 11/32" barb instead of the AN-6 inlet, correct?
Finally, I found this one which looks like it could work as well, but it only comes with AN-6 fittings This one looks good because it doesn't have the top or bottom metal frame that the Derale has which i'd imagine would block some airflow to the radiator. But perhaps it's not enough to have an effect. Thoughts? |
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| deanmcneill |
I have an aftermarket Tranny cooler (Flex-A-Lite Tube and Fin model) and installation looks easy enough, but I do have have one (Stupid?) question...
There's two connections and they aren't marked "in" & "out" so I'm guessing it doesn't matter? Probably just a flow through system right?
Thanks, Dean |
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| dustino8 |
quote:
Originally posted by deanmcneill
I have an aftermarket Tranny cooler (Flex-A-Lite Tube and Fin model) and installation looks easy enough, but I do have have one (Stupid?) question...
There's two connections and they aren't marked "in" & "out" so I'm guessing it doesn't matter? Probably just a flow through system right?
Thanks, Dean
With the trucool one I installed it didn't matter. If its not marked and the instructions don't say anything, I wouldn't think that it matters. |
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| iam1ru12 |
| On my install, since I had the in/out connections pointing to the driver's side , i.e. - mounted on it's side (as that required the least amount of extra hose), I routed hose coming out of the radiator to the top ATF cooler connection (thus in) and the hose out of the ATF cooler connected to the return line of the ATF to the transmission. |
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| deanmcneill |
Thanks for the info guys.... I expect I still need to do the bumper removal eh?
Sounds like the cooler install itself is pretty easy... bumper removal and reinstall is the time consuming part I exect.
Dean |
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| dustino8 |
| I removed the bumper (and splashgards, etc) to do mine, but I believe VettePilot did his without removing the bumper. I removed it just to give more room to work with, however it is the most time consuming part. |
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| got_s54? |
So I installed the TruCool 4353 cooler like you guys suggested and it turned out really well! For now, I bolted the top brace onto the power steering cooler bracket. When I replace the power steering cooler, I'll use a longer bracket and will mount it elsewhere. I also flushed the tranny fluid with fresh fluid.
In any case, I pulled my 15ft Seadoo Challenger Jet boat up the grapevine (hwy 5) to Pyramid Lake and the Pilot did great! It's got a lot more power and better braking than the 2001 3.3L V6 Nissan Frontier 4x4 Crew Cab it replaced.
The only design flaw I feel it has is the lack of an overdrive disable. If I could keep it in 4th when towing up an incline, the Pilot would be perfect. Oh well, I can't complain. It's about perfect in every other way.
Here are some pics:
TruCool 4353 cooler with lower brackets bolted on:
Pics showing lower brackets:
"Z" bend to the top bracket. Note the hole drilled on the power steering cooler bracket:
Top bracket installed:
Front pic:
Bumper back on and the brackets spray painted flat black:
Rear trailer hitch and wiring harness mount:
So far, I spent $100 for the hitch, $20 for the wiring harness, $60 for the transmission cooler plus some extra for the tranny fluid. Not bad considering the price of the Honda OEM parts and knowing this cooler is FAR more efficient.
Next will be the power steering cooler |
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| iam1ru12 |
got_s54?,
Thanks for sharing and great job! Just curious, on the non-oem wiring harness, did you also have to install a 20A fuse in the relay box under the hood?
Thanks!
-Mike |
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| got_s54? |
quote:
Originally posted by iam1ru12
got_s54?,
Thanks for sharing and great job! Just curious, on the non-oem wiring harness, did you also have to install a 20A fuse in the relay box under the hood?
Thanks!
-Mike
Thanks, Mike. As for the 20A fuse in the relay box under the hood, no I didn't install one, but I'm thinking of doing it.
Everything works fine, but I'm trying to understand how it's tied into the system. In my experience, a blown fuse or no fuse means there's a break in the circuit and therefore the lights shouldn't be working, yet they are. :confused:
Anyone else have any thoughts? |
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| airbos |
Neat job and pics.
Are the clips holding the grille and bumper cover hard to remove? Did you just use a screwdriver? Did you need to replace any clips from breaking them?
Pics of clips below. |
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| got_s54? |
| Nope, those clips are a breeze to remove. All I used was a screwdriver. The trick is to lift the part thats pushed in, just a bit, like you can see on that one in the middle. Use a screwdriver on the notched part of the base of the clip to pry up the flat part. Once the flat part is pulled up a bit, pull the whole clip out. There shouldn't be any resistance when pulling it. I didn't break a single one and my Pilot is an 04. |
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