[squash35]

I'm planning to take a 400 mile trip with an empty utility trailer and then return 400 miles with it full of furniture. Almost all of this trip is interstate and is a pretty flat drive from Atlanta to South GA and back. I bought an aftermarket Hitch, and was reading that Honda recommends an ATF Cooler if you tow anything. I have a 2011 Ody Touring Elite with the 6 speed tranny. Here are my questions.

1. Do I have a serious risk of damaging my transmission without a cooler or is this one of those "we recommend this so we can sell you something" kinda deals.
2. If I have a hitch installed and no ATF cooler, does this void my warranty?
3. Any other advice you wish to offer.

Thanks,
Josh

 

[pkrface]

I personally would not risk a $5K transmission over a $150 cooler. Quite frankly the official Honda trans cooler is anemic and way over priced, as is the dealer labor for install. I would buy the cooler from etrailer.com and have an independent shop do the install if you are not capapble of doing it yourself. Yes, Honda will void the warranty on any component they deem might have been damaged by towing without a cooler if the hitch is there. I tow a pop up camper and can tell you that 400 miles is plenty of time to over heat a transmission if you don't have the cooler.

 

[davedrivesody]

Yeah, better safe than sorry. You're pulling another 600 pounds say, plus the additional aerodynamic drag of the trailer.

 

[dvpatel]

The newer trannies are a bit better but like pkrface says, I wouldn't risk a $5K tranny over a $150 cooler.

 

[Rockwood]

Agreed add the cooler. Save your tranny!


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[squash35]

ok, so I bought the cooler, should be here tomorrow. I have what is likely a stupid question but I just want to be sure I'm clear. My assumption it that the transmission fluid is already being run through a cooler (inside the radiator i think i read). This implies there is a hose coming from the transmission to the radiator (feed hose) and a hose running from the radiator back to the transmission (return hose). I am supposed to unplug the feed hose from the radiator and plug it into the new cooler and unplug the return hose from the radiator and plug it into the new cooler? My questions:
1. Is this the correct way of doing this?
2. Do I need to plug or do anything with the old connections on the radiator?
3. Am I missing anything else?

Thanks,
Josh

 

[pkrface]

Actually what you do is allow the fluid to circulate through both coolers. You just add the aux cooler in line so that it further cools the fluid before it goes back to the transmission. You can go to etrailer.com and watch an instructional video. They don't have one for an Ody, but the one for the CRV is the same in theory. Once you pull the front bumper cover you are basically looking at the same install.

 

[squash35]

Thanks pkrface. That video doesn't seem to have sound, so not real easy to follow. From what I can gather i take the fluid through the external cooler first, then the output hose connects to the input of the existing cooler and it goes through that cooler second. That sound right? Also, what is a sure fire way of identifying the hose coming from the transmission?

 

[dvpatel]

squash, look up old posts/threads on this. 2nd gen has a few very good DIY threads. The concept is the same between 2nd gen, or 3rd gen or 4th gen for that matter.

Most people route the output from the factory cooler to the input of the 2nd cooler and then output of the 2nd cooler to the sump return.

A lot of this information is already here and you need to narrow down is which hose is which. That can be found in the DIY ATF flush thread that cnn has for the 3rd gen.

 

[squash35]

I found the old posts, thanks! Installed the cooler last night. It was a bit of a chore, but it is done. I would have given my left are for a longer piece if hose at about 10:30 PM, but I made due with what I have. Had to mount the cooler kinda angled, but I ensured there were no kinks in the hose at all. I have one last question. Because of the length of the hose that came with the cooler, I had to mount it near the bottom of the condenser which place it directly behind the bumper cross bar. There is a portion that is exposed above and below, but the cross bar runs pretty much right through the middle of the cooler. How much will this impact the effectiveness of the cooler? The last thing I want to do is pull this trailer 800 miles round trip and damage the transmission. See attached picture. NOTE: The picture is a bit deceiving because of the angle, but the bar runs pretty much through the middle of the cooler.

Transmission Cooler - A Day in the Life of The Rectors... - Powered by Phanfare

 

[squash35]

FYI...this is the cooler I installed. Hayden 403 Ultra Cool Tube and Fin.
Hayden Automotive 403 Ultra-Cool Tube and Fin Transmission Cooler : Amazon.com : Automotive

 

[dvpatel]

I cannot see your pix from work. I wouldn't be too too worried about the cross bar blocking the fins. It would be nice to have all the air hit those fins but the mere fact that you have some portions of the cooler exposed should be enough. You should be good to go on your trip at the least.