The line that was routed from...
The line that was routed from the transmission hard line to the factory cooler was re-routed to the "in" on the new cooler. We found the length was a perfect fit and required no trimming.
Fin and Plate
Using the best features of both coolers mentioned above, these units are durable and are the most efficient at removing heat from your transmission fluid. They combine the cooling power of stacked plates with extra space between the plates filled with fins to help disperse even more heat.
"For those of you unwilling to leave your transmission at the mercy of factory parts..."
The Install
Our guinea pig is a Dodge Ram with the 24-valve Cummins that's been upgraded with a larger turbo, bigger injectors, an Edge power module, upgraded intake, and an aftermarket exhaust system. In addition to all of the added power, this truck is mainly used for towing 18,000 pounds of toys. In other words, it's the perfect candidate for an auxiliary transmission cooler.
Our weapon of choice: a B&M Racing and Performance Products Hi-Tek fin and plate cooler sporting a 12-volt suction fan that's activated when fluid levels reach 175 degrees Fahrenheit. It took about half a day to install the cooler using some of the existing transmission oil lines and some that we had to fabricate. We also upgraded the transmission fluid to B&M Synthetic Trick Shift to help reduce wear and keep temperatures low.
During our freeway-towing test, we couldn't get the transmission to hit the 175-degree mark needed to engage the electric fan. While backing the trailer into our storage yard, we noticed a 40-degree temperature drop in the transmission while at stall. No wonder the cooling fan never kicked on! Adding this transmission cooler is truly a safety net. Here's how we did it
 With the cooler in place,...  With the cooler in place, we still needed a ground and a 12-volt connection. We pulled our ground from the front core support, but any metal surface should be fine. |  Our hot wire came directly...  Our hot wire came directly from the fuse box and was routed through a 20-amp fuse. |  With the cooler install complete,...  With the cooler install complete, we added 18 quarts of B&M Synthetic Trick Shift. |