Based on what I perceive as a common problem (please correct me if I am wrong)of the internal radiator tranny coolers rupturing and ruining the transmission, I have decided to install an external tranny oil cooler.

The problem is that ALL of the external HD tranny coolers recommend installing them in series with the existing internal radiator cooler (install the external cooler after the radiator cooler).

Virtually NONE of the may coolers I've looked at (even the ones for towing up to 10,000 pounds) said they are to be used alone (w/o the radiator cooler).

Obviously, placing an external cooler in series will lengthen the transmission/transmission fluid, but ONLY if the radiator cooler doesn't rupture (which is the reason for adding the cooler in the first place).

What coolers are you all using that are approved for solo use?

Bob
'96 960 Wagon

I had this before but it runs cooler bypassing the radiator. Got this cooler from the junkyard.

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1996 964 128,000

Please tell me the steps you went through to add your pictures to this message.

I combined the tow pics with software and just uploaded the image.
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1996 964 128,000

I'm using BMM-70265 15,000 GVW, they also have BMM-70264 24,000 GVW, I figured the 15,000 was suficient, by B&M. http://store.summitracing.com/
By the way I've bypassed the dam radiator.
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1996 964 128,000

This is not a common failure to my knowledge, although regular replacement of the OEM radiator about every seven or eight years is normal due to aging plastic.

I am told that the AW-30/40 is sensitive to high fluid temperatures and that an in-line cooler is a good idea. Another good idea is synthetic ATF.

Are you sure your car doesn't have an external cooler as well, nestled in between the radiator and AC? Follow all the fluid lines carefully. On 700-series cars, it goes from the radiator, and then to the external cooler, maybe it's the same on 900's?

-Paul Demeo
1990 780T

Are you sure your car doesn't have an external cooler as well, nestled in between the radiator and AC? Follow all the fluid lines carefully. On 700-series cars, it goes from the radiator, and then to the external cooler, maybe it's the same on 900's?

-Paul Demeo
1990 780T

I suggest that you get an aftermarket radiator, like Nissens or all copper unit that doesn't have plastic end tanks and seals. Same thing happened to my '92 940T, tranny started making noises, and I noticed a bit of oil in the radiator fluid...before I knew it it was $2K later and I have a totally rebuilt tranny and new radiator. Dealer misdiagnosed as oil cooler failing...so they sold me a new Volvo radiator at wholesale price.

Eh.