Sub'd.
I've been running a hayden parts store special rated at 18,000 btu with it's own fan and deep pan with 7.5 qt capacity. I have never monitored temps because I've always thought it was good. I know the radiator cooler is not really a cooler anyways because it's there to maintain temps on cool winter nights.
20psi....you might want to study the oil flow diagrams and measure some temps like
the torque converter exit oil temp and consider the factory tranny cooler exit oil goes directly
to the lube circuit in the trans. And then reconsider your statement.
Even tho the average trans oil temp can be 180* or less the heat generated in the T/C
will send that oil temp sky high and the cooler is their to cool this oil off before it goes into
the lube circuit. Pretty sure the components are happier with 200* or less lube oil than they would be
with 250*+ coming from a highly loaded T/C.
So even tho it at first seems like the radiator is heating the oil up it is really there to cool off the
oil circuit that has the highest temperature in it that very few have ever measured.
This is in a unlocked condition as with a non lock converter or when the car is at the track
making passes.
When the converter locks the path changes to put some of the converter feed oil
thru the cooler first and then to the lube circuit as the converter is not making as much
heat in this scenario.
Once the entire fluid volume is at a temp higher than the cooling systems minimum control temp
the oil will be being cooled by the radiator cooler no matter what.
The torque converter and the front pump generate a lot of heat that needs dealt with.
Average temperature that is measured in the pan as just that...average.
If the op chooses to eliminate the factory cooler it would be wise to put a
large 30k+ fan cooled unit on there in its place.
180* trans temp is fine....every 20* increase cuts life in half from oil temp related failure.
