What is the purpose of the trans oil cooler on the pass side of the engine when there is also an oil cooler up front of the radiator.My 96 has a hole in the tube feeding the side cooler from the radiator and the tube wraps around this and that so I have to remove the cooler to change the pipe. I have a side cooler off I think a 97 which has both feed and return to the radiator coming out the front of the cooler. Is there any reason that I can't just replace the old cooler with the newer one, a lot less tubing to deal with.

 

When outside temps are cold the engine coolant to tranny cooler will keep your ATF warmed up.

 

So its actually a trany warmer not cooler. What are the low temps that this unit is intended for? I am going to have to fabricate a mounting bracket for the 97 cooler/warmer which I would rather not do. But I guess if the engine was designed with it, just removing it is not the best approach.

 

It helps to cool when the ATF temps exceed the coolant temps.
As far as warming-- your trans won't lock up in OD until the fluid temp reaches 70F. When you are at highway speed with the TC locked very little heat is generated by the tranny, the cooler/heater keeps the temp up.
Not real familiar with the climate in WV but no cooler in Montana is definitely out of the question.

 

I can tell you once you remove the heat exchanger you will see just how much work it does. I had to remove mine for the twins and the trans temps are not easy to control anymore in traffic when the front cooler isnt getting alot of air.