Any opinions on tube type VS plate type for efficency etc.I hear plate types are restrictive? I need to put one in my 95 Jeep Cherokee. I have plenty of room to work with also. waddaya think????

 

The only time I've heard the stacked plate coolers were restrictive is when installing them on CTDs, and only then because the lines on our trucks are larger diameter (I've even heard differing opinions on that). The lines on the XJ are probably 3/8" - maybe 1/2", so as long as the tube through the cooler is at least the same diameter you should be fine.

A friend, who owns a transmission shop, runs a B&M stacked plate cooler on his TJ and it works very well. Even crawling around in the rocks in near 100* heat yesterday there was no heat issues with his transmission.

 

Thanks Dan,
Im scraping for ways to cool my Jeep. I was In Death Valley over the weekend and had near meltdownrunning at speeds. Ideling is no problem. Ive replaced the thermo, fan clutch,rad is not to old, flushed system etc. I think the rad is plugged again. and it never came with HD cooling which includes a trans cooler anyhow.
Hows that TJ? been considering one or a YJ. I read all XJs have cooling issues and wondered if TJ,s and YJ`s with autos did as well.
Scott.

 

Strange that the cooling problems happen at speed - not sure what to suggest that you haven't already done.

I love my TJ, and I think they're about the best performing "out of the box" off road vehicle available. I have a 5-speed in mine (for now - an auto swap is planned), but my friend has had zero problems with overheating the trans or engine. The B&M cooler he is using is the "remote mount" with the fan, since it's mounted under the tub in front of the rear axle and doesn't get much airflow. YJs are nice, but they ride a little rougher due to the leafs all around, and require a little work to get the suspension to work really well (ditching the sway and track bars helps).

 

Last Friday I had to replace the radiator in my Dodge gasser. It has 130,000 on it, original radiator. I have recently replaced the thermostat, top/bottom hoses, water pump, and drained and replaced coolant (I drain/replace coolant yearly); however, it was still getting hot when traveling on the highway and especially when pulling anything.

So I took it to a local radiator shop to have it cored out, and they warned me up front that it might need a new radiator because Dodge's were notorious for having badly stopped up radiators. Sure enough, he took it off and showed me how badly it was stopped up, so I ended up with a new radiator, and so far it is running much cooler. Hope that's the end of my cooling problems!

I would bet your problem is a stopped up radiator, and you might be able to have it cored out.

 

The problem with the plate style is all the sharp edges and square turns inside. It'll be more prone to plugging and will kill the tranny a lot sooner. If you're working it hard, especially in death valley, the tube style should at least keep the fluid flowing longer after the tranny has been damaged, so you can work your way back home. They do make them with different tube diameters, look for a big one with a larger diameter.

 

b&m makes one thats refered to as an engige oil cooler its the same size as the trans cooler just uses 1/2" pipe fitting instead of 3/8" .I installed one on a overloaded and tweaked 6.5TD and was shocked at how much it dropped the trans temp .2 years ago i pulled I8 headed for san diago with a 12K toy hauler and the th400 trans hit 320 and i had to stop and cool down last year with the same trailer it only hit 230 and i never had to stop. my.02

 

Just an Idea, but check your lower radiator hose to the water pump and make sure the spring is still inside. I have had them colapse and block off the water flow once they start pumping and then open up again at an idle.
Also check for combustion gas in the coolant.
I hope it is as simple as the first one.
Jim.