CAN and SHOULD I install an oversized transaxle fluid cooler on my '02 Ford Taurus?
I remember reading in some dated literature writen in the 70s that what mainly kills automatic transaxles/transmissions is not so much about the impurities that get in the fluid but the fact that the fluid heats up to the point where the fluid gets contaminated to begin with. They were going to install an extra transmission fluid filter but ended up installing an oversized transmission cooler instead. The whole idea was to extend the life of the automatic transmission.
I realize that this modification would more than likely Void the warantee. But that is OK because 36,000 is just around the corner anyway.
My other concern is the dirt and bugs that get traped on the radiator. How can I clean this off? It's hard to access and if I scrub it the wrong way I might damage the radiator. Would they clean this off for me if I asked them to do this at some auto repair shop? It's not like it's causing the engine to overheat or anything. It just makes it less effecient at cooling the engine. What if I were to forget about it and take a trip through the Sierra Nevada's in June and the whole Radiator was coated with this shit while temperatures reach 115 degrees. If it's clean, I'll have peace of mind.
AJ