AT Fluid in the Radiator

Hi Al, it might have been easier for you but it is an extreme fire hazard. If a rubber line splits or cracks it could spray fluid back onto the hot exhaust manifold and it would immediately burst into flames. Transmission fluid is quite flammable. I did not find it difficult to make the tight bends necessary by using a tubing bender from Harbor Freight https://www.harborfreight.com/tubing-bender-3755.html that cost $7.99. One line goes from the cooler outlet around the side of the radiator to an external cooler mounted in front of the radiator. That involved three right angle bends of 3/8” steel tubing done quite easily. I used steel tubing from the outlet back to the inlet of the transmission using compression fittings at the external cooler.
I have seen GMCs that have been destroyed by transmission fluid leaks. I do not use any rubber in either my transmission or gasoline lines.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick CO

>
> The tanks on the aluminum rad are about 3 1/2 " and 4 " on the original.
>
> In my case about the last foot of each fluid line is rubber. Not that I was trying to prevent electrolysis, but putting in new lines was easier. I
> went around the right side of the engine to run them under a heat shield I installed to protect the engine oil lines.
> --
> Al Hamilton,
> 76 Eleganza II,
> Heart of the 1000 Islands, Ontario
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
 
Reason I asked about the thickness of the alum rad tanks is that if it’s
around 1/8” it would be easy to cut the tanks off and re weld them back on.
So the cooler/cooler line issue could be addressed w/o tossing the
radiator.

Sully
Bellevue wa

On Wed, Apr 21, 2021 at 4:32 PM Emery Stora via Gmclist <

> Hi Al, it might have been easier for you but it is an extreme fire hazard.
> If a rubber line splits or cracks it could spray fluid back onto the hot
> exhaust manifold and it would immediately burst into flames. Transmission
> fluid is quite flammable. I did not find it difficult to make the tight
> bends necessary by using a tubing bender from Harbor Freight
> https://www.harborfreight.com/tubing-bender-3755.html that cost $7.99.
> One line goes from the cooler outlet around the side of the radiator to an
> external cooler mounted in front of the radiator. That involved three right
> angle bends of 3/8” steel tubing done quite easily. I used steel tubing
> from the outlet back to the inlet of the transmission using compression
> fittings at the external cooler.
> I have seen GMCs that have been destroyed by transmission fluid leaks. I
> do not use any rubber in either my transmission or gasoline lines.
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Frederick CO
>

> >
> > The tanks on the aluminum rad are about 3 1/2 " and 4 " on the original.
> >
> > In my case about the last foot of each fluid line is rubber. Not that I
> was trying to prevent electrolysis, but putting in new lines was easier. I
> > went around the right side of the engine to run them under a heat shield
> I installed to protect the engine oil lines.
> > --
> > Al Hamilton,
> > 76 Eleganza II,
> > Heart of the 1000 Islands, Ontario
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
My understanding is the metal lines from the transmission to the rad bond the engine/transmission and radiator together electrically so there is no
potential difference between them and therefore prevents electrolysis.

Al, your rubber lines would break this electrical bonding. The radiator is mounted on rubber pads and the the rest of the connections are rubber
hoses. Now maybe the oil hoses have wire reinforcements, so they might make an electrical connection..? The radio fluid level sensor on the rad is
going to provide a voltage source, so you need to ground the radio to drain this off.

That's all this farm-boy knows on this subject and I may be completely wrong!

--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
Thanks Emory. Very good point. I'll have to redo the lines anyway so making them safer is wise.
--
Al Hamilton,
76 Eleganza II,
Heart of the 1000 Islands, Ontario
 
The oil lines do have a metal braided covering. They've been on the coach about as long as the aluminum radiator.
--
Al Hamilton,
76 Eleganza II,
Heart of the 1000 Islands, Ontario
 
No such thing as TOO GOOD of a ground. That radiator needs to be a critical
path to the engine block near that whirring alternator. Strong magnetic
field. Bi-metallic field will destroy aluminum quickly. Also, do not
neglect to replace coolant frequently. Yo need fresh corrosion inhibitors
found in all major name brand anti-freeze coolants.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

> The oil lines do have a metal braided covering. They've been on the coach
> about as long as the aluminum radiator.
> --
> Al Hamilton,
> 76 Eleganza II,
> Heart of the 1000 Islands, Ontario
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
>

>>
>> The oil lines do have a metal braided covering. They've been on the coach
>> about as long as the aluminum radiator.
>> --
>> Al Hamilton

Those oil lines are probably Teflon covered with braided stainless steel. That is what I have going to the oil cooler.
They will last unlike rubber lines.

Emery Stora
 
I'm learning tons on this subject thanks to you guys. Fantastic, hope I don't need to put it into action anytime soon.

Thought I'd add something, I have a Subaru with a flat 6, as you might have heard, every Subaru will blow a head gasket sooner or later, including
mine. What I learned is that one of the causes is the coolant gets increasingly acidic and eats away at the gasket, weakening it. So, every year you
are supposed to add Subaru Coolant Conditioner, which hardly anyone does. Perhaps it would be a good idea to add some, or something similar to our
machines if this is also part of the problem?
--
Burl Vibert
Kingston, Ontario
1976 GMC 26 foot, Sheridan reno, don't know original model
 
As Jonathan stated my copper radiators internal transmission cooler ruptured and flooded the recently rebuilt transmission with coolant. What a mess.
The replacement Griffin radiator from James Buchanan has performed flawlessly since 2015. When the engine ate all its bearings I didn't even toy with
the idea of flushing the "new" aluminum radiator's oil cooler, I purchased a 6 pass tube & fin Derale external oil cooler about 14" x 16" and bypassed
the radiator cooler.. engine temperature has been great on the new engine and oil analysis is good.
--
'78 Palm Beach. car nut new to RV'ing 26 ft. 403 rebuilt in 2018, rebuilt tranny in 2014, Dave Lenzi knuckles & hubs, yada yada yada OEM chromed
wheels,Green Brady Bunch stock
 
That's useful information, Dave. I have removed the fluid at the top of the radiator, Drained the radiator, and drained a little fluid out of the
transmission. The only place I found AT fluid was the top of the radiator. I think because the engine wasn't started or heated up enough to open the
thermostat, the oil didn't circulate. My next step is to disconnect the internal cooler. I already have an external cooler, but not large enough to do
the job alone. The cooler you found sounds good.
--
Al Hamilton,
76 Eleganza II,
Heart of the 1000 Islands, Ontario
 
The ATF fluid, which is lighter than water, will naturally go to the top of the radiator. When you start the engine the coolant expansion will send
the oil to the over flow bottle where it will settle to the top of it too.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Dave, I found a few Devale coolers that sounded good but none as large as you mentioned. Where did you get your cooler and could you check the size ??
--
Al Hamilton,
76 Eleganza II,
Heart of the 1000 Islands, Ontario
 
This is an excellent transmission Oil Cooler.Tru-Cool OC 4739-1Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: Al Hamilton Date: 4/24/21 4:04 PM (GMT-06:00) To: gmclist Subject: [GMCnet] Re: AT Fluid in the Radiator Dave, I found a few Devale coolers that sounded good but none as large as you mentioned. Where did you get your cooler and could you check the size ??-- Al Hamilton,76 Eleganza II,Heart of the 1000 Islands, Ontario_______________________________________________GMCnet mailing listUnsubscribe or Change List Options:
 
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