03 SC X-TERRA, does it need a tranny cooler??

dp · July 20th, 2003, 08:41 pm

We are leaving to the BHCC in S.D from Regina this week. The new Nissan is taking over towing duty from my old Land Cruiser.
The trailer is about 2500lb, and its pretty hot going through north and south Dakota.
Will this truck need a tranny cooler? I don't want to cook an expensive new tranny.
Or should I leave the towing to my old cruiser, since we are taking 2 vehicles to the event.

Parnelli_001 · July 21st, 2003, 01:09 pm

sure its hot out there but its also really flat

i dont know much about the import auto trannies but one thing i do know is if yours provides enough cooling now for what you would be towing then you dont want to put an auxilary cooler on. this can overcool the tranny thus leaving you in just as much trouble. but i would ask an import shop the question just in case yours can handle it.

dp · July 21st, 2003, 08:39 pm

The problem is, I've never towed with it before. It has 3000k so it should be broke in, but maybe a tranny temp gauge might be in order before a bigger cooler.
And your right, its very flat. But we have a lot of cross winds!
It was gusting 70kmh just 2 days ago.

clenchedtuna · July 21st, 2003, 10:00 pm

Heat kills the Nissan Auto Trannys. On the older WD21's and D21 Pathys and Hardbodys, most people by pass the stock cooler and go with just one aftermarket. Some go with two if towing heavy. The stock coolers appearently clog easy. With your's being a 2003, just run a external along with the stock and keep it out of overdrive on any hills.

dp · July 22nd, 2003, 10:50 pm

I figured leaving it out of od the entire time, but maybe it would be ok in od on the flat lands.

clenchedtuna · July 23rd, 2003, 09:11 am

Yeah, I'd personally leave it out of OD all the time while towing, but some say it's ok if the tranny isn't hunting.

dp · August 15th, 2003, 01:02 pm

The truck worked well. It towed the trailer with the a/c on when it was 42C in the black hills and never heated.
I do not think it will need any sort of cooler.
Now,about that low gear set for the t-case............

ironpig2 · August 15th, 2003, 10:48 pm

overcool?

dp · August 18th, 2003, 04:10 pm

Overcool eh?
I may have to poke around up front and see how big a cooler they stuffed in there. Being to cool in the winter is no good.

July 20th, 2003, 08:41 pm	#1
dp Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Emerald Park, Saskatchewan Posts: 1,274	03 SC X-TERRA, does it need a tranny cooler?? We are leaving to the BHCC in S.D from Regina this week. The new Nissan is taking over towing duty from my old Land Cruiser. The trailer is about 2500lb, and its pretty hot going through north and south Dakota. Will this truck need a tranny cooler? I don't want to cook an expensive new tranny. Or should I leave the towing to my old cruiser, since we are taking 2 vehicles to the event. __________________ 75 FJ40, aka the big green money pit. Superduty V10 4x4 ext cab tow rig

July 21st, 2003, 01:09 pm	#2
Parnelli_001 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kamloops, BC Posts: 1,115	sure its hot out there but its also really flat i dont know much about the import auto trannies but one thing i do know is if yours provides enough cooling now for what you would be towing then you dont want to put an auxilary cooler on. this can overcool the tranny thus leaving you in just as much trouble. but i would ask an import shop the question just in case yours can handle it. __________________ Back down to a nissan frontier, rear locker, too stock for any fun but is fun to dent.

July 21st, 2003, 08:39 pm	#3
dp Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Emerald Park, Saskatchewan Posts: 1,274	The problem is, I've never towed with it before. It has 3000k so it should be broke in, but maybe a tranny temp gauge might be in order before a bigger cooler. And your right, its very flat. But we have a lot of cross winds! It was gusting 70kmh just 2 days ago. __________________ 75 FJ40, aka the big green money pit. Superduty V10 4x4 ext cab tow rig

July 22nd, 2003, 10:50 pm	#5
dp Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Emerald Park, Saskatchewan Posts: 1,274	I figured leaving it out of od the entire time, but maybe it would be ok in od on the flat lands. __________________ 75 FJ40, aka the big green money pit. Superduty V10 4x4 ext cab tow rig

August 15th, 2003, 01:02 pm	#7
dp Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Emerald Park, Saskatchewan Posts: 1,274	The truck worked well. It towed the trailer with the a/c on when it was 42C in the black hills and never heated. I do not think it will need any sort of cooler. Now,about that low gear set for the t-case............ __________________ 75 FJ40, aka the big green money pit. Superduty V10 4x4 ext cab tow rig

July 21st, 2003, 10:00 pm	#4
clenchedtuna Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Calgary Posts: 47	Heat kills the Nissan Auto Trannys. On the older WD21's and D21 Pathys and Hardbodys, most people by pass the stock cooler and go with just one aftermarket. Some go with two if towing heavy. The stock coolers appearently clog easy. With your's being a 2003, just run a external along with the stock and keep it out of overdrive on any hills.

July 23rd, 2003, 09:11 am	#6
clenchedtuna Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Calgary Posts: 47	Yeah, I'd personally leave it out of OD all the time while towing, but some say it's ok if the tranny isn't hunting.

August 15th, 2003, 10:48 pm	#8
ironpig2 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: vancouver Posts: 198	overcool?

August 18th, 2003, 04:10 pm	#9
dp Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Emerald Park, Saskatchewan Posts: 1,274	Overcool eh? I may have to poke around up front and see how big a cooler they stuffed in there. Being to cool in the winter is no good. __________________ 75 FJ40, aka the big green money pit. Superduty V10 4x4 ext cab tow rig

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode