Tranny cooler.. can the cooler hose barbs be pointed down?

[SilverXJ]

While my engine is out again I am going to be revising my transmission cooler install. I'm using a Tru-cool 4544. http://www.dana.com/Automotive_Systems/ ... 2007_B.pdf

I posted a thread about it on Naxja, http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1011262

However, my question is which way can the hose barbs point? Ideally I would like them to point down for ease of hose routing and a clean install. The PDF above says that the cooler can be mounted in any position, Hayden (which gets their plate coolers from Tru-cool) says that they shouldn't point down, the store I purchased the cooler from says you can point then down, the majority of the installs I have seen point the barbs down, however i have also seen several people saying they shouldn't point down.

So... does any one have any experience with this? Can they really be pointed down or not?

[YJason]

Thats a good ? I bought a B&M super cooler and the instructions showed it should be installed vertical with the ports to the sides or pointed up but not down. I ended up installing it vertical with the the ports pointed to the side even though it would have been much simplier pointing them downward.

[yuppiexj]

MY though is that having them point down would allow gravity to pull the hose off. (never mind the high pressure oil flowing through the lines that would blow the hose off if it were that loosely connected.)

Point them down if you want, I would. The quick (hah) disconnects will fill with road debris if the barb point down making the a bit hard to remove unless you shot the crap out before trying to remove them.

[5-90]

Hose barb fittings? Use clamps when you attach for additional security. Point them wherever you like.

Pressure in the transmission cooler lines is residual - flow is more caused by motion of volume than actual pressure. If you use some variety of QD, simply have a hose stub (then you can orient the QD however the Hell you like.) But, if you to go a barb fitting, point it whichever way and use a clamp - flush it off with parts cleaner before disassembly, if you ever have to take it to bits.

Although, if I want real freedom in setting something like this up, I'll use -AN fittings instead (they /really/ don't care about orientation. You'll need about a -6AN, for a 3/8" hose, and tighten two flats past finger tight (2FPFT, or about 1/3-turn after you tighten it using fingers only.)

[SilverXJ]

Hose barb fittings? Use clamps when you attach for additional security. Point them wherever you like.

Its not a true barb, but a flared fitting on the cooler. And yes, they will definitely get hose clamps.

Although, if I want real freedom in setting something like this up, I'll use -AN fittings instead (they /really/ don't care about orientation. You'll need about a -6AN, for a 3/8" hose, and tighten two flats past finger tight (2FPFT, or about 1/3-turn after you tighten it using fingers only.)

Its not really the orientation of the barbs, but the orientation of the oil cooler itself.. the barbs as a reference point. Maybe I should have said inlet/outlet. And I will be using AN fittings. I will also be replacing the QD and hose on the tube that runs under the transmission with AN fittings. The only QD will be on the transmission itself (keeping the stock tubes) and at the lower radiator inlet. I'm going to be using the Russell twist-lok fittings with Parker 836 hose(I think, but may go with one step down on the hose). I'm also going to be installing a filter before the fluid hits the coolers.

[03GC]

The theory on the fittings pointing down is that it is possible for a plate type cooler to not fill up with oil.
Earl's Performance recomends in the bottom, out the top (1st choice) or both fittings pointing up ( a distant second)
If both fittings are pointed down, the oil may only run through the bottom couple plates.
Paul

[Biggrnjeep97]

ZJs had them pointed down from the factory. 90* rubber hose fittings would then attach them to the hard lines. The theory of having them point up is to burp/ purge air from the lines to get the best cooling.
-Will

[SilverXJ]

The barb fittings on a stock ZJ cooler were not pointed down. The lines may have ran down, but the cooler's fittings were not.

[Biggrnjeep97]

I stand corrected. ma bad
-Will