Replacing radiator

[COYOTE83]

Ok so my radiator is leaking, it’s an aftermarket aluminum radiator, and I’ve ordered and received a mopar replacement radiator. But i May have an issue...

when I bought my jeep (4.6 with nv3550) the owner had replaced the power steering pump with a power steering pump from a Dodge Durango and he told me that he used a radiator for an AUTOMATIC and ran the transmission cooler lines to the power steering pump.

when my radiator started leaking I didn’t really think much about it and ordered a mopar replacement for an automatic transmission. well I’m looking now and the current aftermarket aluminum radiator I have in there now has a separate small auxiliary cooler for the transmission, which I’m using for power steering pump cooling.

which way should I go about this? The way I figure, I have a few options and I’m not sure which is best or recommended. my questions are;

1. Should I remove the auxiliary transmission cooler and just run the lines to the transmission cooler ports on the mopar? Or Is the auxiliary transmission cooler better? (If it is....
2. Should I install the mopar replacement radiator and plug the transmission cooler ports and continue to use the auxiliary cooler I already have?
3. Continue using the auxiliary transmission cooler I have and return the radiator for the automatic transmission and buy a manual transmission replacement?

I’m thinking my best bet is option number 1, remove the aftermarket radiator remove the auxiliary transmission cooler, install the mopar radiator for an automatic and use the transmission cooler ports on it to run to the power steering pump. Seems like a no brainer, but I wanted to get the opinions of the members here to confirm before I continue.

thanks guys.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Option 1 would be my choice too.

 

[Kaptainkid1]

Ok so my radiator is leaking, it’s an aftermarket aluminum radiator, and I’ve ordered and received a mopar replacement radiator. But i May have an issue...

when I bought my jeep (4.6 with nv3550) the owner had replaced the power steering pump with a power steering pump from a Dodge Durango and he told me that he used a radiator for an AUTOMATIC and ran the transmission cooler lines to the power steering pump.

when my radiator started leaking I didn’t really think much about it and ordered a mopar replacement for an automatic transmission. well I’m looking now and the current aftermarket aluminum radiator I have in there now has a separate small auxiliary cooler for the transmission, which I’m using for power steering pump cooling.

which way should I go about this? The way I figure, I have a few options and I’m not sure which is best or recommended. my questions are;

1. Should I remove the auxiliary transmission cooler and just run the lines to the transmission cooler ports on the mopar? Or Is the auxiliary transmission cooler better? (If it is....
2. Should I install the mopar replacement radiator and plug the transmission cooler ports and continue to use the auxiliary cooler I already have?
3. Continue using the auxiliary transmission cooler I have and return the radiator for the automatic transmission and buy a manual transmission replacement?

I’m thinking my best bet is option number 1, remove the aftermarket radiator remove the auxiliary transmission cooler, install the mopar radiator for an automatic and use the transmission cooler ports on it to run to the power steering pump. Seems like a no brainer, but I wanted to get the opinions of the members here to confirm before I continue.

thanks guys.

Which brand of Aluminum radiator do you have in your Jeep? Champion? I had a champion and it leaked after only 2 years of service. It's funny that OEM last longer. I wonder if an after market brass radiator would out last an OEM brand? Never saw a Jeep TJ brass radiator though.

 

[COYOTE83]

Thanks Jerry. It seems like a no brainer, I just wanted to make sure. My reason for questioning myself is I wasn’t sure if it would be better to have the radiator cooling the engine only and use the separate auxiliary cooler to cool the power steering pump. That way the radiator would be full capacity for the engine without the extra “load” of the power steering pump. Make sense?

I’m guessing the extra load of the power steering pump on the mopar automatic radiator wouldn’t be that much of a problem as far as not hindering full cooling capacity for the engine, but I just wanted to make sure.

 

[COYOTE83]

I’m not sure what brand the aftermarket radiator is, haven’t looked.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

It's funny that OEM last longer.

Not to me, most aftermarket radiators are junk. OEM is preferred for the other critical stuff too.

 

[GEOFFREY DOBBIN]

Not to me, most aftermarket radiators are junk. OEM is preferred for the other critical stuff too.

I have just bought a new radiator for my 2001 TJ 4.0L . Should I paint the raw aluminium core with flat black paint such as Eastwoods?
Thank you, Geoff.