Reddit mentions: The best towing hitch engine oil coolers & kits

So here's the deal. The 2003 Accord is known for its rather weak automatic transmission. From what I've heard, it has a lot to do with heat buildup. My girlfriend's car has 210,000 miles and most likely needs to push another 50,000. The transmission shifts fine and I want to keep it that way. So, I added another larger oil cooler to the system, along with a spin-on filter to hopefully catch some particulates. I know the transmission has a filter, but they say its not serviceable and I feel like the extra surface area of the larger filter could help with cooling as well. I decided to put the oil filter between the two coolers so that the filter could catch the crap that may be stuck up in the existing cooler.

Hopefully this spurs an idea in someone else's head, it really wasn't all the difficult and (i hope) will save me thousands in the long run

SUPPLIES:

Spin-on filter and mount

Extra hose

Aftermarket cooler kit

Genuine Honda ATF

Extra spin on nice filter

Happy to help. Air cooled by a mile. I don’t have an endorsement for an actual kit. I used a no brand cooler core with some high quality hoses and AN Fittings. The sandwich plate and thermostatic adaptor are the most important. High quality sandwich plate and adaptor.

As for the brakes, I can’t speak on the pads, but definitely seek out high temp Dot 4 brake fluid and do a complete flush. RBF 600 and 660 come to mind for that. There are plenty of comparable brands out there.

Best of luck.

I replaced:

1. driver and passenger side valve cover gaskets
   
   
2. driver side valve cover (FINDAUTO Valve Cover 13264-EA210... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y1Q3C5Z?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share ) (because I broke my original one trying to replace spark plug hole seals)....I recommend replacing both valve covers because those center seals are probably cooked if you’re anywhere near 100k+ miles—and they’re non-serviceable on the frontier’s cheesy plastic valve covers.
   
   
3. all 1-6 spark plugs (check that your ignition coils are also good while you have them out.)
   
   
4. Air plenum and throttle body gaskets (you can get them both as a kit) Vincos Upper Intake/Plenum Gasket... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PKQBLM1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
   
   
5. Air filter: Bosch Workshop Air Filter 5486WS... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VC1Q0Q4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
   
   
6. Engine air cleaner intake duct (mine were cracked): Engine Air Cleaner Intake Duct... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K7V2ZX6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
   
   
7. Pcv Tube (I might be misnomering this part)— (breather tube between the two valve covers. Mine was completely dry rotted) Part No.: 11826-EA200 nissanpartsdeal.com
   
   
8. Two intake valve timing control gaskets (p/n 23797-ZA000 nissanpartsdeal.com)—mine were cashed and you have to take the air Plenum off to replace the passenger side one, so you might as well do it while your Plenum is off. You have to remove these valve control modules to remove the valve covers anyway, so replacing their gaskets is a no-brainer.
   
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9. My next project is to replace my oil cooler gasket:
   
   MAHLE Original B32573 Engine Oil... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0184JRWN6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
   
   Mine is pissing oil.
   
   •••••••••
   
   I also replaced my number 3 ignition coil. Mine was bad. A mechanic did that one for me. It’s a pisser. 🤦🏻‍♂️
   
   ••••••••
   
   If you need a good low-force torque wrench, I recommend this: TEKTON TRQ21101 1/4-Inch Drive... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M12284X?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
   
   It’s only 1/4” drive, but it works very well. High quality.

http://www.mishimoto.com/10-row-oil-cooler.html

Get a universal sandwhich plate off ebay. 10ft of AN-10 steel braid and 2 sets of fittings and your good to go.

If your not a DIY type of person, then just get a universal one all ready to go.

http://www.amazon.com/Godspeed-Universal-Quality-Stainless-Braided/dp/B009KALA78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409113606&sr=8-1&keywords=godspeed+oil+cooler

maybe transmission coolers? something like this maybe?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083H5UUC/ref=psdc_15737301_t1_B01MG3A48Q

More info

Installation: inline

Cooler https://www.amazon.com/Hayden-Automotive-676-Rapid-Cool-Transmission/dp/B000C39CL8?ref_=ast_bbp_dp (but i'd go with 679 if i'd do it again, bigger)

extra hose https://www.amazon.com/Hayden-Automotive-106-Transmission-Cooler/dp/B000HE6H3S/

Custom brackets, made them myself.

I just got my temp readings. 192f tranny, outside 60f, a 30 min light roadtrip with some traffic. Not bad but slightly dissapointing.

If the radiator in the Pathfinder has been replaced I wouldn't worry too much about it. The replacements all had the defect fixed. If it were me and I bought it and noticed it still had the original radiator in it and the vehicle history showed it has never been addressed, Id probably change it out too. The radiator itself is less than $100 and about 30min-1hr to swap out. If you wanted to you could spend less than $100 and bypass the radiator all together with an external cooler and a thermal bypass. By the wording of the ad, it sounds like he is referring to himself as the car nut. I had a 2003 Pathfinder (previous generation) and it was a tank.

With the Sequoia I'd worry about if the timing belt has been changed ever. The Nissan has a timing chain that doesnt require being changed out. Typically you are supposed to change those timing belts out every 100k miles.

If your worried about overheating the autobox plumb in one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000CJ262Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1464795787&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=derale+transmission+cooler&dpPl=1&dpID=51LoTDaCFRL&ref=plSrch

If your really worried about over heating the auto box, this kit has a temp switch to turn that fan on.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004XONS9Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1464795787&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=derale+transmission+cooler&dpPl=1&dpID=41d5FfsxLhL&ref=plSrch