Does My 1996 PathFinder XE Has Transmission Old Cooler?

I bought a used 1996 PathFinder XE many years ago. It "seems" to have
a transmission oil cooler. But I am not sure. I would like someone to
confirm this.

I would like to use the PathFinder to tow a boat (around 2700-lb). I
am under the impression that my PathFinder doesn't have any factory
installed towing package because it doesn't have any towing hitch or
wiring for trailer. I have already had the dealer to install towing
hitch and wiring. But the dealer don't do transmission oil cooler.
Therefore, I asked a transmission shop to look at the PathFinder and
gave me a quote. To my surprise, the transmission mechanic told me
that my PathFinder already has a transmission oil cooler. Now, I am a
bit confused.

Do I really have a transmission oil cooler? The "transmission oil
cooler" is mounted in front of the lower left corner of the radiator.
It is around 12"x4" with two hoses connecting to it, and those two
hoses are connecting to somewhere under the engine. It looks like a
small radiator. It has this marking:
Calsonic
61 3
Made in Japan
PAT APP 48-86457
I have tried to contact Calsonic to see if they can identify their
product. But I kept getting errors when I tried to send them an email.

If it is really a transmission oil cooler, I would like to know if it
is good enough for towing a boat. Do I need something called an
"auxiliary cooler" mentioned somewhere in some past posts?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Jay Chan

On 5 Oct 2005 19:24:35 -0700, [email protected] wrote:


>Do I really have a transmission oil cooler? The "transmission oil
>cooler" is mounted in front of the lower left corner of the radiator.
>It is around 12"x4" with two hoses connecting to it, and those two
>hoses are connecting to somewhere under the engine. It looks like a
>small radiator. It has this marking:

Forget contacting the maker, they won't know hwo it is used. You coudl
contact Nissan, and ask them, but odds are they won't know.

Best way, and easiest, is to follow the lines from the cooler and see
where they go. If they go to the transmission, it is a transmission
cooler. If they go to the engine, it is an engine oil cooler and if
they go to the power steering system, they are a power steering
cooler. Easy solution!

ANd, as a side benefit you are going to be more familiar with your
truck, too.

Oh, and as for your slight spelling in the title: it's a 96, so I
would say it is old! <bg>

Trace those lines, that will tell you all.

"" wrote:
> On 5 Oct 2005 19:24:35 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>
>
> >Do I really have a transmission oil cooler? The
> "transmission oil
> >cooler" is mounted in front of the lower left corner of the
> radiator.
> >It is around 12"x4" with two hoses connecting to it, and
> those two
> >hoses are connecting to somewhere under the engine. It looks
> like a
> >small radiator. It has this marking:
>
> Forget contacting the maker, they won't know hwo it is used.
> You coudl
> contact Nissan, and ask them, but odds are they won't know.
>
> Best way, and easiest, is to follow the lines from the cooler
> and see
> where they go. If they go to the transmission, it is a
> transmission
> cooler. If they go to the engine, it is an engine oil cooler
> and if
> they go to the power steering system, they are a power
> steering
> cooler. Easy solution!
>
> ANd, as a side benefit you are going to be more familiar with
> your
> truck, too.
>
> Oh, and as for your slight spelling in the title: it's a 96,
> so I
> would say it is old! <bg>
>
> Trace those lines, that will tell you all.

you very well might, but depending on its size it could be worthless
for the task at hand. easy enough to figure out thoe. just go get a
free inspection done, or pay the $20 for one. cottman is a good place
and they do it free around here, but there are many tranny shops, they
will beable to tell you what you have and/or what you will need.

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On 5 Oct 2005 19:24:35 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>I bought a used 1996 PathFinder XE many years ago. It "seems" to have
>a transmission oil cooler. But I am not sure. I would like someone to
>confirm this.
>
>I would like to use the PathFinder to tow a boat (around 2700-lb). I
>am under the impression that my PathFinder doesn't have any factory
>installed towing package because it doesn't have any towing hitch or
>wiring for trailer. I have already had the dealer to install towing
>hitch and wiring. But the dealer don't do transmission oil cooler.
>Therefore, I asked a transmission shop to look at the PathFinder and
>gave me a quote. To my surprise, the transmission mechanic told me
>that my PathFinder already has a transmission oil cooler. Now, I am a
>bit confused.
>
>Do I really have a transmission oil cooler? The "transmission oil
>cooler" is mounted in front of the lower left corner of the radiator.
>It is around 12"x4" with two hoses connecting to it, and those two
>hoses are connecting to somewhere under the engine. It looks like a
>small radiator. It has this marking:
> Calsonic
> 61 3
> Made in Japan
> PAT APP 48-86457
>I have tried to contact Calsonic to see if they can identify their
>product. But I kept getting errors when I tried to send them an email.
>
>If it is really a transmission oil cooler, I would like to know if it
>is good enough for towing a boat. Do I need something called an
>"auxiliary cooler" mentioned somewhere in some past posts?
>
>Thanks in advance for any info.
>
>Jay Chan


most if not all vehicles with an automatic transmission have some type
of cooling systems, some have them built in the radiator some have
just a simple loop of hard line in front of the radiator.

I think your question is do you have an auxiliary type transmission
cooler like one would install to increase the cooling of the stock
setup. From the above it sounds like you are describing a
transmission oil cooler.

These things are hard to nail down in this type forum. The best thing
you can do is carry the truck to your local mechanic or to the Nissan
dealer and ask them to let you know if the transmission is setup for
towing and do you need to install an auxiliary cooler for the
transmission, for the purposes of towing the boat. If you don't have
a mechanical background it would be best to let someone locally tell
you what's going on with your truck, rather than just going off the
comments you see here. The number one reason being is that "we" can't
see your vehicle from here so there are any number of assumptions
being made.

Take your vehicle to your local mechanic or dealership and ask the
same question there.

The bottom line is that if your are going to tow you need a adequate
cooling setup for your transmission fluid, and a four wheel drive in
my view needs a better cooling setup than a 2wheel drive truck.

I think your question would be better solved from someone who can look
at your truck first hand...

It sounds like you are talking about a transmission cooler but both a
engine oil cooler and transmission fluid cooler are very similar and
would be easily confused with one another.


Many 4 wheel drive vehicles come with or have an optional auxiliary
Trans fluid cooler, and allot of people install or have these
installed
to help protect their vehicles....

Just to get it right...it would be better to deal with someone you
trust who can look at the truck for you.
---
Elbert Clarke
elbert.clarke@**adelphia.net
remove ** to email

Thanks for all the people who have responded to my post.

Seem like that device looks like a transmission oil cooler; I am not
sure. But I am really not sure if it is big enough for towing a boat or
if it is just good enough for driving (without towing) in hot climate
(this old car used to in Texas).

To answer both of these questions, I will have to visit the local
transmission shop again.

Thanks for the info.

Jay Chan

I brought the car back to the dealership. They identified the device as
a factory-installed transmission oil cooler and it should allow the
PathFinder to tow 5000-lb. In other words, I am all set.

Jay Chan

Before you start towing though (it is after all a '96), I suggest consult
with that dealership on whether a transmission flush and/or at least fluid
change is advised (maybe the work has already been recently done) ... if
you think the dealership is reputable.

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I brought the car back to the dealership. They identified the device as
> a factory-installed transmission oil cooler and it should allow the
> PathFinder to tow 5000-lb. In other words, I am all set.
>
> Jay Chan
>

> Before you start towing though (it is after all a '96), I suggest consult
> with that dealership on whether a transmission flush and/or at least fluid
> change is advised (maybe the work has already been recently done) ... if
> you think the dealership is reputable.

Yes, I was also concerning about this. The dealership told me that I
don't need to change transmission oil for another 15,000 miles.

Jay Chan