Most car transmissions require special transmission fluid to lubricate their many moving parts and prevent overheating, which is carried by transmission in more excellent lines to the radiator and back again.
These more excellent lines typically come pre-bent with metal fittings that connect directly to rubber or steel lines, ensuring the proper operation of your cooling system. Selecting the ideal cooler line for radiator fitting can ensure its efficient functioning.
Barb Fittings
Barb fittings (commonly referred to as hose barbs) are one of the most widely used flow control components on the market, offering versatility, reliability, and great value. From garden hose connections to biopharmaceutical process system connections – barb connectors can be found everywhere, from garden hoses to biopharmaceutical process system connections – but many don’t fully comprehend their function or how best to select them for their own application needs. In this blog post, we take a deeper dive into their functioning and performance and provide some tips on choosing appropriate barb connectors for your application needs.
Barbed connections consist of one or more raised ridges called barbs that grip the inner walls of tubes to form airtight seals when coupled to tubing. Tubing contact surfaces may be sloped or angled for maximum surface tension that forces tubing over its barb and creates a seal. By contrast, straight-sided or slanted barbs lack this tension, meaning their gripping edge, location on the fitting shank, and how well tubing relaxes behind the gripping edge all play an integral part in how well their connection works.
An ideal hose barb fits securely yet not tightly onto the tubing. Too tight can damage tubing as it attempts to grip onto it; too loose can allow too much slipping, leading to tubing falling off of its fitting; this is especially true if there’s a mismatch between the durometer of tubing and the gripping edge on the barb.
Hose barbs are typically utilized with soft-side tubing, such as clear PVC. They’re often fitted with hose clamps to secure it to soft-sided tubing and help prevent it from pulling off of the barb. Unfortunately, they’re not the best choice for high-pressure applications as tubing could push against it and lose grip, potentially resulting in pressure loss and leaks. A more suitable option would be John Guest quick-connect fittings, which attach directly to soft tubing while having their small apparatus, making connection and disconnection easy and swift.
AN Fittings
Army-Navy Fittings, more commonly referred to as AN fittings, provide a quick and straightforward method for connecting lines and hoses in high-pressure applications. Typical applications for them include fuel systems, oil cooling systems, turbochargers, and nitrous oxide systems, as well as being used with turbochargers and nitrous oxide systems. They come in different materials, such as aluminum or steel, so they can withstand different temperatures and pressure levels and often find use with custom automotive builds where builders or racers seek a unique system tailored specifically to their vehicle – great options and fittings provide for this!
Fittings differ from JIC fittings by featuring a 37-degree flare designed to seal on tapered surfaces rather than flat ones, which allows them to withstand higher amounts of pressure while resisting corrosion. Furthermore, their tighter threads offer 40% increased fatigue life and 10% greater shear strength, making AN an excellent option for high-stress applications with higher pressure requirements.
To effectively install AN fittings, it is necessary to select the ideal size. These fittings can usually be identified by their male end size number; commonly found sizes include -4, -6, -8, and -10, while more extensive options can also be found for special applications. Furthermore, an appropriate hose needs to be selected as different hoses have different pressure and temperature requirements.
Once you have selected your hose and fittings, they must be cleaned to remove dirt, debris, and grime so as to guarantee a leak-free connection. Apply a light coating of anti-seize to threads to prevent galling while in use.
Fittings come in an extensive selection of variants, hose ends, and adapters, making it simple to find precisely the components you need for your system. Selecting appropriate hose and fitting combinations will ensure your car can handle the power and performance you desire from it, and once installed; it’s essential to test for leaks to ensure all components are operating effectively.
Steel Lines
Your vehicle’s original lines that run from your transmission to radiator and back are likely made of metal; they were designed to withstand high temperatures and pressures associated with fluid transfer; however, over time, these original metal lines can rust away, and they should be replaced either with metal or rubber lines.
Metal lines come pre-bent with fittings attached by flared ends for ease of installation, designed for specific makes and models of vehicles. Their construction provides durability, heat and pressure resistance, and a more straightforward install process than their PTFE or braided counterparts while being more cost-effective than alternative solutions like braided lines or PTFE tapes.
Braided hoses may cost more than their rubber counterparts but offer superior durability and performance. Specifically designed to handle higher temperatures without impact damage, braided hoses make an excellent choice for high-performance applications like racing. Plus, their corrosion resistance makes them better than steel lines, while their wide range of flexibility means you can conform them around any curve of your vehicle’s chassis.
No matter the type of line, its fittings must be properly installed for optimal functioning and leak-free connections. Use only appropriate tools when tightening or loosening fittings; using wrenches that are too small could crack either the tube or fitting. When installing new lines, place some masking tape where the tubing meets a radiator fitting to mark where to cut. After tubing has been cut and installed with the radiator holding in place, add a 3/8″ compression fitting (no Teflon tape needed on thread) on one end that needs flaring or flaring thread and slide into place – then repeat as needed until all components have been appropriately secured in their places.
With patience and a flaring tool in hand, it is simple to construct your own metal transmission cooler lines. While time-consuming, they will outlive rubber-lined transmission coolers over time. If you do not have access to either tool, you can get similar results by cutting ends of pipes to length and using 3/8″ compression fittings at radiator ends before flaring at endpoints.
Rubber Lines
Transmission lines on your vehicle provide hot transmission fluid to be cooled by your radiator and returned into your transmission, but are often neglected as an important yet overlooked component. Unfortunately, damaged or worn transmission lines can lead to serious engine issues; replacing one is generally straightforward and inexpensive using AN fittings instead of traditional hose clamps.
Many vehicles come from the factory with metal transmission cooler lines equipped with flares at each end that help secure them to the car’s chassis. While these may suffice for regular driving on the street, racing or track work requires something more substantial, like braided or PTFE lines, which are more resistant to internal pressures that ordinary hoses cannot.
Rubber transmission lines may also be an attractive choice. Available at most auto parts stores and specialty auto shops, rubber lines offer less expense while remaining more flexible. Although durable than its metal or PTFE counterparts, however, rubber lines may crack over time or degrade over time.
Finally, metal and PTFE lines may also be suitable for your application. While more costly than their regular transmission lines, these options offer significantly greater durability due to being made up of cores of either metal or PTFE protected by an outer braid – providing superior resistance against heat and corrosion as well as not being as flexible.
No matter the type of transmission line you select, a transmission cooler is necessary to keep fluid flowing smoothly. You have several options when it comes to buying or recycling a transmission cooler: a new purchase, a pre-existing one from your car in good condition, or using one from a kit. These kits typically include components like bleeder valves, pressure caps, and adapters explicitly designed to make installing your custom cooling system as straightforward as possible.
