VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Automatic transmission cooler

Can someone explain to me how the automatic transmission cooler works on a 1950 Chevy Styleline Delux with Powerglide and 235 inline 6? Mine currently has the original exterior cooler. The bottom hose goes from the radiator to the external cooler then from the external cooler to the engine. There are two metal lines going from the cooler to the transmission.
Common sense tells me that the transmission is cooled by the auto transmission fluid and the engine is cooled by the water in the radiator. So why does the hose go from the radiator to the external cooler and then to the engine. Is the external cooler divided into 2 compartments, one for AFT the other for water? If so why not have the water go directly from the radiator to the engine?
Thanks
Mel

I'm not an engineer but my assumption is the 160 degree engine coolant is cooler than the transmission fluid at operating temperature. Probably not the most efficient method of cooling but I'm sure they had a reason. It would be possible to use an external cooler more like modern cars use but I have no idea how that would affect the operation of the transmission. It's possible they did it that way to help warm the transmission oil quicker in cold weather.

Yes, it is divided in to two compartments.
The trans fluid does not mix with the coolant. A thermostat in the trransmidssion allows the PG fluid to pass through the cooler when the fluid temperature exceeds 240 degrees. The fluid is heated up under conditins when the engines is pulling harder under speeds of 40 MPH.The1950-1954 Power Glides should never be run with the lever in the PARK POSITION FOR FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE OR TWO BECAUSE NO OILIS CIRCULATING IN THE TRANS,FOR LUBRICATION OF INTERNAL PARTS OR PASSING THROUGH THE COOLER IF (NECESSARY).'
PG fluid is checked with the engine idling and in neutral With cold flid it will be near the add mark and hot fluid expands the fluid so the it shorl be near the full maIt is acceptable to use LOw for starting off when is faster start is desired. You, can up-shift any where be tween 15 and 40 MPH.

Thanks Gene.
Mel