My 2009 Odyssey EX-L must be used for towing a 7x14 cargo trailer (motorcycle trailer) that grosses around 5,000 pounds trailer weight. I have installed the hitch, brake controller, and HD tranny cooler. Works great for the short trips on the plains.

But I need to tow that trailer from Midland to El Paso (about 300 miles) and back a coupla times a year, and I'm worried about overheating something when crossing the low passes over what's left of the Rocky Mountains on I-10 in far west Texas.

So I want to install an engine oil cooler so I'll have the same towing capacity as a Ridgeline. Will the oil cooler parts from a 2009 Ridgeline bolt on? Is there an aftermarket oil cooler kit available that would be at least as efficient as the Ridgeline oil cooler? Can someone point out an article or post that explains how to install an engine oil cooler in a late-model Odyssey?

Also, my experience towing with pickups says I also need an aftermarket tranny temp gauge. But my local Honda dealer's service department doesn't have a clue as to how to add one. And I don't see an obvious place to mount the gauge. Would someone please suggest a source for a how-to for installation of something like the ISSPRO EV tranny temp gauge?

 

I'm disappointed there has not been any responses. I'm a moderator on TheDieselStop and a similar question over there would have several replies by now.

 

The Ridgeline doesn't have an engine oil cooler (thought it does have transmission and power steering fluid coolers). Most Honda oil coolers are just coolant/oil heat exchangers mounted where the oil filter is located. TransDapt makes a spin-on sandwich style adapter that mounts at the oil filter location and gives you a 3/8" NPT inlet and outlet to allow you to plumb in your own air-cooled engine oil cooler.

I'm not aware of any bolt-in kits for adding a transmission temperature gauge. You could always tee into one of the fluid lines and mount a sender there, but there's a razor thin chance there will be a provision for this on the tranny itself seeing how this vehicle is not intended for heavy duty towing.

(I won't go into telling you that adding fluid coolers doesn't raise the tow capacity of your Odyssey)

 

Here they are. Which one do I need?

http://tdperformance.com/products/?id=3302


You're right, but an oil cooler should reduce the chances of overheating the engine when slightly overloaded.

Well, durn! I swore I read that it had one, but review of the 2011 specs doesn't mention one, so I must have misread something. So what gives the Ridgeline 5,000 pounds tow capacity while the Odyssey has only 3,500? Rear suspension?