Transmission Coolers

[ktford]

Exactly now u get it,

I paid big money to have the 1st or 2nd highest rated auto shop in Brissy supply and fit a big $$ trans, trans cooler and trans temp guage to my ZJ Fairlane years back, I trailered it to willowbank first weekend available, drove it rarely at that point in time, so no street k's prior to its arrival at the track, on deceleration at the end of the 1st pass I noticed the needle was literally off the guage face, so I ran it an hour or so later, same occurance, trailered home, best of 13.0 @ 111mph (2.3 60ft.)

Rang trans shop Monday morning, he didn't believe me, said this cooler was the ducks guts and had them on heaps of other cars without incident, so I drove it down to his shop, (about 45 minute drive) and str8 onto the hoist, he immediately lifted it up and unscrewed the sump plug on my box, next door heard the sreams when the oil touched his skin, I said everybodies old favourite, "I told you so." Next day I picked the car up and he'd fitted an identical cooler underneath the 1st one and presto never got hot again.

Having cooked the box in my T as well in Jan '05 I know I did the same thing again, 9 consecutive passes at Willowbank back to back, so I've a little knowledge in the department & have spent tens of thousands on auto's over the years, don't skimp on a $100.oo guage that might protect your $4000.oo box, a cheap sender fitted in your cooler lines can be connected simply to a wire/guage and feed it into the cabin, have a mate watch it while you take it for a fang, chuck some skids doughies or whatever floats your boat, then disconnect it and retest it whenever you make more power from mods` or if something seems not quite right, take it from me it's worth it in the longrun.

Remember though I'm always ready with a "I told you so"

Edited 23/01/08 09:04 AM by tab

[YOB POM]

I put two pwr 280mmX200mm in the front between the wog cooler and the condenser also using the factory radiator one I find it works well im not makin 400kws at the wheels or anything but still going strong.

You would be well advised to take the factory one out of the loop as they have been known to split and fill your trans with water.

[MiKa]

Exactly now u get it,

I paid big money to have the 1st or 2nd highest rated auto shop in Brissy supply and fit a big $$ trans, trans cooler and trans temp guage to my ZJ Fairlane years back, I trailered it to willowbank first weekend available, drove it rarely at that point in time, so no street k's prior to its arrival at the track, on deceleration at the end of the 1st pass I noticed the needle was literally off the guage face, so I ran it an hour or so later, same occurance, trailered home, best of 13.0 @ 111mph (2.3 60ft.)

Rang trans shop Monday morning, he didn't believe me, said this cooler was the ducks guts and had them on heaps of other cars without incident, so I drove it down to his shop, (about 45 minute drive) and str8 onto the hoist, he immediately lifted it up and unscrewed the sump plug on my box, next door heard the sreams when the oil touched his skin, I said everybodies old favourite, "I told you so." Next day I picked the car up and he'd fitted an identical cooler underneath the 1st one and presto never got hot again.

Having cooked the box in my T as well in Jan '05 I know I did the same thing again, 9 consecutive passes at Willowbank back to back, so I've a little knowledge in the department & have spent tens of thousands on auto's over the years, don't skimp on a $100.oo guage that might protect your $4000.oo box, a cheap sender fitted in your cooler lines can be connected simply to a wire/guage and feed it into the cabin, have a mate watch it while you take it for a fang, chuck some skids doughies or whatever floats your boat, then disconnect it and retest it whenever you make more power from mods` or if something seems not quite right, take it from me it's worth it in the longrun.

Remember though I'm always ready with a "I told you so"

OK, OK, your almost as bad as my parents hehhe... Nah I hear ya... So what your saying is that the new cooler might be actually worse than the stock one? Therefore checking the temps out is the way to go ey..? Now where to get a trans temp guage.....

"I told you so".... My parents love that one too...

Thanks for the advice ktford

Cheers Mike...

[Full Monty]

The stock one serves 2 purposes, to warm the trans as quickly as possible to operating temp, and then to try and moderate its temp once up and running.

Problem is, the core of the in ratiator cooler is smaller than a 30 cm ruler! total...its piss weak, and is relying on the radiators water temperature to cool the oil temperature.

so you get heat transfer from the trans system into the engine cooling system.

In my view, any reasonable sized cooler from a reputable brand and preferably with a thermostat / valve to allow the trans to warm up before opening and in some decent airflow will be leagues better than the standard in tank.

I like the idea of having a trans temp guage, I will consider that when eventually I fit a tripod.

my box was opened up, just after christmas to fit high energy frictions and the oil and internals were like new, no sign of burning or scorching.

If I were fitting a cooler now, I'd seriously look at the new B+M with the thermo fan attached.

[MiKa]

If I were fitting a cooler now, I'd seriously look at the new B+M with the thermo fan attached.

I've got the B&M one. I asked about the one with the fan, and the guy said that the fan operates when the car is stationary and when just creeping, but at say 60km/h or whatever the fan is just blocking the air trying to go through the cooler. Sounded good enough to me so I didnt get it with the fan. I didnt ask but, does the fan blow air through the cooler? Or suck air through the cooler? If it sucked than it'd be better...

Mike...

[our06t]

depends wich side it's on and wich way the blade is put on

Edited 23/01/08 07:45 AM by our06t

[Full Monty]

so which model did you get? I have the 70264, which has the highest BTU rating of the reasonable sized B+M coolers (at least did at the time)

has been trouble free so far, like I said, oil was in perfect condition after nearly 5-6 months of driving including a track day.

I can feel the temp of the cooler after driving, it certainly dissipates a lot of heat, but it isnt scorching hot with normal to spirited driving.

The key is gettting good airflow to and through it, especially if you mount it in the area infront of the front wheel, I cut a couple of large circular holes in the lower air deflector just below and infront of it, and then a series of louvered slots in the wheel arch to allow the air to flow through and out. I had a 2" flexible duct from the front lower grille to the trans cooler initially but removed it and installed some ducting from directly below it.

you'd be suprised how much air gets pumped into that area at 100kph, via the area surrounding the Fog lamp (high pressure zone) and below the headlight, I have heard of people having the plastic screw / scrivets push out and force the wheel arch plastic onto the tire at speed.

[MiKa]

Pretty much how I want mine fitted, with all the air ducts/ slots etc.... I dont know the model number (its in the car, back seat) but its the one the guy recommended as he has the same one in his BA XR8, and said it hasnt missed a beat..

[ktford]

as mentioned getting air to the cooler is irrelevant, getting air thru the cooler is where it all happens.

autobarn/repco or any parts joint worth their salt will sell u an electronic inline sender for your trans temp gauge, at least fit it now, then buy your guage when u can justify the expense, plug it in & presto, you'll b able to inform all the Xperts on here as to the truth, me included as I'll be building my blown GTP in the later half of the year and am nervy of the ZF6 slotter

[tab]

I'll be building my blown GTP in the later half of the year and am nervy of the ZF6 slotter

Looks like somebody has got a severe case of sutty-envy. Sounds awesome Shorty