Transmission Fluid Cooler

[Spirit]

Going to go hunting around for an ATF cooler today - having never looked into this has anyone got any suggestions/ideas/thoughts on the subject - like what size, what's best etc ?

Cheers

Pete

[enigma]

I bought a permacool kit while i was in the States last week........not sure how big it is, but it was only £25 so I had to buy it! It came with the cooler some pipe and all the fittings required! Will take some pics tonight if I remember.

Not going to fit it just yet as its b@startd cold enough outside!

[Spirit]

Yeah I was looking at Perma Cool stuff last night Dave. £25 is a bargain not to be declined as you say :-D

Have found a local gearbox specialist who may be able to help so gonna pop up there in a bit.

With regards to the ATF fluid - from reading elsewhere on here which is best:

ATF SF2 or SF3
Castrol TQ Dextron III
Mitsy Diaqueen ATF

What you gonna use ?

Cheers
Pete

[Spirit]

Just called local Mitsy and they said recommended oil is SP3 - costs £4.09 per 1/2 litre and our capacity is 8.9L (inc diff I assume). Then the filter is £23.11 (inc vat).

[Nick Mann]

Just called local Mitsy and they said recommended oil is SP3 - costs £4.09 per 1/2 litre and our capacity is 8.9L (inc diff I assume).

You would need 18 bottles!!!

£70!!

[Nick VR4]

Yeap about 18 bottles could be why a small service is still hitting around the £200 area

ATFSP-III is now used in the AYC as well

[pjjohnson]

They don't change the ATF fluid or filter on the 'small' services I've had.

[Spirit]

Right been to the gearbox place and......step back in amazement....they didn't want my money!

They had a cooler there, looked quite big, and said the only place it would go would be in front of the intercooler and they did not think that was a good idea. He also reckoned as long as the fluid/filter was changed regularly (i.e. before each track event) it would not be required The only other place was behind the grill but the risk of stones hitting it was not worth it.

BDA where are you putting yours ? And doesn't someone else have one fitted - where abouts, any pics ?

[enigma]

I believe Rhys (-Legnum VR4- ) has provided details of fitment. His is above the intercooler in front of the radiator in the grill, dont think stones would be a problem really.......it may bend fins but shouldn't break the tubes.

I think as you have increased the performance you may be as well fitting the cooler.

[Spirit]

Thats what I thought Dave, but the guy just didn't want my money (or the hassle by the looks of it). Can you do a picture guide when you fit yours and also let me know the model number/info of the one you got - may be cheaper to buy one from the US like you have.

Pete

[enigma]

Thats what I thought Dave, but the guy just didn't want my money (or the hassle by the looks of it). Can you do a picture guide when you fit yours and also let me know the model number/info of the one you got - may be cheaper to buy one from the US like you have.

Pete

I sure can! Mine is a Perma-Cool #1013 suitable for cars and trucks up to 20000GVW what ever that means!

[Spirit]

From their website:

1013 : 18,000 to 20,000 GVW
Recommended for full size cars and trucks with regular towing and motor homes up to 28 feet long.
Coil size: 3/4" x 7-1/2" x 15-1/2"

GVW = gross vehicle weight ???? just a guess

[zedy1]

thats right pete i, gomma get ne to nu in summer

[Kieran]

Hmmm! I might be interested in an upgraded ATF cooler... A lot of my driving involves sitting in traffic, which (so I've read) is a good way of heating up the ATF.

And the more that ATF overheats, the shorter it's life is - and we're talking about overheating at about 100 degrees C, so it doesn't take much!

[pjjohnson]

I've got one fitted, its just a little 'mocal' type oil cooler fitted in front of the nearside of the rad. Probably about 30cm x 10 cm. x 4cm. Done by 'experts', recommended by them to cope with extra grunt. Apparently it was dead easy to fit. No idea if its any good or was really needed. May be able to post a photo next week as I've just ordered a camera.

[Spirit]

I've got one fitted, its just a little 'mocal' type oil cooler fitted in front of the nearside of the rad. Probably about 30cm x 10 cm. x 4cm. Done by 'experts', recommended by them to cope with extra grunt. Apparently it was dead easy to fit. No idea if its any good or was really needed. May be able to post a photo next week as I've just ordered a camera.

Do you know if they had to dismantle any of the exisiting rad/intercooler to fit it PJ ?

[Spirit]

Strange this, the new local Jap specialist I am using did some work tonight and even they said not to bother with a cooler, they looked at the current set up and said it was more than sufficient for the job - even track days ?

[-LegnumVR4-]

Strange this, the new local Jap specialist I am using did some work tonight and even they said not to bother with a cooler, they looked at the current set up and said it was more than sufficient for the job - even track days ?

Well thats bull**** if I ever heard it! :stunned:

People have reported that the trans will shift badly when they are hot. I'm pretty sure one person mention about a track day without a cooler.

My ATF cooler is mounted on the A/C condenser, plastic bolts with plastic nuts holds it on through the fins.

Size is: 420mmx200mmx20mm

The only thing I notice is the trans takes longer to heat up to operating temp. Takes about 2mins, after that everything is fine.

[Freddy]

Sorry Spirit but Legnum is right. The factory gearbox coolers are just a joke. Not only are they tiny, but being in/on the radiator they don't cool as well as they should with all that heat around them. Drop the front bumper and hook one on to the condenser, takes around 2 1/2 hours.
(Time depends on how long it takes to get the sneaky bolt beside the washer bottle out)

[Roadrunner]

I'm pretty sure one person mention about a track day without a cooler

That could be me - I took mine round Knockhill in Scotland (1.3 mile track) and, by the third lap, the performance of the box was degrading. Between 2nd and 3rd, the revs would rise about 500rpm before 3rd kicked in; changing down, it could be 4 seconds before the next gear would arrive. Wait 15 minutes, let the fluid cool down, and take it out again with the same result - three laps tops (less than 4 miles!). I've stopped doing track days for the moment until I get round to getting a transmission cooler fitted.

Brian