Transmission Oil Cooler / Temperature Gauge

[elnevio]

I am looking to get a cooler installed prior to JapFest in May, and previous threads just say that a standard Mocal jobbie should do the trick. The first result from Google was this: http://www.thinkauto.com/acatalog/On...ssions_29.html

Now, it seems there are three different hose sizes on there - 5/16", 3/8" and 1/2". Which size are the ones on the VR-4?

And, while I'm at it, where is the best place to install the sender for an ATF temperature gauge?

TIA!

[chris g]

I have started looking more seriously at an ATF cooler so responses to your post will be interesting...

[bradc]

Hmm, I'd like to see pictures first myself

[elnevio]

Off their website is the generic page: http://www.thinkauto.com/automatic.htm

Looks similar to the one in Enigma's installation article.

[Turbo_Steve]

That looks quite wide: If you can, I would suggest going for something slightly taller and narrower. It can then be fitted behind one of the foglight grilles, where it will be better protected from impacts and will not share airflow with the radiator, intercooler and aircon units.

For the temperature gauge, there are two ways of looking at this. You can either tap the box at the point where the fluid is likely to be getting hottest (no idea where this would be) or you could simply put an adaptor into the pipe just before your oil cooler. This will tell you what temperature the oil is leaving the box at, which should be a good indicator of how well your additional cooling is working.

One of the easiest ways to do this is probably use a "Fuel pressure sensor pipe", designed to go inline with your fuel pipe, but should fit inline with one of these and accept a temp sensor.

[elnevio]

Ta Steve.

I am wondering if there would be much interest in a group buy? Must be a few people considering this?

[PaddyB]

It's on my list of things to do - I'd be interested in any group buy.

[Turbo_Steve]

I'd be more interested in monitoring my temps than cooling at this stage.....pf course, one might lead to the other........

[elnevio]

I'd be more interested in monitoring my temps than cooling at this stage.....pf course, one might lead to the other........

Well, I'd like to do that first! Back to my original post - what's the best place to install a temperature sender?

[Turbo_Steve]

I've had a look, and I reckon one of these in the "hot" pipe from the mission to the rad is what you need. Your sensor can just sit in the hot flow.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WATER-TEMP-SENSOR-HOSE-ADAPTOR-SIZES-FROM-28mm-TO-40mm_W0QQitemZ360120557760QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Ca rsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item360120557760 &_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301|66%3A2|6 5%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

[keithatport]

I would also be interested in a group buy.

Cheers

[PaddyB]

I've had a look, and I reckon one of these in the "hot" pipe from the mission to the rad is what you need. Your sensor can just sit in the hot flow.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WATER-TEMP-SENSOR-HOSE-ADAPTOR-SIZES-FROM-28mm-TO-40mm_W0QQitemZ360120557760QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Ca rsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item360120557760 &_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301|66%3A2|6 5%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Easier & defo cheaper that a cooler - what size do i need ??

[fluffnik]

I'd be more interested in monitoring my temps than cooling at this stage.....pf course, one might lead to the other........

I'm looking at Alpine driving - unconditional ATF cooling is fine by me...

[elnevio]

I think those in-line adapters are too big for the ATF pipes, just need something similar-sized to our ATF pipes. And sorry Steve, I completely missed the part of your first post regarding the temperature sender!

I think that an ordinary oil temperature gauge will do the job? I have seen the occasional tranmission temp gauge though...

As regards the cooler, I will have a hunt around, and then probably edit this thread into a 'possible group buy' one. Watch this space. I take it no-one's in any real rush at this stage?

[Turbo_Steve]

Sorry: read those adaptors as 2.8mm not 28mm......d'oh!

[elnevio]

This is the sort of transmission temperature gauge kit available in the US:

http://www.ipmart.com/main/product/B...php?prod=55809

Amazon.com do it for about $48, but won't ship it to the UK.

This kit would therefore cost around £65 to deliver to your door (although a group buy on this could be beneficial in terms of carriage...).

It seems to have everything, and includes a thermostat so that the cooler is effectively bypassed until the atf reaches 80C. Unfortunately (well, maybe not for some ), the gauge only reads in Fahrenheit, although I don't see why you couldn't install a different gauge with this kit.

I just haven't found an installation kit anywhere else!


Steve - what sort of size cooler do you think would be best for behind the foglight grill, and how would you mount it? I'm still tempted to install the cooler in front of the rad, as per Dave's article.

[peter thomson]

I'd be keen for another cooler as well which I would use for the power steering or swap with the transmission cooler I have already if it is better.
The people with a facelifts would have to mount the cooler in the usual place rather than behind the foglight grilles though. We would have to make sure the cooler was suitable for either location.

This is the sort of transmission temperature gauge kit available in the US:

http://www.ipmart.com/main/product/B...php?prod=55809

Amazon.com do it for about $48, but won't ship it to the UK.

This kit would therefore cost around £65 to deliver to your door (although a group buy on this could be beneficial in terms of carriage...).

It seems to have everything, and includes a thermostat so that the cooler is effectively bypassed until the atf reaches 80C. Unfortunately (well, maybe not for some ), the gauge only reads in Fahrenheit, although I don't see why you couldn't install a different gauge with this kit.

I just haven't found an installation kit anywhere else!


Steve - what sort of size cooler do you think would be best for behind the foglight grill, and how would you mount it? I'm still tempted to install the cooler in front of the rad, as per Dave's article.

[peter thomson]

$50 from these guys and they ship outside of the US

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...part=BMM-80212

This is the sort of transmission temperature gauge kit available in the US:

http://www.ipmart.com/main/product/B...php?prod=55809

Amazon.com do it for about $48, but won't ship it to the UK.

.

[chris g]

But exactly which ATF cooler(s) will fit the VR-4...?

[g8legnum]

Mocal are probably the best source of ATF coolers in the UK. They also do an oilstat that will control the access of the ATF fluid into the cooler, so that you don't over cool the fluid and the oilstat has the provision for the fitting of an electrical temp sender - so all problems solved in one go! Web site is http://www.thinkauto.com