Transmission Coolers - what models had them?

[Old Colts in Oz]

Hi guys,

Just had a trans cooler fitted today to my 95 VS Wagon and I think it may be off a series 2 VS. I know it's a bad photo but can anyone confirm?



My brother came round and I got underneath his 99 VT and it already had one. It got me thinking, which models came out with one standard? Did they only put them on cars with towbars or did different cars have them from factory? I'm going to do a bit of towing every now and then so I'm hoping the one I got will be up to the task.

[NORTI]

I have one in my series 2 VN Spak. & nearly all VK Calais had them (only VERY few 5L Calais made as manual)

I believe all auto Calais have them standard, maybe optional on other levels?

[immortality]

the extra transmission cooler was an optional extra on all commodores and recommended with the towing package. i think from VS s2 they started fitting em as standard. if oyu don't have one, then fit one, it can't hurt the trans, only help it live at a coooler temp which can only be good for it

[Cheap6]

[QUOTE=immortality;718289]

the extra transmission cooler was an optional extra on all commodores and recommended with the towing package. i think from VS s2 they started fitting em as standard.

Yep.

if oyu don't have one, then fit one, it can't hurt the trans, only help it live at a coooler temp which can only be good for it

If it's used, probably a good idea to flush it though; prepsol (or similar), blow it dry, then with auto fluid.

And, from the photos, it does look like the factory cooler.

[Old Colts in Oz]

Thanks guys, that all makes sense. I had it fitted wednesday and as far as I know they cleaned it all out. I'll be getting the trans serviced soon too so hopefully that will prolong the life of the gearbox

[AirStrike]

[quote=Cheap6;718415]

Yep.



If it's used, probably a good idea to flush it though; prepsol (or similar), blow it dry, then with auto fluid.

And, from the photos, it does look like the factory cooler.

You do not flush with prepsol!!! Just get some cheap trans fluid to do it.

[Cheap6]

You do not flush with prepsol!!! Just get some cheap trans fluid to do it.

That's what I have used, as per GM transmission workshop manuals.

Actually, they recommend to use white spirit, but Prepsol is close.

However, I'll repeat: then blow dry and flush through with auto. fluid.

Also part of the GM procedure.


Edit: Just to make it clear, I am not suggesting that Prepsol, or any other solvent be introduced anywhere near the trans., only in isolated components, whether an additional fluid cooler, the cooler in the radiator or the lines between them and the trans. (with the lines separated from the trans.).

[markovr]

Ive seen on cars with the factory trans cooler fitted like in the picture ,a hose run through the radiator as on standard cars and then through the cooler...maybe a dealer fitted option for towing and I have also seen on late model vs the cooler mounted like in the picture and the lines run to compression fittings similar to brake pipes and no connection at all to the radiator.
I know from experience what a cracked cooler line in the radiator does to your transmission....seems the separate auto cooler is the go.

[andyman]

they fitted them standard in vs's with the 2-core radiator? if they did i would be swapping it for an external, if it the 2 - cors split it cost huge $$$ as the trans wont live through it,

i know for a fact that ford are having issues with this and a secret recall is being made to fit external coolers on ba/bfs

[Old Colts in Oz]

Interesting. So how does the radiator cause the trans to to get stuffed? Are we saying that if you split a coolant line and the radiator runs out of coolant, it will get hot and therefore heat up the trans fluid coming through from the trans cooler? I always thought there was an extra tank bit on the end of the radiator that the trans fluid flowed through which in theory was trying to help cool it down.

[andyman]

Interesting. So how does the radiator cause the trans to to get stuffed? Are we saying that if you split a coolant line and the radiator runs out of coolant, it will get hot and therefore heat up the trans fluid coming through from the trans cooler? I always thought there was an extra tank bit on the end of the radiator that the trans fluid flowed through which in theory was trying to help cool it down.

if the lines inside the radiator split and allow the coolant and trans fluid to mix, the coolant in the transmissions stuffs the clutch packs and pretty well destroys the trans, there's little chance it will work afterwards, the trans fluid in the cooling system can make the hoses swell i believe

[jatsvl]

external trans coolers are the way to go and are rather cheap now days. internal trans coolers are a cylinder about 8inchs in length inside the radiator tank and are quite inaffective if your engine over heats so does the trans also the cylinder is prone to crack letting coolant into the trans and as previously mentioned stuffing up the trans all together.

[Joey_21]

the do anything power wise???? or economy or just save ur radiator from over heating

[jatsvl]

trans performs better at cooler temperatures and lasts longer and stops the trans from overheating. radiator over heat is caused from engine problems.

[calais_cruzin]

I had a genuine trans cooler fitted to mine after a crash, its a big chunk of steel that hardly let any air thru, trans now lags a little without the aftermarket one i had on.

My one is alot different to the one you have, ur is more radiator like, mine is just steel with hole cut thru on angle.

If anyone is goin to put a cooler on, use a aftermarket one, dont go the gen items in my opinion, ive had bad luck with this cooler, n it cost nearly $120 more than a aftermarket one.

[Old Colts in Oz]

So what do you guys think about plugging up fittings that go into the radiator and just running the trans cooler lines straight to the factory external cooler? Will that work effectively?

[BANKS]

enhancedss runs a trans cooler, ask how he did it and a diif cooler by memory i think aswell

[andyman]

So what do you guys think about plugging up fittings that go into the radiator and just running the trans cooler lines straight to the factory external cooler? Will that work effectively?

yes thats the best way to do it

[jatsvl]

and when its time to replace the radiator, you can use a manual radiator.

[immortality]

bypassing the radiator isn'ta bad idea but i'd fit a external cooler thats bigger then the standard holden one