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Utter confusion about trans coolers

VT13

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FWIW, I went to the wreckers and saw many VT series 2 with same setup, VX has the cooler vertical instead of horizontal ( or is that the series 1 VT? , seen so many lately ). Still not sure if it was standard or not.
They all have mounting brackets that are rusting badly as well, I'd like to get new brackets

In pure standard form all autos are piped to run fluid through a cooling tank within the radiator assy. As an option (recommended for towing or high performance) you will see an additional (external) cooler plumbed in as well. These are generally connected in line with the fluid going through both the radiator tank and the extra external cooler before returning to the tranny. Sometimes people elect to bypass the radiator tank all together and use external coolers only as the tranny can be exposed to radiator coolant if the radiator has a catastrophic failure. That's being ultra safe but I have seen people do it.

Anyway, standard config is a tranny cooling tank built into the standard radiator. Added external tranny coolers are common, either factory or after-market.
 

VT&VX

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Sometimes people elect to bypass the radiator tank all together and use external coolers only as the tranny can be exposed to radiator coolant if the radiator has a catastrophic failure.

Yes when you start seeing cloudy radiator fluid, it means you have auto trans seeping in there.

Using radiator stop leak won't fix it unless you bypass the auto trans cooler lines.

I have a VT radiator that had that problem. Not that common on Commodore (very common on the Falcon forum).

Drove around for while with radiator bypassed to oil cooler. Had radiator stop leak in there. All good until I decided to reconnect the radiator pass thru. The pressure split the old wound. Ended up getting a new radiator.

If you do bypass the oil cooler pass thru, the caps you need would be AN6 (I think, someone correct me?)
 

shueardm

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It's scary thought anyway that a radiator problem can ruin your transmission. It's poor design really. Not such a concern on a VT 4 speed Auto, they are easy to find in the wrecking yards. My other ride , a VZ 5 speed, now that is a different box, much more expensive and much harder to find.
 

Pollushon

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99.9% of autos run fluid via the rad. It's a rare event. If the design was truly poor manufacturers wouldn't use it. In my old age I have never experienced it.
 

lout

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the best thing you could do is when next at the wreckers grab an auto pan and dipstick from a vxii or vy
will have deep pan stamped on the dipstick
and note they use a deep pan filter
 

shueardm

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the best thing you could do is when next at the wreckers grab an auto pan and dipstick from a vxii or vy
will have deep pan stamped on the dipstick
and note they use a deep pan filter

My VT II already has a deep pan
 

NeddyBear

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That's sweet but did you remove one or was there no cooler to begin with?

Original cooler is in the radiator which is now blocked off.
 

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shueardm

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Original cooler is in the radiator which is now blocked off.
So that's a No. Since I meant did you remove a standalone cooler like the one I have had from new.
So, it must have be added with all tow bars at dealerships ( and a lot of VT's have towbars , thus my confusion at the self serve wreckers).
 

shueardm

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Reading the VT owners book today I came across the towing load requirements. One is 1200-1600kg pack that a power steering cooler be fitted... power steering , not transmission. So that's what it is, the hoses are not easy to follow and clearly I didn't look close enough.
 

Lex

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Reading the VT owners book today I came across the towing load requirements. One is 1200-1600kg pack that a power steering cooler be fitted... power steering , not transmission. So that's what it is, the hoses are not easy to follow and clearly I didn't look close enough.
Mine is 2100 kg. The external cooler was already on it when l got the car. I fitted the towbar myself. Thats why l now its 2100kg.
 
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