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Sat Jul 23, 2005 4:42 pm

It's highly recomended to replace the transmission oil cooler. My questions is: Do I have to use the OEM style heat exchanger cooler?
Why couldn't I replace the exchanger for a conventional aftermarket radiator type cooler? Doing so would decrease the load on the engine cooling system. The vehicle would not be used in "cold" tempatures, so that's not an issue.

Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:59 pm

I think the seperate cooler is a GREAT idea. http://www.smallcar.com/sparts.htm has a cooler for $129 which is cheaper than the OE one and I am thinking works better. It don't look special to me. I think it is a standard thing you could get almost anywhere. Say llike at Earls. The OE gizmo is like $140-$150 wholesale and can fail like the original can. Retail: http://www.gowesty.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scre...Code=mp-at (they are MIGHTY proud of this!)

Here is why you want to change it sometime: http://www.gowesty.com/AT_failure2.htm

If you don't like your automatic shift points you can try: http://my.tbaytel.net/guskers/trans.htm

I am going to do this during my engine upgrade. Upgrade to what from a 1.9 with automatic, I don't know yet.

Sat Jul 23, 2005 7:10 pm

my 86 has a separated unit, mounted between the rails passenger side and just forward of the engine, and angled down to catch airflow...worth every penny just for peace of mind.

Sat Jul 23, 2005 9:43 pm

levi, With a Suby you have to. No questions. Did you change the shift points too?

Sat Jul 23, 2005 11:44 pm

No...would have been an easy job, but that motor has so much torque I just didn't need to. At first it seemed kinda strange...the first shift would come about 22mph and the next at 27, but later wouldn't have had it done if you paid me. Unless I get on the freeway the engine spends all its time between 2000-2500 rpm and torques around town.

Wed May 02, 2012 9:46 am

OK, major bump from an old thread....

My mechanic has just informed me of oil in my coolant and blames a failing automatic transmission cooler on my wife's 89 Wolfsburg tintop.

Now I'm mid step in my crash course reading on these coolers and notice that there are quite a few after market trans coolers out there on the market. It is well documented that the OEM coolant/ATF have serious consequences upon failure; for reference see the Gowesty library write up:
http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=305

For those of you with Automatic Transmissions who have performed this upgrade, what aftermarket kit do you like and why?

I really want to perform this maintenance myself and so would appreciate any little known steps I should perform while doing this. Also could I perform the differential and transaxle seal replacement without dropping the tranny?

Thanks.

Wed May 02, 2012 11:58 am

Bman wrote: OK, major bump from an old thread....

My mechanic has just informed me of oil in my coolant and blames a failing automatic transmission cooler on my wife's 89 Wolfsburg tintop.

Now I'm mid step in my crash course reading on these coolers and notice that there are quite a few after market trans coolers out there on the market. It is well documented that the OEM coolant/ATF have serious consequences upon failure; for reference see the Gowesty library write up:
http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=305

For those of you with Automatic Transmissions who have performed this upgrade, what aftermarket kit do you like and why?

I really want to perform this maintenance myself and so would appreciate any little known steps I should perform while doing this. Also could I perform the differential and transaxle seal replacement without dropping the tranny?

Thanks.

Oil in the coolant may not be the transmission cooler. Big question Is there any coolant in the ATF when you check the ATF dipstick?

Could be the oil cooler above the oil filter too..Coolant in your engine oil when you check the oil dipstick there?

Best test the coolant system with a pressure tester..be sure where this repair should be going.

Wed May 02, 2012 12:11 pm

This is what I am thinking of using.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370491574364?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I don't buy the claim that the "dual pass" increase the cooling ability as it probably actually lowers it a bit, but it does allow both fittings to be on the same end Which nicely neatens up the plumbing.

At this point I have run my Multi for the last 50K since I did my engine swap without a cooler and have not toast the tranny. We don't do any towing with this rig though or the results of no cooler would probably have been less pleasing.

Wed May 02, 2012 12:18 pm

Wildthings wrote: This is what I am thinking of using.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370491574364?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

x2

Wed May 02, 2012 3:44 pm

in cold climates is helps the fluid warm up faster... and hold constant.

Wed May 02, 2012 4:12 pm

There was no coolant in the ATF when checked, and ditto in the engine oil. I am new to the automatic transmission and thus these coolers, but I trust that my local mechanic has diagnosed this correctly. To expand my knowledge of this I will be performing the upgrade myself.

Seems like a few of you are building the kits yourself, do you find it is way cheaper to do that? Although I do like that the GW kit comes with instructions.

I will need to flush out my coolant system though as well to clean out the oil, any suggestions on how to do this?
I plan on following Ben's advice here:
http://benplace.com/bleeding.htm
Will this cover it?

Wed May 02, 2012 4:49 pm

I have personally installed several of the Go-Westy Trans Coolers, and if I owned an Auto this is what I would install on my Vanagon.

They are very well made and like most of GoWesty's items reasonably priced. They will also increase your trans oil cap, and have a built in thermostat that will permit oil to flow to the cooler once the trans reaches temp. I would also recomend taking a little extra effort if your installing a new cooler and remove your trans Pan drain and replace your sump screen etc while in there. Installation of the trans cooler is simple but much like installing any cooler your need to address your water portion of the cooler, GoWesty Includes the items needed to do so. I normally recomend the external cooler when doing a coolant line replacement and deleting the water-Trans water hoses. Just one less leak to worry about down the road.
Ohoooo and they look Great once installed.

GoWesty's Trans Cooler...
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=4481&category_id=&category_parent_id=

.
..

Wed May 02, 2012 5:10 pm

put a go wesry on mine too.very easy install.

Wed May 02, 2012 6:52 pm

I've had the GW one on my Westy for a while. Easy to install. Seems to be doing its job well.

Wed May 02, 2012 8:35 pm

http://www.crracing.com/custom-built-products/external-heat-exchanger
Small thread on heatexchanger vs air cooler
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4100822#4100822

Wed May 02, 2012 9:09 pm

So did you go with the heat exchanger? The C&R looks like a nice piece if you wanted to stay with the stock cooling concept. Didn't find a price. I'm going to guess 600.