| Author |
Message |
cc238
Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2008
Posts: 11
Location: ca.
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:28 pm Post subject: Auto trans. cooler |
 |
|
The stock a/t cooler seems awfully expensive for what it is. The aftermarket ones are a third of the price. This is an area that has me wondering which way to go. My question is whether the trans fluid needs to be a certain temp. to operate properly. The thermostat would allow that to happen with the coolant but the aftermarket ones have no way to keep the temp. even. Also any idea as to the lifetime of the stock cooler?
I live in a very hot climate. (So. Ca. desert) and am running a stock 2.1 engine. Any thoughts? Cheers |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
allsierra123
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2006
Posts: 1462
Location: Tecate, Baja California MX
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
stock cooler goes bad= Catastrophic Failure.. To me that was the only convincing I needed. Dont want to buy another new engine.
_________________
95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eeebee
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2009
Posts: 441
Location: Tujunga
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cc238
Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2008
Posts: 11
Location: ca.
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Go Westy`s stock cooler is $525 now...ouch...sort of leads me to think the aftermarket ones like they use in Subaru conversions is the way to go. Not an engineer, but unless it is a really cold climate I can`t imagine the viscosity of cool atf being a problem. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
allsierra123
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2006
Posts: 1462
Location: Tecate, Baja California MX
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well it does help it to warm up faster. But It will warm up on its own just as you are driving it. And that will keep it from getting to warm. If you don't want to buy a kit there is a write on what you need to buy to put it all together its simple and doesn't take much time at all.
_________________
95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pete000
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 645
Location: Bradenton Florida
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I went with the Small Car Performance external cooler. Much safer no chance of coolant getting into the gear box !
How to here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=166327&highlight=
_________________
1990 Vanagon
--------------------
Koni Shocks
Witech Springs
Addco Sway Bars Front-Rear
OEM Porsche Wheels
Recaro Power-Heated seats
JL Audio, Kenwood, Soundstream, MB Quart, Audiocontrol |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Terry Kay
Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003
Posts: 13331
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
The big bonus of separating the trans oil from the engine coolant is the trans won't have to depend on the engine's coolant to cool down--which is a problem--the trans & the engine coolant are working against each other.
_________________
T.K. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Perales
Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2007
Posts: 2046
Location: Nova Scotia
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
Just out of curiosity, has anyone here actually had one go bad or even know of one? We have all seen the result of not replacing the fuel lines, but I must say, I have never heard a first hand experience of a blown AT cooler. (Don't yell at me, I am just curious)
_________________
-- 1987 Westfalia automatic (Captain Vino) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
deprivation
Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2006
Posts: 1220
Location: Austin, Texas
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I got my hardware at Pegasus Racing, a little cheaper than JEGS. The job was surprisingly easy but on startup, my transmission cooler barfed expensive Royal Purple all over my driveway. You gotta have them clamps on TIGHT!
I'm with Perales - I can't say I've actually heard of a cooler going tits-up here on TheSamba but perhaps someone can post their tale o' woe.
_________________
1986 Westy 2WD auto a.k.a. "The Old Girl"
www.kittenfart.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
a914622
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 952
Location: Westend of HWY2 , Wash
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Perales wrote: |
| Just out of curiosity, has anyone here actually had one go bad or even know of one? We have all seen the result of not replacing the fuel lines, but I must say, I have never heard a first hand experience of a blown AT cooler. (Don't yell at me, I am just curious) |
As far as an aftermarket cooler going bad?? They take a lot of abuse.
As far as stock cooler going bad OH YA!! When i got mine the previous owner had the cooler fail and puked coolant in the tranny and smoked it.. sucks for him cheap vanagon for me 
jcl
_________________
87 gl powerd buy 2.5subaru
75 914 getting 2.2t subaru scratch that SVX subaru |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
deprivation
Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2006
Posts: 1220
Location: Austin, Texas
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 4:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| a914622 wrote: |
| the previous owner had the cooler fail and puked coolant in the tranny and smoked it. |
Well, there you go.
_________________
1986 Westy 2WD auto a.k.a. "The Old Girl"
www.kittenfart.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pete000
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 645
Location: Bradenton Florida
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 4:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have seen quite a few Vanagons with AT trans for sale with so called "blown transmissions". I am thinking it is a good chance some could be due to the cooler taking a poop.
_________________
1990 Vanagon
--------------------
Koni Shocks
Witech Springs
Addco Sway Bars Front-Rear
OEM Porsche Wheels
Recaro Power-Heated seats
JL Audio, Kenwood, Soundstream, MB Quart, Audiocontrol |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
OilNBolts
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2007
Posts: 438
Location: Kentucky
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The first owner of one of my '88s had a cooler fail. He had the transmission rebuilt, and the cooling system flushed. I changed the radiator and the heater cores, along with the plastic cooling system parts and a bunch of hoses.
I really think that was the last straw for him. A shame, really. He had kept records on the van all the way back to the window sticker. All post-warranty service was performed by the same shop. Reading the service records it becomes clear that the shop, even though a highly-regarded local foreign car specialty shop, was doing repairs but (save for fluid changes) no preventive maintenance.
Some day I'll add up his receipts. I'm pretty sure it'll exceed the new purchase price.
_________________
Current fleet: Vanagons, two '88 GLs and an 89 Bluestar. Beetles, '63, '64, '72 convertible. Plus, four Subarus and three Prius. Too many cars. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
randywebb
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005
Posts: 3815
Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
- is there any indication - or warning before these fluids get mixed?
-- noises?? -- changes to temperatures or pressure that can be monitored??
also, if you put in the separate aftermarket exchanger, what is the chance it will get taken out by rocks, or other off-road hazards?? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VisPacem
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2007
Posts: 1143
Location: Las Vegas
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:47 am Post subject: Re: Auto trans. cooler |
|
|
| cc238 wrote: |
The stock a/t cooler seems awfully expensive for what it is. The aftermarket ones are a third of the price. This is an area that has me wondering which way to go. My question is whether the trans fluid needs to be a certain temp. to operate properly. The thermostat would allow that to happen with the coolant but the aftermarket ones have no way to keep the temp. even. Also any idea as to the lifetime of the stock cooler?
I live in a very hot climate. (So. Ca. desert) and am running a stock 2.1 engine. Any thoughts? Cheers |
Well to give you an idea, I removed the OEM cooler on my 89. So this one lasted at least 20 years. It is in perfect condition. I just got parano and replaced it with an aftermarket cooler as **preventive maintenance**. Has been two years no problems with rocks or projection or any damage.
Naturally I would not do the Paris-Dakar with this set up, but as far as I am concerned it works just fine.
As far as temperature I believe that you can get a kind of valve/thermostat which should do the job or and I did not install it, I have besides my good OEM cooler an external setup with a fan that you can operate should the fluid gets too hot, providing you have a temp gauge.
Incidentally should you be interested by either of those PM me.
Good luck
_________________
LG aka VisPacemPB, *The* party Pooper
No Regrets (Nothing to do with Vanagons) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kayakwesty
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2007
Posts: 687
Location: East Tennessee
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cc238
Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2008
Posts: 11
Location: ca.
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject: Auto trans. cooler |
|
|
To VisPacem Curious how externally how one ascertains that a cooler is perfect? Isn`t the failure basically an internal corrosion issue? bad coolant perhaps reacting similar to the head gaskets?
I think Pete000`s post with pics is the way to go when I do my cv boots/joints
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=166327&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Thanks for all the input |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VisPacem
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2007
Posts: 1143
Location: Las Vegas
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:48 pm Post subject: Re: Auto trans. cooler |
|
|
Though I am not inclined to walk into an argumentative bog and assuming your question is purely academic I shall clarify that the cooler in question was functioning **perfectly** and showed no evidence of any type of failure.
Therefore based on the facts in evidence I did declare said cooler"perfect" given latitude for prosaic license as , as we all know perfection is not of this world.
Defense rest.
ps. Yes the external after market fluid cooler is indeed the way to go and that is why I have that precious **imperfect** little OEM cooler somewhere in my garage, having done just that
Good luck and first of all ...have fun 
_________________
LG aka VisPacemPB, *The* party Pooper
No Regrets (Nothing to do with Vanagons) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
