Tranny Cooler In Cool Climate?

[greenstorm]

I live in Wisconsin now, and am moving to duluth next year... is this cool enough climate that i dont have to get a AT cooler? or should i go for one anyways? any input would be helpful

[guyaverage]

I would, given their incredibly high failure rate. You can always block airflow to it in the cooler seasons using sheet metal and zip-ties, or just disconnect the hoses to it and join the two hoses with a fitting in the meantime.

It IS possible to overcool a tranny, you may notice slow, sluggish shifts or the converter may not lockup on the highway. SOME heat is beneficial, thats why I never completely bypass the stock 'cooler' in the radiator, just splice the aftermarket one in the return line.

[greenstorm]

thanks for the reply, my tranny feels like its shifting hard on the 1-2 and it just doesnt feel natural.. i dont know, but what I do know is that rebuilds are expensive and i want to do whatever i can to keep this one going. Do you have any other tips on how to get the most out of my tranny?

[guyaverage]

20,000 mile fluid/filter changes and an aftermarket cooler are about as much as anyone can do. The cooler by itself will help tremendously.

[Technica]

The life of your tranny depends more on how you use it, or abuse it. It doesn't matter the temperature outside of your tranny, if your doing 190 and downshifting into corners and using your "hold" button alot, it could be -20'C, it's still gonna be red-hot inside your tranny.
My radiator was ruined in an acccident, so I put in one out of my 5-speed MX-3 and connected the two oil cooler hoses together (like guyaverage said) and my car still works fine. Thats not to say im not ordering an aftermarket oil cooler from Modine, but it proves that your alright without one, at least if your not abuseing your tranny

[guyaverage]

Whoa...... back up. When I talked about connecting the hoses together, I meant the two going to the aftermarket cooler (basically a splice in the stock return line), keeping the stock cooler still functional. I would not recommend anyone bypass both coolers at the same time (or not use one at all), which is what it sounds like you are doing. For a VERY short time I might if I had to, but never for days on end.

<small>[ May 19, 2004, 07:07 AM: Message edited by: guyaverage ]</small>