Tranny Cooler

**SSMuscle** · 05-21-2009, 07:29 PM

Looking into tranny cooler for my A4, but don't know which I should get. There's BTU numbers and diff types but I don't know which is best. I'm looking at ws6 store and the 15000 BTU looks like the better deal.....what do y'all think??

**JoshieDoom** · 05-22-2009, 03:03 AM

The higher the number the better. The more heat you can get away the longer your tranmission will live. B&M transmission coolers are VERY popular.

**SSMuscle** · 05-22-2009, 04:13 AM

Originally Posted by JoshieDoom

The higher the number the better. The more heat you can get away the longer your tranmission will live. B&M transmission coolers are VERY popular.

k thanks

**00z28bubba** · 05-22-2009, 04:19 AM

Originally Posted by SSMuscle

Looking into tranny cooler for my A4, but don't know which I should get. There's BTU numbers and diff types but I don't know which is best. I'm looking at ws6 store and the 15000 BTU looks like the better deal.....what do y'all think??

Anything above 24k rating for future tranny mods will be perfect.

**qwik219d9** · 05-23-2009, 02:52 PM

the #s relate to gross veihical weight higher is better.

that is why I have 2 coolers one el cheapo 20K in parralle w/ recommended B&M 24K super cooler. = 44K

**GTO1_OHIO** · 05-23-2009, 05:18 PM

The B&M is not good if you race, read:

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread...ghlight=cooler

**SSMuscle** · 05-25-2009, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by GTO1_OHIO

The B&M is not good if you race, read:

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread...ghlight=cooler

hmm......I've seen the ones with the fans, I will def. consider them. thanks

**clg82** · 05-26-2009, 02:11 PM

What does a tranny cooler do for a car in the winter? A friend of mine said that driving it in the winter with the tranny cooler will be worse for the car.....any truth to that?

**00z28bubba** · 05-26-2009, 04:13 PM

i wouldnt assume it to be bad at all in the winter. seeing as how the outside air isnt gonna freeze the tranny fluid while the car is running. i dont know the freezing point but the outside air, unless way in the negatives, will not lower the temp to a dangerous level after it is warmed up and running.

**mrr23** · 05-27-2009, 05:40 PM

from TCI website

There's More To Coolers Than You Think: It's no secret that heat kills automatic transmissions. And in high-performance street-strip applications, the problem is especially acute. Small diameter torque converters coupled with stop-and-go traffic greatly increase the heat level in an automatic transmission. In most cases, the extra performance heat under the hood can have the same effect as heavy loads, trailer towing and desert conditions.

How hot is too hot? The ideal operating temperature for automatic transmission fluid is between 175 and 225° F. At approximately 240° F, important additives in the ATF begin to cook. The result is the formation of varnish inside the transmission. At approximately 260° F, internal transmission seals (which are typically manufactured from a polyacrylate material) begin to harden. The end results are leaks, both internal and external, simply because the seals lose their elasticity. At approximately 295° F, transmission clutch plates begin to slip because the oil is breaking down further. At approximately 315° F, seals and clutches effectively burn out. Carbon forms in the oil and for all intents and purposes, the transmission is junk. Just for your information, a typical transmission will die within 2000 miles if subjected to 300° F+ heat.

**clg82** · 05-27-2009, 08:01 PM

[QUOTE=mrr23;1941410]from TCI website

I'm not so sure that chart is true. My stock transmission lasted 105,000 miles without a fluid change

and no tranny cooler.........maybe I just got lucky I guess......

**mrr23** · 05-27-2009, 08:03 PM

it's refering to trans fluid temps not engine coolant temps.

**JoshieDoom** · 05-28-2009, 01:07 AM

[QUOTE=clg82;1941598]

Originally Posted by mrr23

from TCI website

I'm not so sure that chart is true. My stock transmission lasted 105,000 miles without a fluid change

and no tranny cooler.........maybe I just got lucky I guess......

Did you have a temp guage for your AT?

**clg82** · 05-28-2009, 05:21 AM

Originally Posted by mrr23

it's refering to trans fluid temps not engine coolant temps.

Not sure I said anything about engine coolant?.............

[QUOTE=JoshieDoom;1941743]

Originally Posted by clg82

Did you have a temp guage for your AT?

No nothing, just stock everything until about 2,000 miles ago..........

**Stephen Griner** · 05-28-2009, 05:51 AM

The chart is a generalized life expectancy chart. It is not exact life of the tranny.

**clg82** · 05-28-2009, 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by Stephen Griner

The chart is a generalized life expectancy chart. It is not exact life of the tranny.

I know I was just noting that even without a tranny cooler or ANY maintenance of the tranny at all mine lasted 105,000 miles, not the smartest thing to do but they do last.........

**Firebirdjones** · 05-28-2009, 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by clg82

I know I was just noting that even without a tranny cooler or ANY maintenance of the tranny at all mine lasted 105,000 miles, not the smartest thing to do but they do last.........

Probably because you never got it that hot. No stall converter that would build excessive heat.

**Firebirdjones** · 05-28-2009, 07:09 AM

I'm running various brand coolers on different cars. I've personally had no issues with the B&M coolers and find them to work rather nicely. I've actually had good experiences with just about any tranny cooler.

I have an el-cheapo brand on my truck that I tow a 10,000 lbs. trailer with, and with 98,000 miles the 400 turbo is still working strong.

I run a smallish B&M on my 454 chevelle, Been racing that car with the same 400 turbo in it since 1988 as well as more than 30,000 street miles in that time with a very loose 36-3800 Coan converter, and for more than 20 years that trans still hits hard. Been through 3 motors though

I recently installed a nice Derale cooler on my 02 SS. Running a loose feeling 3400 converter in that car. Although I haven't driven it much since the install of the cooler. I'm sure it will work just as well as the others.

I don't even run a cooler on my 70 formula, although I still run the stock converter in the car too so I never saw the need. But with 116,000 miles on the original (un-opened) 400 turbo and probably 150 or more dragstrip passes over the last 5-6 years it's still kicking strong as well.

So in my experiences I don't see the need to get too picky on brands of coolers unless it's for piece of mind or a particular size and/or application. Just having any cooler on there is a good thing and better than nothing at all.

**fieropope** · 05-31-2009, 08:18 PM

in all reality the trans cooler built into the radiator will do just fine with a stock converter thats why you can get 105 k miles out of a unmaintained tranny, if the fluid doesnt get hot it doesnt break the fluid down and hurt the trans, the point o the trans cooler is to keep the fluid from getting too hot and losing the properties that keep the trans alive.and any extra cooling capacity can only help.

**usafshelley** · 12-24-2009, 07:06 PM

well i have a 2001 camaro ss with 112,000 miles on it with just bolt on performance parts, and i have no external trans cooler. And i live in SC, so it gets pretty warm in the summer. But ive had no problems from my transmission giving up or slipping. But i am planning on putting a cam and about a 3000 stall, so how big and what brand of cooler should i go for?
THANKS