auto trans cooler
Le Mans Master
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From: SC
No, I'm just trying to keep the temps down so I don't have tranny problems. I'm planning a couple of long highway trips (roughly 12 hours each way) and I've read and heard that long trips can be a problem. Am I mistaken? I don't really want to spend the money if it's not going to be beneficial.
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Never had a problem with my transmission in any of the three C5s I owned. Unless you are being really hard on the car (I.e. track time), a transmission cooler is probably not needed. The stock car should be able to handle the trips you have planned.
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You should be fine with a stock C5. Owners usually add tranny coolers for heavy track use and if they added superchargers or more aggressive rear gearing with stall converters.
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From: SC
Well, I did add a .373 rear gear and I'm about to put in a B&M torque converter with a stall speed of 2100 and a transmission with a shift kit that I'm buying from a member of this forum. Does that matter?
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How do you like the 3.73 rear gears? How do they perform with the stock stall? Did you have the A4 tuned to the new gear set?
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From: SC
No, I have not yet tuned the trans shift points. I don't get on it into upper rpms that often so it hasn't mattered but I know I need to get that done. I have in fact had to let off the gas long enough to get it to shift so I know it's necessary. I just haven't taken the time to get it done. I'm going to though since I'm changing the trans and torque converter.
As far as the 3.73 gear, I love it. It's quite a bit quicker now. I put it to use, but I just don't wind it out as far as it's capable. At least not yet. I've been reluctant to up to now since it is a stock trans that's 21 years old. But as I said, I'm buying a built tranny and TC so things are about to change. Those rear gears are soon going to be a lot more fun..
Which is why I'm asking about a trans cooler. Again, is there a particular kit that most on here use?
As far as the 3.73 gear, I love it. It's quite a bit quicker now. I put it to use, but I just don't wind it out as far as it's capable. At least not yet. I've been reluctant to up to now since it is a stock trans that's 21 years old. But as I said, I'm buying a built tranny and TC so things are about to change. Those rear gears are soon going to be a lot more fun..
Which is why I'm asking about a trans cooler. Again, is there a particular kit that most on here use?
Burning Brakes
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I do it majority of my driving in western North Carolina, and I humbly disagree.
if you’re just cruising around, I suppose you’re fine, but if you’re going to do any spirited driving, those inclines are going to get you heated up quick. Even in top shape the stock radiator just doesn’t cut it.
This is based on when I ran the 3.15 gear and stock converter.
When I switch to a 3200 stall and a 390 gear, I had to mount a big Derale plate cooler versus the original B&M
i’ll leave you with this thought. To purchase and install a transmission cooler is cheap and easy. To pull a transmission plus a repair bill is a pain in the butt and expensive.
Burning Brakes
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as much as I love my 3.90 gear if I had it did you ever again I would’ve went with either the 3.42 or 3.73.
You can still cruise at interstate speeds, but I have a blower kit to install along with Heads and cam. Itself
just gonna be too much gear for me.
i’m curious what area are you in? We do a lot of driving just north of Rocky bottom South Carolina up to Sylva
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We upgraded (somewhat), to a prepped 3-rib, 3.42 diff several years ago with a 3400 stall. At that time we added a B&M cooler with fan. (Apologize - don’t have paperwork handy to give you a specific model number. At the time, around 2016-2017, it was the only one with its own fan).
Unfortunately, I can’t give you a “before and after” on temps because the cooler was added at the same time as the new diff and stall. On long trips - including through the NC mountains - as well as a little track time the temps have been, I believe, very good. Typically a lot of around town in the summer temp is 175-180; interstate cruising 170-175; through the mountains 175-185; moderate track time, like events at Bowling Green 185-195.
Even with a relatively mild 2100 converter a trans cooler is cheap insurance.
Unfortunately, I can’t give you a “before and after” on temps because the cooler was added at the same time as the new diff and stall. On long trips - including through the NC mountains - as well as a little track time the temps have been, I believe, very good. Typically a lot of around town in the summer temp is 175-180; interstate cruising 170-175; through the mountains 175-185; moderate track time, like events at Bowling Green 185-195.
Even with a relatively mild 2100 converter a trans cooler is cheap insurance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2022
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We upgraded (somewhat), to a prepped 3-rib, 3.42 diff several years ago with a 3400 stall. At that time we added a B&M cooler with fan. (Apologize - don’t have paperwork handy to give you a specific model number. At the time, around 2016-2017, it was the only one with its own fan).
Unfortunately, I can’t give you a “before and after” on temps because the cooler was added at the same time as the new diff and stall. On long trips - including through the NC mountains - as well as a little track time the temps have been, I believe, very good. Typically a lot of around town in the summer temp is 175-180; interstate cruising 170-175; through the mountains 175-185; moderate track time, like events at Bowling Green 185-195.
Even with a relatively mild 2100 converter a trans cooler is cheap insurance.
Unfortunately, I can’t give you a “before and after” on temps because the cooler was added at the same time as the new diff and stall. On long trips - including through the NC mountains - as well as a little track time the temps have been, I believe, very good. Typically a lot of around town in the summer temp is 175-180; interstate cruising 170-175; through the mountains 175-185; moderate track time, like events at Bowling Green 185-195.
Even with a relatively mild 2100 converter a trans cooler is cheap insurance.
Spending money on things like trans. Coolers and radiators isn’t flashy but they pay for themselves if you run your car hard.
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Instructor
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From: SC
I was driving around today doing nothing special but I checked the trans temp. It's cloudy and 81 degrees here now and the trans temp got up to 190. Again, no spirited driving. Just cruising around, going through the gears around town. So yeah, I think I need a cooler.
Another question: do I need a cooler with a fan or will just a cooler suffice?
Another question: do I need a cooler with a fan or will just a cooler suffice?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2022
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From: SC
"i’m curious what area are you in? We do a lot of driving just north of Rocky bottom South Carolina up to Sylva"
I'm in Florence. About an hour inland from Myrtle Beach. Looking at a map, I'm a good bit east of where you're talking about.
I'm in Florence. About an hour inland from Myrtle Beach. Looking at a map, I'm a good bit east of where you're talking about.