A4 cooler for normal driving...worth it?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,038
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte North Carolina
A4 cooler for normal driving...worth it?
I was wondering if an automatic transmission cooler would be a reasonable modification to my otherwise stock, daily driving 03' Coupe. Would it materially prolong transmission life? I am not hard on the car (usually) and it will never see a track. I do spend a lot of time on the road for work...mostly long highway drives.
Will I derive any significant benefit from this device? It seems like a decent idea on one hand, but then again, it is just another part to have a problem with later. I welcome your input and thank you in advance.
Will I derive any significant benefit from this device? It seems like a decent idea on one hand, but then again, it is just another part to have a problem with later. I welcome your input and thank you in advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,178
Likes: 13
From: N. County/San Diego
Originally Posted by Prosecutor
I was wondering if an automatic transmission cooler would be a reasonable modification to my otherwise stock, daily driving 03' Coupe. Would it materially prolong transmission life? I am not hard on the car (usually) and it will never see a track. I do spend a lot of time on the road for work...mostly long highway drives.
Will I derive any significant benefit from this device? It seems like a decent idea on one hand, but then again, it is just another part to have a problem with later. I welcome your input and thank you in advance.
Will I derive any significant benefit from this device? It seems like a decent idea on one hand, but then again, it is just another part to have a problem with later. I welcome your input and thank you in advance.
The above mentioned issue aside, I have seen temps reach 200/220+ on my 98 A-4 when sitting in stop and go traffic or when driven hard in the nearby canyons! After installing an B&M cooler (model #70264/24,000 btu) the temps have come down considerably.
It is a fact that the A4 trans is a weak link in the C5, BOTTOM LINE, lower temps equal longer trans life.
Good luck, Rick (R.P.)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,743
Likes: 3
From: Davie Florida
Originally Posted by R.P.
Prosecutor, If your car is still under warranty you may want to check with your dealer, as I have read some accounts stating that the addition of a trans cooler could void the GM warranty. This may vary from dealer to dealer, so it`s best to check.
The above mentioned issue aside, I have seen temps reach 200/220+ on my 98 A-4 when sitting in stop and go traffic or when driven hard in the nearby canyons! After installing an B&M cooler (model #70264/24,000 btu) the temps have come down considerably.
It is a fact that the A4 trans is a weak link in the C5, BOTTOM LINE, lower temps equal longer trans life.
Good luck, Rick (R.P.)
The above mentioned issue aside, I have seen temps reach 200/220+ on my 98 A-4 when sitting in stop and go traffic or when driven hard in the nearby canyons! After installing an B&M cooler (model #70264/24,000 btu) the temps have come down considerably.
It is a fact that the A4 trans is a weak link in the C5, BOTTOM LINE, lower temps equal longer trans life.
Good luck, Rick (R.P.)
Definately worth getting if it won't void your warranty.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,038
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte North Carolina
Thanks guys. I am at the tail of the manufacturer's warranty and planning to purchase an extension from Great Atlantic. I will review that contract. It seems strange that something so helful would cause a warranty problem, but I'm sure they see a cooler as an indication of hard driving / track use. Sigh.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield WI
I'm not sure if this is true of all years, but my 2004 A4 came with a stock tranny cooler. It does feed into the radiator and probably isn't as efficient as a stand-alone cooler, but under non-extreme conditions how much difference would that really make? (a real question, not a rhetorical one)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Originally Posted by ChipN
I'm not sure if this is true of all years, but my 2004 A4 came with a stock tranny cooler. It does feed into the radiator and probably isn't as efficient as a stand-alone cooler, but under non-extreme conditions how much difference would that really make? (a real question, not a rhetorical one)
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 2
From: Suffolk, Long Island NY
I have a 4,000 stall and 3.73's. With lowered fan turn on temps, the only time my tranny sees over 200 degrees is when I'm hot lapping(round robin) at the track. Even in heavy traffic it doesn't go above 200.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,640
Likes: 0
From: Sunshine State
Originally Posted by Prosecutor
I was wondering if an automatic transmission cooler would be a reasonable modification to my otherwise stock, daily driving 03' Coupe. Would it materially prolong transmission life? I am not hard on the car (usually) and it will never see a track. I do spend a lot of time on the road for work...mostly long highway drives.
Will I derive any significant benefit from this device? It seems like a decent idea on one hand, but then again, it is just another part to have a problem with later. I welcome your input and thank you in advance.
Will I derive any significant benefit from this device? It seems like a decent idea on one hand, but then again, it is just another part to have a problem with later. I welcome your input and thank you in advance.
Bob
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,640
Likes: 0
From: Sunshine State
Originally Posted by Prosecutor
I was wondering if an automatic transmission cooler would be a reasonable modification to my otherwise stock, daily driving 03' Coupe. Would it materially prolong transmission life? I am not hard on the car (usually) and it will never see a track. I do spend a lot of time on the road for work...mostly long highway drives.
Will I derive any significant benefit from this device? It seems like a decent idea on one hand, but then again, it is just another part to have a problem with later. I welcome your input and thank you in advance.
Will I derive any significant benefit from this device? It seems like a decent idea on one hand, but then again, it is just another part to have a problem with later. I welcome your input and thank you in advance.
Bob
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Face
I have a 4,000 stall and 3.73's. With lowered fan turn on temps, the only time my tranny sees over 200 degrees is when I'm hot lapping(round robin) at the track. Even in heavy traffic it doesn't go above 200.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,743
Likes: 3
From: Davie Florida
Originally Posted by screw991le
I see 194 all day in my Vette @ almost any outside temp.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,640
Likes: 0
From: Sunshine State
Originally Posted by Prosecutor
I was wondering if an automatic transmission cooler would be a reasonable modification to my otherwise stock, daily driving 03' Coupe. Would it materially prolong transmission life? I am not hard on the car (usually) and it will never see a track. I do spend a lot of time on the road for work...mostly long highway drives.
Will I derive any significant benefit from this device? It seems like a decent idea on one hand, but then again, it is just another part to have a problem with later. I welcome your input and thank you in advance.
Will I derive any significant benefit from this device? It seems like a decent idea on one hand, but then again, it is just another part to have a problem with later. I welcome your input and thank you in advance.
Bob
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Much of the heat that builds up in an automatic comes from the torque converter working, not from slippage etc in the transmission itself.
If you are mostly highway driving, the TQ is locked up so heat shouldn't be an issue for you.
Ron ...
If you are mostly highway driving, the TQ is locked up so heat shouldn't be an issue for you.
Ron ...