Installing A4 Cooler, - Questions

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Jun 30, 2008 | 11:29 AM

Benpup

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Race Director

Joined: Oct 2004

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From: Retired but working

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Installing A4 Cooler, - Questions

For you guys with coolers.
Have a B&M that I am adding.
I am going to use 3/8” brake lines on the new cooler and pipe it directly into the To and From lines on the trans. Going to mount it behind the air intake (fog light area) to put it out in the cooler air.
I do have a few questions though.
1. When I cut the line from the trans to the radiator will I get a lot of trans fluid leaking?

I am installing the cooler at home and have to take it 45 miles to get it up on a lift to check level.

2. Can I fill up the cooler (top it off) with fluid before I put on the top fitting (return to trans) and be assured I have enough in it so I can take it to the lift?

Thanks in advance.

Jun 30, 2008 | 01:08 PM

nj02vette

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From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ

Want to know this as well. Good questions.

Jun 30, 2008 | 05:24 PM

EStreeter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 752

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From: Tulsa OK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benpup

1. When I cut the line from the trans to the radiator will I get a lot of trans fluid leaking? No. The upper line is the return. When I cut mine I did not get any leaking.

I am installing the cooler at home and have to take it 45 miles to get it up on a lift to check level. I just checked my tranny in the garage with car up on jack stands - worked fine. The car has to be running with the tranny warm to check the fluid.

2. Can I fill up the cooler (top it off) with fluid before I put on the top fitting (return to trans) and be assured I have enough in it so I can take it to the lift? Yes. Before I connected the lines from the cooler to the return line for the tranny, I filled it with tranny fluid to minimize the loss of fluid volume for the cooler install

I would not recommend a remote location for the cooler if it doesn't have a fan on it. When the car is not moving there won't be much air flow over the cooler. Are you still useing the radiator cooler as well in series with the B&M cooler? If you put the cooler in front of the A/C condenser the fans will pull cold air across the cooler when the car is not moving if they are running. The cooler should be between installed in the line between the radiator and the trans on the return side so the fluid gets a final cooling on its way back to the trans. You will also loose a lot of cooling capacity if you eliminate the radiator cooler from the circuit.

Jun 30, 2008 | 05:52 PM

MikeV

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 1,312

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From: Lake Havasu City AZ

Jim buddy...

I want to give you some good info based on your needs. First. For the cooler to work effectiently, it needs to be mounted in front of the AC condenser. The B&M kit supplies the plastic fasteners to reach thru the condenser.

Your situation:

If you need a lot of cooling, install the cooler on the radiator discharge line back to the trans, that way the trans fluid has already gone thru one cooling system. This is necessary for hot areas such as the southwest or guys running high stall converters that produce lots of heat in racing conditions.

If you don't need as much cooling you can install it before the radiator where in the winter the radiator will ADD heat to help you trans.

I hope this helps and if you want more info. Send me a PM. By the way as a retired NUC worker, I agree with your thoughts.

Mike V

Jun 30, 2008 | 05:59 PM

mastafarii

Intermediate

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 29

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a4 transmission cooler

ive started running on track with twin turbo, stock motor, auto, was overheating up to 273 degrees, just installed a Long Tru cooler part 4590 right in front of ac condenser and radiator like they are saying and also bought = http://www.yourcovers.com/tp_8650-3.shtml , switched to Amsiol synthetic. Now, my temps on the track have dropped 30+ degrees