223 degree trans temp help
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Milwaukee WI
St. Jude Donor '13
223 degree trans temp help
I have a 06 A6 with a 258mm circle d stall(3000) and b&m 14,400 btu cooler mounted behind the radiator because of the space that the vararam takes up. I had the stall and cooler installed last night and took it for a half hr drive.
In 95 degree temps yesterday I was running as high as 223deg driving around stoplight to stoplight. Even on the expressway at 75 I was still a steady 203. The factory cooler is bypassed so the trans is running just the b&m cooler for cooling. It's a full bolt-on ls2. The trans temps were usually in the 180-190 range on hot days before the stall and cooler. The cooler looks like it has access to good airflow so I'm stumped.
In 95 degree temps yesterday I was running as high as 223deg driving around stoplight to stoplight. Even on the expressway at 75 I was still a steady 203. The factory cooler is bypassed so the trans is running just the b&m cooler for cooling. It's a full bolt-on ls2. The trans temps were usually in the 180-190 range on hot days before the stall and cooler. The cooler looks like it has access to good airflow so I'm stumped.
Last edited by brewcitygymratt; Jul 19, 2013 at 06:42 PM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
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From: Dallas / Ft. Worth The Republic of TEXAS
Ditch the Vararam then mount the cooler on front of radiator
Install 160 tstat
Watch engine and trans temps drop to 180
What gains with the VR are you getting to run your motor hot and kill your tranny? I run the Airaid on my A6 L3 GS coupe
Install 160 tstat
Watch engine and trans temps drop to 180
What gains with the VR are you getting to run your motor hot and kill your tranny? I run the Airaid on my A6 L3 GS coupe
Race Director
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From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Check some of my earlier posts about cooler location. I'm on battery power right now and won't have recharge for several hours or I'd do it for you.
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From: Milwaukee WI
St. Jude Donor '13
Good idea. Although I do have a 160 stat with a manual fan switch I was still seeing engine temps of 215 in 95 deg heat with the air cond on and fan on.
I'm going to try re-routing the cooler in line with the factory cooler. If that doesn't drop temps <200 then I'm either going to go to a larger cooler 20-30k or go to a different CAI. As you say a couple tenths from the vararam definitely isn't worth cooking the trans.
Will do HOXXOH
I'm going to try re-routing the cooler in line with the factory cooler. If that doesn't drop temps <200 then I'm either going to go to a larger cooler 20-30k or go to a different CAI. As you say a couple tenths from the vararam definitely isn't worth cooking the trans.
Will do HOXXOH
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Montreal
St. Jude Donor '13
Running through the rad wont help. The trans cooler needs good airflow or a fan. I have a B&M cooler with a fan and since wiring the fan to run all the time, I never see over 180 temps even in traffic on hot days. Without the fan I was getting to about 200 -210.
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St. Jude Donor '13
How many btu is your cooler? also which fan did you use and where is your cooler mounted? thanks!
Le Mans Master
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From: Montreal
St. Jude Donor '13
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Maybe you got low trans fluid or a kinked line, maybe a bad trans tune, I have a Hayden stacked cooler 12"x 12" in front of the ac condenser dead center to the bottom, with a vararam, a 3800 yank. and I just checked the temps in this heat wave, 219 oil temp 179 - 180 coolant temp and 187 trans temp the outside temp gauge said 95 that all after a hour and a half drive in highway and stop and go traffic
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From: Milwaukee WI
St. Jude Donor '13
My coolant temps were 200+ with the air con on at the time. The ATF was topped off after the install. The tune was done by Patrick G from ls1tech and the gr8888 forums. He was personally recommended by Chris@ circle d. He is a very good tuner. Will double check the lines. I would be really happy with trans temps in the 180's with 95 degree ambient temps.thanks
Nice cooler setup you have realcanuk.if going inline or possible relocation doesn't work, the electric fan kit looks like the next step.thanks
Nice cooler setup you have realcanuk.if going inline or possible relocation doesn't work, the electric fan kit looks like the next step.thanks
Last edited by brewcitygymratt; Jul 19, 2013 at 06:53 PM.
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From: Southampton NJ
My coolant temps were 200+ with the air con on at the time. The ATF was topped off after the install. The tune was done by Patrick G from ls1tech and the gr8888 forums. He was personally recommended by Chris@ circle d. He is a very good tuner. Will double check the lines. I would be really happy with trans temps in the 180's with 95 degree ambient temps.thanks
Nice cooler setup you have realcanuk.if going inline or possible relocation doesn't work, the electric fan kit looks like the next step.thanks
Nice cooler setup you have realcanuk.if going inline or possible relocation doesn't work, the electric fan kit looks like the next step.thanks
Race Director
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From: Southampton NJ
I just looked at the placement of your cooler in the picture, thats no good. lay it flat right from the front support between it and the air dam, air will hit the dam and push up threw the cooler while driving and the fan will pull it
Le Mans Master
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From: Montreal
St. Jude Donor '13
I would do it exactly the same if doing it again.
Just realized you may be talking about the ops picture. I was thinking mine since you mentioned the fan.
Last edited by realcanuk; Jul 19, 2013 at 11:25 PM.
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Here's the pic of how mine is mounted. It sounds like Dennis may be saying the same thing.
The view is from the front of the car and the cooler is mounted in between the bumper cover and the lower bumper pan. Take out 5 screws to open a gap for the cooler, then put 4 screws back in. No other mounting brackets are required. The cooler takes up the space between the bumper cover and the bottom of the condenser and in front of the air dam that forces the air up through it.
You can get the temps up over 200, but you really have to try hard to do that even here in Phoenix. I can get coolant to 220+ pretty easy (160 stat and fan 90% at 201), but 200 on the trans is rare.
Please overlook the dirty underside on my 110K mile DD. I've cleaned it since the pic.
The view is from the front of the car and the cooler is mounted in between the bumper cover and the lower bumper pan. Take out 5 screws to open a gap for the cooler, then put 4 screws back in. No other mounting brackets are required. The cooler takes up the space between the bumper cover and the bottom of the condenser and in front of the air dam that forces the air up through it.
You can get the temps up over 200, but you really have to try hard to do that even here in Phoenix. I can get coolant to 220+ pretty easy (160 stat and fan 90% at 201), but 200 on the trans is rare.
Please overlook the dirty underside on my 110K mile DD. I've cleaned it since the pic.
Race Director
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From: Southampton NJ
I respect your opinion but don't know how you can say its no good. The brake duct hole flows air right into the cooler. It works perfectly. Its been 95 and extremely humid here and my tranny temps alway stay down, even in traffic.
I would do it exactly the same if doing it again.
Just realized you may be talking about the ops picture. I was thinking mine since you mentioned the fan.
I would do it exactly the same if doing it again.
Just realized you may be talking about the ops picture. I was thinking mine since you mentioned the fan.
I like yours
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
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From: Southampton NJ
Here's the pic of how mine is mounted. It sounds like Dennis may be saying the same thing.
The view is from the front of the car and the cooler is mounted in between the bumper cover and the lower bumper pan. Take out 5 screws to open a gap for the cooler, then put 4 screws back in. No other mounting brackets are required. The cooler takes up the space between the bumper cover and the bottom of the condenser and in front of the air dam that forces the air up through it.
You can get the temps up over 200, but you really have to try hard to do that even here in Phoenix. I can get coolant to 220+ pretty easy (160 stat and fan 90% at 201), but 200 on the trans is rare.
Please overlook the dirty underside on my 110K mile DD. I've cleaned it since the pic.
The view is from the front of the car and the cooler is mounted in between the bumper cover and the lower bumper pan. Take out 5 screws to open a gap for the cooler, then put 4 screws back in. No other mounting brackets are required. The cooler takes up the space between the bumper cover and the bottom of the condenser and in front of the air dam that forces the air up through it.
You can get the temps up over 200, but you really have to try hard to do that even here in Phoenix. I can get coolant to 220+ pretty easy (160 stat and fan 90% at 201), but 200 on the trans is rare.
Please overlook the dirty underside on my 110K mile DD. I've cleaned it since the pic.
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From: Milwaukee WI
St. Jude Donor '13
Thanks Dennis realcanuk and HoxxoH for the excellent recommendations. I won't be able to get to it until Monday but cooler relocation will be the first step along with the fluid level recheck.