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#1
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How important is an external transmission cooler?
Hi all,
I'm curious to find out what people's thoughts are on just how important an external transmission cooler is. Is it absolutely necessary on this car - or is it dependent on your driving style/other factors? My '95 has about 10K on a rebuilt transmission. After reading about the 2-3 transmission flare on this site, I'm not sure it truly had a transmission problem in the first place as it still flares occasionally now. Anyway, my car will not be driven hard nor will it be a daily driver - it's just kind of my toy, but I'd like to keep it for awhile. Thoughts? |
#2
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Well, there's no absolute proof that a transmission cooler is necessary, nor that it will actually prolong the life of your transmission.
However, I have spent over $14k in SVX transmission repairs. If there is any chance that fitting a $100 cooler will save me from yet another failure then it seems worth it to me.
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Subaru ECU and TCU Website 1992 Alcyone SVX Version L 1992 Alcyone SVX Version L 1994 Alcyone SVX S40-II 2004 Subaru Legacy 2.5 SE Sports Tourer 1996 Subaru Legacy 2.2 GX Wagon 1988 Subaru Justy J12 SL-II |
#3
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It will keep your transmission cooler, so it could not hurt. I look at them as fairly important.
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. Earl .... ... .... ><SVX(*> Subaru Ambassador [COLOR=”silver”]1992 Tri Color L[/COLOR] ~45K (06/91) #2430 1992 Dark Teal LS-L ~184K (05/91) #0739 1992 Claret LS-L ~196K (05/91) #0831 1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680 1992 Pearl LS-L ~151K (06/91) #2229 1992 Dark Teal LS ~150K (07/91) #3098 (parts car) 1992 White LS-L ~139K (08/92) #6913 1993 25th AE ~98K (02/93) #164 1993 25th AE ~58K (02/93) #176 1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215 1993 25th AE ~162K (02/93) #223 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~124K (1/94) #2408 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~144K (10/93) #1484 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~68K (10/93) #1525 1994 Barcelona Red LSi ~46K (02/94) #2624 1994 Pearl LSi ~41K (12/93) #1961 1995 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~70K (02/95) #855 1996 Polo Green LSi ~95K (03/96) #872 1997 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~55K (08/96) #097 2003 Brilliant Red LS1 Convertible ~29K (04/03) #8951 1999 Magnetic Red LS1 Coupe ~33K (04/99) #6420 My Email | Old Locker | New Locker | Picture of 15 of the 19 |
#4
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How important is it to those of us with post 1994 transmissions?
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-Jason (8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95 Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod, svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar, silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear (1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver (12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k) I have a bad feeling about this. -Obi Wan Kenobi |
#5
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I don't think it is as important as with 92 and 93s. The upgrades to the tranny were done by then. One of the things that will help the most is the filter. It will keep the screen in the radiator from plugging and reducing the flow to the cooler.
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. Earl .... ... .... ><SVX(*> Subaru Ambassador [COLOR=”silver”]1992 Tri Color L[/COLOR] ~45K (06/91) #2430 1992 Dark Teal LS-L ~184K (05/91) #0739 1992 Claret LS-L ~196K (05/91) #0831 1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680 1992 Pearl LS-L ~151K (06/91) #2229 1992 Dark Teal LS ~150K (07/91) #3098 (parts car) 1992 White LS-L ~139K (08/92) #6913 1993 25th AE ~98K (02/93) #164 1993 25th AE ~58K (02/93) #176 1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215 1993 25th AE ~162K (02/93) #223 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~124K (1/94) #2408 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~144K (10/93) #1484 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~68K (10/93) #1525 1994 Barcelona Red LSi ~46K (02/94) #2624 1994 Pearl LSi ~41K (12/93) #1961 1995 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~70K (02/95) #855 1996 Polo Green LSi ~95K (03/96) #872 1997 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~55K (08/96) #097 2003 Brilliant Red LS1 Convertible ~29K (04/03) #8951 1999 Magnetic Red LS1 Coupe ~33K (04/99) #6420 My Email | Old Locker | New Locker | Picture of 15 of the 19 |
#6
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as it seems impossible to find the exterenel kit anymore where can one be found? as I have 2 svx's calling for them
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William |
#7
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summit or jegs
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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin blk 92' LSL w/ average mods pics here http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn277/yourconfused/ Cash68: "Hmm, I wouldn't brag about beating Escorts. That's like saying you tricked a retarded person." |
#8
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Quote:
On the other hand if you are fussy, and you change the transmission oil every 6 months, then a cooler would be not that necessary. I'm with Phil, I think the cost of fitting one vs the cost of rebuilding the transmission indicates the risk of going without is too high. Joe
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Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty Jersey Girl Silver '92 UK [Channel Isles] 40K Jersey Girl @ Mersea Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic 40,000 miles Jersey Girl |
#9
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Yes get one
I feel a tranny cooler is VERY important. Heat is the number one killer of an autotranny. The heat generated between the 'luxury shifts' is the killer. Either get a tranny cooler installed or some type of modification to make the tranny shift quicker. The simpler solution is to get a tranny cooler.
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Kevin Thomas 1997 2.2ltr Subaru Impreza Outback Sport Wagon (AWD/Auto) 13.03@100mph 1989 2.7ltr Subaru XT6 (AWD/Auto) 15.912@85.93mph 1996 3.3ltr SVX (AWD/Auto) 15.070@91.38mph ***R.I.P*** 2010 RAV4 AWD Sport (13.717 @ 99.19mph ) 2015 Honda Fit LX CVT (15.2 @ 90mph) |
#10
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Quote:
FWIW, I installed the aforementioned cooler on my teal SVX at <105,000 miles, just after buying the car. It already had an external "campaign" filter in place. I live in an area of hilly terrain and warm teperatures, but little stop-and-go traffic, and I change the fluid and internal filter every 24,000 miles (EDIT: Corrected from 12,000). No tranny troubles to date. My silver SVX, which has no supplemental cooler nor filter, is approaching 90,000 miles on its second transmission, which was replaced in the late 1990s. After 16 moths of ownership, it seems installing a cooler has slipped down my mental list of priorities for this car. dcb Last edited by dcarrb; 11-20-2007 at 05:29 AM. Reason: correction |
#11
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This is an old debate. Can it hurt the transmission? No probably not, but if you get into an overcooling situation it will hurt fuel economy. Unfortunately, it's one of those things that seems like it would be a good idea because keeping the fluid cooler is usually good, but there is not a lot of difference in a transmission that runs at 180 and one that runs at 210, only fluid life is effected and not as much as the companies that make the coolers and your local dealer would lead you to believe. But, you should change the fluid often enough that this shouldn't be a problem.... Basically, I see it like this. The high clutch (especially in the early transmissions) is prone to failure because it doesn't get enough fluid flow to keep it cool. Having said that, you can maximize the cooling effectiveness of the fluid that does get to it if the fluid comes in cooler.... so there ya go. With my personal transmission experience and expertise, I remain unconvinced that modifying the transmission to firm up the shifts will actually make it last longer. Theoretically it should, but firmer shifts introduce additional stress on the clutches and gearsets that weren't anticipated by the engineers. That one is kinda a double edged sword...
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2007 GS 450h-Active Stabilizer/Radar cruise 1994 L Blue 3.70 VTD ASE Master Automobile ASE Advanced Level Specialist Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician (former life) |
#12
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NiftSVX or anyone else please?
Quote:
Thanks, Keith |
#13
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After reading a lot of things on the forums I would assume the installation would go like this.
jack up car put on stands Drain trans fluid Remove pan replace internal filter/pickup spray brake cleaner in trans fluid "out" line on the radiator to clear screen of debris. purchase and instal remote inline oil filter trans cooler lines should go: Out from trans -> in oil filter -> out oil filter -> in radiator trans cooler -> out radiator trans cooler -> back in trans. the option of installing an external trans cooler would fall between "coming out of the radiator and going back in the the trans".
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Mike 1992 SVX LS-L Pearl White 102,000 miles (Gone) 2005 Evolution 8 SSL Tarmac Black (new daily) 1995 Eclipse GSX Durango Copper Pearl (teh beast) 276awhp/280awtq @ 18psi (560's inj) 260awhp/260awtq @ 17psi (stock inj) |
#14
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Quote:
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Joshua 92 Ls-L pearlie 73,000 miles |
#15
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after reading the idea that too cold of fluid can hurt performance i would agree with this.
i was just stating that is what i believe the proper setup would look like if you say..... lived in the desert.
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Mike 1992 SVX LS-L Pearl White 102,000 miles (Gone) 2005 Evolution 8 SSL Tarmac Black (new daily) 1995 Eclipse GSX Durango Copper Pearl (teh beast) 276awhp/280awtq @ 18psi (560's inj) 260awhp/260awtq @ 17psi (stock inj) |
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