Trans oil cooler

Evening all. I have another question which I hope the collective knowledge-base can answer(!) - is there such a thing as an Idiot's Guide To Fitting A Transmission Oil Cooler To A '92 SVX (or similar title)? And if it is relatively simple, can any one tell me where I'd get the right bits? Incidentally, I'm unlikely to do it myself but I'd like to be reasonably sure of getting it done right!

The reason for asking is that I've had the tranny rebuilt once and as a result I'm inclined to look after it as much as possible! Also, I've noticed recently that the starter cutout seems reluctant to let me restart the engine when it's hot (eg: at a filling-station after a blast on the motorway - and, yes, it is in Park or Neutral; fiddling with the selector and ignition seems to sort it out, but it can be pretty disconcerting, to say the least! Maybe I'm barking up a red herring, but I'd like to see whether a cooler transmission helps.

Any help and advice much appreciated.

[b3lha]

Hi Fil,

The favourite cooler for the SVX is the B&M 70268. It will fit between the radiator and the A/C cooler. I have a bigger one, the 70264, which I've installed in the area below the battery (accessed from underneath).

There are differing opinions on whether to install the cooler in series or parallel with the stock cooler. I put mine in series. It's simple: disconnect the return hose from the stock cooler and connect it to the outlet of the B&M cooler. Then run a hose from the outlet of the stock cooler to the inlet of the B&M cooler.

There is a wealth of information if you search the site. B&M agents in the UK are Eibach (the suspension people).

I think your starting problem is probably the switch that prevents the car fron starting unless it is in park or neutral.

Phil.

[svxistentialist]

My cooler is the smaller one Phil describes. It fits neatly between the main rad and the aircon rad, and does the job well.

In fact, I have bought another one from Jegs in the US to fit to my Legacy as well.

Also, Phil is probably right about the starting problem as well. You need to get an auto transmission shop to adjust the inhibitor switch. It is connected to the selector lever on the side of the box. Another possibility is your selector cable is out of adjustment. Same result, and it might explain why it's worse when hot, maybe the cable stretches or something. Small adjustment and it should be OK.

Joe

[RedHotSVX]

I agree....any added cooling...the better for a trans.....I am putting one in soon,as well as a cooler gauge on the pillar pod so I can monitor it a little closer,the light on the dash is nice,but might be to late once it comes on.
And the inhibitor switch sounds like a excellent place to start for the no start issue,especially if it started after the trans was rebuilt.....the adjustment could be of just enough so that it could be affected by temp changes.

[b3lha]

Originally Posted by RedHotSVX

the light on the dash is nice,but might be to late once it comes on.

You are so right!!! I've had two transmission failures and have never seen that light come on. Either the light is totally useless or the gearbox temperature sensor doesn't work in our car.

Thanks for all the invaluable information, guys! On reflection, the starting thing did begin after the tranny rebuild, so that will get addressed when it goes in to get the aircon re-charged (last Friday - the hottest May day for 50 years, remember? - I spent 2 and a half hours on the M1 & M25 doing a run which should take 1 and a quarter; windows down and roof open and I cooked!). Then the tranny cooler - who needs a bank balance anyway....?

Thanks again, and all the best.

Fil

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by a12svx

Thanks for all the invaluable information, guys! On reflection, the starting thing did begin after the tranny rebuild, so that will get addressed when it goes in to get the aircon re-charged (last Friday - the hottest May day for 50 years, remember? - I spent 2 and a half hours on the M1 & M25 doing a run which should take 1 and a quarter; windows down and roof open and I cooked!). Then the tranny cooler - who needs a bank balance anyway....?

Thanks again, and all the best.

Fil

Fil

Take a leaf. Get the tranny cooler from the US. It will be cheaper and probably quicker. You can get them here from Demon Tweeks, maybe Halfords too, but in my experience they probably order them in from the US distributor anyway, you will have to wait for delivery into and through their system, and by the time you get it they will have delayed you 3 weeks and added a £20 markup for themselves for the privelege of holding you up. Dick Turpin lives!!!!

Anybody out there who has had a different experience, or wants to disagree with this, feel free, chirp up.

Joe

[svxistentialist]

Oh, and how far out of London is Addlestone?

The Intergalactic postcode makes one wonder.

[SVXRide]

Pics in my locker if you want to install the cooler in the wheel well under the battery.
-Bill

[Andy]

Originally Posted by svxistentialist

Anybody out there who has had a different experience, or wants to disagree with this, feel free, chirp up.

Joe

Joe, spot on as usual. I took your advise a couple of years ago and bought from your site in the US. Easy to fit too. There was a step-by-step instruction available but I cannot find it now. This might help a little. http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/How-To/14329.jpg

[Jamsvx]

You may want to consider also a trans temp gauge to give "real-time" monitoring of the trans temperature...or to induce ulcers!

I had bought a Dakota Digital gauge to intergrate into the ashtray area (and would disappear when the door was closed) but sold the car before I could install it - the long term plan was for a triple display readout showing before OEM cooler, after OEM cooler and after additional cooler to keep an eye on things and also out of curiosity for the efficiency of each.

Also, would have looked very XB-70ish!!



DEFI-link do something similar where you can daisy-chain a number of instruments in series.

*getting withdrawal symptoms now*

[dromano]

When I installed the tranny cooler I also installed a temp gauge. The cooler was in series. I was advised by a tranny rebuilder to by pass the radiator cooler due to it filling up with crud over time (I have a 92). When I eliminated the radiator cooler I had a 20 degree drop in temp at cruising speeds. I have a Hayden stack cooler, 30,000 GVW, I have 99,800 miles on the original tranny (no rebuilds YET ).