Transmission questions

[n00b on demand]

Hey everyone, I just checked my tranny fluid a couple of days ago and it was light brown. I just had the fluid changed back in June of this yr. This has forced me to order a tranny cooler from summit racing. I ordered it yesterday and it should be here by next week i hope. Then me and my friend are gonna do the install in my garage. I'm hopefully getting the fluid changed tomorrow morning. I havent driven it at all since i saw the fluid was brown....i checked it last week and it was pink. The temps havent been too hot in the past few days....maybe in the low 80's if anything. I havent driven it too hard except for saturday when i took it to 105 on the highway....i have kinda been beatin on it since i started usin power mode . So that would explain why the fluid turned color. I wont drive it hard from now on...even with the cooler...i want this car to last a long time. Im gonna assume that its ok to drive it tomorrow after i get the fluid changed. Not planning on drivin it much but i do need it for saturday. I didnt buy an external filter either . I know its good to have one but can that be something i install at a later time or does it have to be done when installing the cooler? Itsgonna take me 2 weeks in paychecks to pay for the fluid change and cooler. I work at CVS . Is the heat problem also a problem for the winter months? What about driving high speeds on the highway...like 70-80 MPH? Thanks everyone...

Tom

[lee]

fluid change out with a color change is the most important thing to do. the color change indicates the fluid is losing its ability to function as intended (due to heat), varnishes begin to form, seals start to harden etc.

it's ok to wait on the filter, it can be done anytime.

the biggest temp drivers are stop and go traffic, hill climbing, and lots of shifting. steady highway driving (unless heavily loaded) is not a strain, especially once the torque converter locks up (~50+ mph & warmed up).

[n00b on demand]

Thanks Lee! Yeah i do alot of city driving so that could also be why the fluid turned color. I drive in 3 though . Getting the fluid changed tomorrow....and cooler installed next week. If all goes well....by next week i will be one happy SVXer!

[n00b on demand]

OK i just got back from getting the fluid changed. Its as pink as can be again. Now is it ok to drive the car? The cooler should be coming in tomorrow or monday but it wont be installed untill maybe wednesday. It all depends on what day i have off next week. Ive been using my moms car untill now. Let me know what ya guys think.

[svxistentialist]

Tom

Unless you have cooked one or more of the clutches [possible, but hopefully unlikely] you will be OK driving with the new fluid. Don't hammer it though.

It is a relatively short time since June so cooking the fluid in that space means you badly need a cooler.

Also your present OEM cooler is not doing much of a job keeping your fluid right. In case this may indicate that your current oil cooler is nearly blocked up, you should install an external filter also as a matter of urgency, and plumb in the new cooler in parallel, rather than in series.

[The cooler will have instructions with it on how to do this, so don't get too stressed up about it.]

Joe

[n00b on demand]

I got the cooler today by Fed-Ex. Tomorrow sometime I and my friend will hopefully get the installation done. I'm not going to drive the car at all untill the cooler is in there. Only time i drove it was to get the fluid changed and then back home....total of maybe 2 miles. The cooler came with one hose which i was told should be all i need....i just need to buy some hose clamps. I will buy an external filter sometime this week or next....depending on what i have in the bank . I'll let everyone know how it turns out tomorrow. Wish me luck!

[svxistentialist]

Best of Irish Luck wishing its way to you.



If you got a good rated cooler, say 19000 lbs or more, you need not worry about overheating again, but change the fluid at least once a year just to be sure anyway.

Joe

[n00b on demand]

The cooler i got is 26,000 GVW ( or whatever those 3 letters are ) i think its the biggest one that will fit in the SVX.

[svxistentialist]

That's

Mike is 19000 GVW. The number is lbs and the letters mean Gross Vehicle Weight.

It means the cooler would be effective enough to cool a vehicle of over ten tons weight, so you have plenty cooling capability to spare.

If you live in a very cold climate, it would also mean your tranny oil would stay too cool in winter. Lockup would not be achieved because the oil would not be able to reach optimum operating temperature. Your problem with keeping the box alive is one of overheating, so you are correct to use a big cooler.

Just be aware of the downside in a cold winter.

Joe

[n00b on demand]

Oh no i never thought about that. You bring up a very good point. So then what do i do about the winter time? I live in NY so yea we have a pretty cold climate .

[svxfiles]

I've been running a 10,000lb cooler, sandwiched between the rad, and the A/C condencer for 3 years, with no problems. The size was .75" thick, 10" tall, and 15.5 long. It never overheated, ever, evan in 100 degree traffic, and shifts fine in the winter, here it gets to about 10 below F.
ps; I HATE WINTER

[n00b on demand]

Well mine is 26,000 GVW....would i have a problem?

[svxfiles]

What are the dimentions, and where will you locate/mount it.

[svxfiles]

If yours is .75" thick,10" tall, and 20" long, Flex a lite #FLX-4126, I see no problem. When you mount it close to, or against the rad, they will keep each other warm in the winter.

[svxistentialist]

Originally posted by soobiesvx93
Oh no i never thought about that. You bring up a very good point. So then what do i do about the winter time? I live in NY so yea we have a pretty cold climate .

Yeah, I figured NY is pretty cold in winter.

Don't worry about it.

Your oil will be cooled well in summer, that's the most important thing to take care of.

If your tranny oil stays too cold in winter, it will only affect lockup. So in other words the tranny will be less efficient, use more petrol on you.

If you find that the thing is staying too cold, jerky shifts and so on, there is an easy solution. You temporarily put aluminium foil or card over part of the front surface of the cooler, to restrict the amount of cold air flowing through it[about 1/3 of the overall surface I would suggest] You remember to take it off when the warm weather arrives, presto!, you have the best of both worlds.

Joe