Third gen radiator autopsy.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Cut the bottom tank off show what the ATF cooler looks like in the 3rd gen's radiator...





Doesn't look very substantial does it? Hardly big enough to cope with normal running let alone towing. It's just a stack of very thin hollow alloy plates with 1/2" Dia. inlet/outlet tubes.
Definitely going to be fitting an aftermarket cooler now, probably a stand alone with a thermo fan.
There have been a lot of 3rd gen cooler fails reported on the US sites, resulting in coolant in the transmission. Type 'Strawberry milkshake' into the search box of T4R.org for example, almost all failing at around 100k miles.

[Dara]

that is pretty small even for normal drivin.

i odered a B&M standalone last week for my surf.
heres a link to it for anyone lookin for an ATF cooler
LINKY>>>> http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-70264/

[ROMEROTECH]

Will something like a 19 row engine oil cooler do the job?

[gary-r]

always thought the in rad atf coolers would be a bit iffy - that sort of confirms it.

that coolers smaller than a 250cc bike one

pleased i replaced mine now, the box might have an easier life

[Albannach]

At least it doesn't obscure the bottom hose port like the 2nd gen ones do.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Will something like a 19 row engine oil cooler do the job?

Yes if you are going to bypass the standard in-rad cooler. I would fit a trans temp gauge as well to keep an eye on fluid temps.

[si tate]

Very interesting vince, I think an after Market cooler is now on my highest priority list.

[ROMEROTECH]

Yes if you are going to bypass the standard in-rad cooler. I would fit a trans temp gauge as well to keep an eye on fluid temps.

Just what i had in mind. Nice one!!

[Albannach]

The biggest issue would be overcooling. Some kind of temperature controlled shunt would be prudent, if the whole radiator exchanger is by-passed.

[ROMEROTECH]

I was wondering if there was any room behind the rad but it's taken up by the fan cowling so the only option i can think of is either fit it in front of the rad, lower area, where it's not getting so much airflow or somewhere tucked up around the geabox area.

Failing that is there any room under the bash plate where the aircon rad is?

[markp2]

Fitting an external trans oil cooler and then feeding it back through the in-rad original should moderate the temperature and prevent overcooling.
If the fluid returns from the cooler too cold, the hot water in the rad will warm it to 70 degrees or so. It it is still coming back too hot from the external cooler then the in-rad cooler will cool it a bit further.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Fitting an external trans oil cooler and then feeding it back through the in-rad original should moderate the temperature and prevent overcooling.
If the fluid returns from the cooler too cold, the hot water in the rad will warm it to 70 degrees or so. It it is still coming back too hot from the external cooler then the in-rad cooler will cool it a bit further.

Hey, I think you've stumbled on something there, what an excellent idea!
Lets just hope the in-rad cooler is in good condition and doesn't coolant into the transmission.

[ROMEROTECH]

I've just been pricing up oil coolers and fittings and there are lots of options in terms of budget.

I'm thinking about doing this mod but would like to bypass the in-rad cooler for fear of it perishing and leaking ATF into the engine coolant. I know you put ATF in diesel as an injector cleaner but i don't think i fancy it in the engine coolant as well. Equally i don't like the thought of my autobox running dry or running on engine coolant..lol..

I think this mod is well worth doing as i aim to start towing a trailer pretty soon and i don't fancy a meltdown

[TonyN]

The biggest issue would be overcooling. Some kind of temperature controlled shunt would be prudent, if the whole radiator exchanger is by-passed.

It could be, but if it helps I been running the big B&M Supercooler for over 3 years now, with nothing going through the rad and had no ill effects to trans, and tunnel still gets warm enough to make Chocolate soft (but not melt like it used to...) so its not 'cold'. But it dosn't overheat now unless on the longest hills with heaviest trailers.

[Paul1566]

That looks pathetic....... and it causes so much hassle by not cooling bugger all.... just transfers heat from the gearbox to the rad making the engine hotter......

Just a thought, given that its in the rad which is full of hot water, and given its small size, could we be looking at this wrongly and its actually an oil warmer not a cooler ????? surely if you had half a brain a cooler would not be immersed in hot rad water but in the airflow out front ????? so when you fire up and the temp increases it slowly warms the trany fluid to make it less gloopy and work better..... when you tow you over heat the trans fluid dumping the heat back in the engine..........

Think i am gunna ditch the in rad connections and get a temp gauge for me external one and see how it does cus one eye on the temp gauge when towing is stressful........