Auto Trans Cooler

[smalltown]

Hi All,

After some Tech info,

R33 S1 GTST Sedan Auto,

My radiator Is Leaking so I am chasing down a replacement , I am on top of that, I have one lined up,

Just Checking to see if people know if following images are of a trans cooler? there are 2 hoses going into the base of the radiator and then around to this cooler,

is this cooler enough for a daily driver? or is an upgrade required? if it is even a trans cooler,

The radiator I am looking at is an all alloy one with no spots for the hoses for the trans oil,

FYI I plan to convert to Manual in the not so distant future,

Thanks in advance,

Matt,

 

 

[KiwiRS4T]

You need a heat exchanger in the radiator because its primary function is to raise the temperature of the atf to optimum operating temperature and only when that is exceeded will it act as a cooler.. Some cars will not change into top gear until this happens (not sure about your particular car).

If you really are going to convert to manual soon then just take your radiator to a radiator shop and get it repaired. The tiny cooler out front will not do very much on its own.

In my case I just got a bigger (thicker) OEM type radiator and when I went manual just blocked off the heat exchanger. If you are going for serious power then you will probably run an oil cooler anyway.

[smalltown]

1 hour ago, KiwiRS4T said:

You need a heat exchanger in the radiator because its primary function is to raise the temperature of the atf to optimum operating temperature and only when that is exceeded will it act as a cooler.. Some cars will not change into top gear until this happens (not sure about your particular car).

If you really are going to convert to manual soon then just take your radiator to a radiator shop and get it repaired. The tiny cooler out front will not do very much on its own.

In my case I just got a bigger (thicker) OEM type radiator and when I went manual just blocked off the heat exchanger. If you are going for serious power then you will probably run an oil cooler anyway.

Thanks That makes things so much clearer!

Ill Price up getting it repaired I need my car 4 out of the 5 days a week so if its too expensive ill have to work out if its worth it for that top gear,

I have always wanted to do the Manual conversion im getting closer to that stage every day now,

[GTSBoy]

Just check that that cooler out the front is actually in the transmission cooling lines and is not actually the power steering cooler. I'm not too familiar with what they look like on R33s, but on R32s, the auto fluid only went through the bottom of the rad and the power steering cooler was just a loop of pipe out in front of the radiator. Not a proper finned heat exchanger like in your photo, but not a lot different in size. Is there a separate loop of pipe out there somewhere for your PS?

[KiwiRS4T]

2 hours ago, GTSBoy said:

Just check that that cooler out the front is actually in the transmission cooling lines and is not actually the power steering cooler. I'm not too familiar with what they look like on R33s, but on R32s, the auto fluid only went through the bottom of the rad and the power steering cooler was just a loop of pipe out in front of the radiator. Not a proper finned heat exchanger like in your photo, but not a lot different in size. Is there a separate loop of pipe out there somewhere for your PS?

On the S1 Stagea (R33 engine) the trans cooler looks like the one in the picture. On the S2 (neo engine) there is a proper trans cooler like the PWR kit (rectangular). So some of the S1 guys (such as SK) uprated the trans cooler and used the original one for the power steering.

[GTSBoy]

2 hours ago, KiwiRS4T said:

On the S1 Stagea (R33 engine) the trans cooler looks like the one in the picture. On the S2 (neo engine) there is a proper trans cooler like the PWR kit (rectangular). So some of the S1 guys (such as SK) uprated the trans cooler and used the original one for the power steering.

I went even more baller and used the R34 Neo trans cooler as my PS cooler!