opinions on this cheap transmission cooler

[heywier427]

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/...r.php

im itergrating an external transmission filter(getting rid of the old one) into my transmission cooler. this collar can only help some right?

im getting the mount from perma cool and it will use the same type of filter as the engine, and i will be using 400 psi hoses to connect it all.

whada ya think

[maxnix]

Why would one want to compromise ATF longevity when fully functional ATF coolers are so inexpensive and sodemonstrably effective?

[elwesso]

wow thats an intersting thought... Very interesting. IM not sure how itd work, and im inclined to agree with brian. The only way to know is to buy one and monitor the heat transfter... It doesnt list any sort of number, usually in GVWR.

[Skibane]

Quote »As your oil heats up your oil filter becomes as red hot on the outside as the oil on the inside.[/quote]Ya, right...

If you're going to the trouble of putting in a spin-on filter, why not install a real cooler too? It's not that much extra work.

Also, the filter that Perma-Cool supplies with the kit is quite a bit bigger than the OEM Q filter...which is a good thing: Adds extra fluid capacity, and has more surface area to dissipate heat.

[heywier427]

"getting rid of the old one) into my transmission cooler."

^ sorry i didnt highlight when i said into my transmission cooler.

i do have a huge transmission cooler already. i got one out of the junk yard off of an izuzu box truck. its half the size of the radiator!

i want to replace the original filter with something more readily replaceable than having to order one. and this will be maybe adding a little more cooling power for cheap.. maybe?? it cant hurt to try and it cant make it hotter, right?

[T45]

If you aren't racing or pulling a 5th wheel with your Q then you're wasting time, especially seeing as how you live in CT. If you're in AZ or the like then a transmission cooler will help. Your best investment will be a trans temp gauge. That way you can monitor what the temp really is and go from there. If you notice that it's above 190 then you'll need a bigger cooler. Just normal stop and go shouldn't heat up your trans that much unless you have really heavy loads or a really heavy foot.

[heywier427]

your gonna get floored by the g50 community for saying adding a transmission cooler is a waist of time.

but thanks for responding. the car is in restoraion mode so it cant hurt to add anything right now. i do live in ct but the car has never seen a winter and was originally from ca. i plan on moving to az in 3 to 6 years depending on how much my house goes up in value! i have added a transmission temp gauge as well as the engine temp but have not yet mounted them. once i get the car driveabe agiain i will be working on the interior stuff.

[Rex]

Nissan AT's in general will run hotter than most any other AT, and the Q's transmission "lugging round in town" will onyl add to the heat issue.

The "from the factory" rad/heat exhcnager doens't really do enough. THe Q45 transmission longevity is directly realedt to heat.

[Jesda]

These are JATCO transmissions. JATCO is a joint investment by Mazda/Ford and Nissan, supplying automatics for a half dozen brands, including Mazda, Ford, Nissan, Dodge, Jaguar, Hyundai, Jeep, and Infiniti.

All of these JATCO units in four of the 80s and 90s-era cars I have owned have the same problem: HEAT! They will ALL run to 250k if and ONLY IF heat is controlled. It doesn't matter what climate you live in or whether its mated to a V6 or V8; the JATCOs of that era all need beefy auxilary transmission coolers, period.

I had a JATCO overheat on me once in a Mazda MPV with 55k. It ceased to change gears and left me stranded in Mound City, MO with a bunch of shady looking characters and a guy who could barely form a sentence. CUE BANJOS! Fortunately, after a day of cooling off it was fine. No permanent damage.

I learned later on that MPVs all suffered from early failure or occasional overheating, and would run to 200k with a cooler installed. This is why MPVs with the 4x4 towing package (which adds a large cooler) are more often seen for sale than RWD models like mine, which end up in the junkyard.

[Q_SHIP]

Jesda, Do I have the JATCO in my 99?

[elwesso]

All Q45 90-01 use roughly the same trans... y33 owners need to add a trans cooler more than 94-96 G50 owners because it only has a single heat exchanger (=wimpy)

[Q_SHIP]

All Q45 90-01 use roughly the same trans... y33 owners need to add a trans cooler more than 94-96 G50 owners because it only has a single heat exchanger (=wimpy)

Maybe this year, who knows?

I live in wisconsin.

[Jesda]

Jesda, Do I have the JATCO in my 99?

Yes sir.

[greenwar]

Holycrap My Q45 has the transmission made by company that makes transmission for mazda and ford??? If I knew this I wouldnt have bought the Q

[CINNALOCKS]

Holycrap My Q45 has the transmission made by company that makes transmission for mazda and ford??? If I knew this I wouldnt have bought the Q

Please explain that...............if u just found out today, what difference does it make. I mean it hasn't seemed to matter to date, u been happy and hopefully it will never be an issue.

I got 146k on mine and no issues but I did have it flush about 14 months ago with good results.....plan to flush tomorrow screen and gasket replaced (bought kit from joe). I go in next week and have the cooler added. My trans seems good no issues but I am just beginning to actually "drive it" like it is a 94 "Q".

[greenwar]

No difference it's a psychological thing. I am sure you won't disagree that Aisin makes better transmissions.. I found the wikipedia entry:

http://en.nicoclub.com/nowiki.html/wiki/Jatco and seems like even BMW used/uses JATCO transmissions!!

Apologies for thread jacking..

So B&M 70264 is the way to go for transmission cooler? Or are there other better options? Will someone also suggest an inline transmission filter?

Modified by greenwar at 7:51 PM 3/1/2007

Modified by greenwar at 7:52 PM 3/1/2007
Modified by greenwar at 8:09 PM 3/1/2007

[Jesda]

BMW has sourced from both JATCO and GM with few ill effects.Above: Transmission plate from a 2002 3-series.

Its not that these JATCO units are inherently bad (like early 90s FWD Chrysler trannies). Its that they need extra cooling, and upon being properly cooled, they'll run forever. Its why 94-96 last longer than 90-93. Same hardware, better cooling.

Add a cooler, keep the fluid fresh, and there's nothing more to worry about.

[elwesso]

70264 or 70268... The xx64 is a little bitter... I ran the 68

[greenwar]

Thanks Wes and Jesda - nice to have knowledgable people like you guys around.

[T45]

Thanks for the info on the trans. I really had no idea that they were so poorly cooled from the factory. I was just going to use the trans cooler in the factory radiator when swapping the VH to my truck but now I know that I'll need an external cooler. I just assumed that it was roughly the same as the pathfinder auto trans which is a very tough trans.

Back to the subject, I still wouldn't waste my money on the filter heatsink. For the 35 bucks they want for it, you can get a decent cooler from Summitracing.com.

[heywier427]

thanks for all the post but i guess nobodys really listining. i already have an at cooler, this is just an add on. and theyre are much cheaper ones available. im going to install one on my transmission filter as well as my relocated oil filter. total cost with shipping is 28.00thanks again.

[greenwar]

Guys will this filter work for my 99 Q45

http://store.summitracing.com/...w=sku

[MinisterofDOOM]

Holycrap My Q45 has the transmission made by company that makes transmission for mazda and ford??? If I knew this I wouldnt have bought the Q

Some transmissions were even shared across marquis. The 1st gen Quest had a Nissan engine (Maxima VG30E), but Mazda (JATCO) transmission. It also had Ford interior bits. It was sold under both Nissan and Mercury badges.As with most JATCO-powered cars, the transmission was by far the weakest link in the Quest.

[Skibane]

thanks for all the post but i guess nobodys really listining. i already have an at cooler, this is just an add on.

If the cooler you already installed is half as big as the radiator (and is not partially clogged or installed badly), it is unlikely that you need any more cooling. Personally, I'd rather spend the 28 bucks on the best transmission fluid you can buy, or synthetic oil for the rear end, or a brake system flush with top-quality fluid, or having the radiator professionally cleaned, or...well, you get the picture. There are probably several hundred items that would give you a better reliability return for the money.

[heywier427]

20.00 for the crack8 for the crack whore!

[bullittandy]

These do work in theory, (any air cooled engine) the only question is how much would it cool the oil?

I've read the thread and I think you should add a temp gauge somewhere in your transmission line because it is possible to cool the transmission too much, especially with the cooler you bought. also a temp gauge will allow you to test the effectiveness of the collar.

[heywier427]

i do have a temp gauge but the car is no where near road worthy. when the time comes i will record the temp without it on for 5 miles then the next day same conditions again and post the differences.