Thread: Extra gearbox oil cooler for towing Y or N ?

With Leigh (ex-Nightcliff Service Centre - now Darwin Land Rover) moving premises late Oct 2020, his general busyness because of it (and he had to find the time to make up the brackets) and the delayed arrival of the cooler, my D3 has only just received its replacement transmission cooler. It is a PWR cooler and the original cooler is now blanked off. All good so far but won't be towing the camper trailer with it for three or four months yet.
transcool.jpg upbracket.jpg lowbracket.jpg

Originally Posted by Lukeis

how much did you pay?

ive been through the costs of a new gearbox and from my basic understanding of the ZF is that overheating is a leading cause of their degradation.

there’s no down side that I’m aware of to fitting one, so for the low costs why not? Sub $500 I believe?

Just on $1K. Drive in, drive out as per the pics above. Leigh has made up a few brackets etc. and now has them and the coolers sitting on the shelf as a 'kit'.

Originally Posted by Narangga

With Leigh (ex-Nightcliff Service Centre - now Darwin Land Rover) moving premises late Oct 2020, his general busyness because of it (and he had to find the time to make up the brackets) and the delayed arrival of the cooler, my D3 has only just received its replacement transmission cooler. It is a PWR cooler and the original cooler is now blanked off. All good so far but won't be towing the camper trailer with it for three or four months yet.
transcool.jpg upbracket.jpg lowbracket.jpg

I've never thought of an additional. But that's pretty!! I like pretty!!

Having monitored transmission temps of my D4 while towing a 2.5 tonne boat at 100 kph in 40+ I believe there is no need for an additional transmission oil cooler.

Originally Posted by Barraman

Having monitored transmission temps of my D4 while towing a 2.5 tonne boat at 100 kph in 40+ I believe there is no need for an additional transmission oil cooler.

Part of the basis for doing it - is the cooler in the radiator can fail as they age - then your trans is a victim of death by coolant.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Part of the basis for doing it - is the cooler in the radiator can fail as they age - then your trans is a victim of death by coolant.

That is a very good reason for bypassing the standard cooler and running a PWR or other type. I've seen it happen and my auto trans expert has seen it too many times.

Originally Posted by Barraman

Having monitored transmission temps of my D4 while towing a 2.5 tonne boat at 100 kph in 40+ I believe there is no need for an additional transmission oil cooler.

You didn’t mention what temp the auto runs at when towing in 40+ heat.

Originally Posted by Barraman

Having monitored transmission temps of my D4 while towing a 2.5 tonne boat at 100 kph in 40+ I believe there is no need for an additional transmission oil cooler.

Having monitored transmission temps of my D4 while towing a 3.5T van at up to an average of 90 kmph, I believe there IS a need for an additional transmission oil cooler, even at ambient temps from about 30. And that's on the flat in WA.