Auto Transmission Temperature Range?

[Kitty's VR4]

I had a bit of a search round the threads looking for what the normal temperature range is for the Auto Transmission.
I've brought a new transmission cooler and need to establish the correct thermostat temperature setting:

I believe that the normal operating range is 80-94, can anyone confirm this???? Nat suggested a 95 cut in based on that range, so that the fan wasn't running un-necessarily, he's of the opinion that given the car only really gets to that range when I'm at the track or we go on a trip (generally car only does 1.5k trips to and from work-so never actually gets to operating temps)

Opinions/suggestions/recommendations anyone??

 

[Madhav]

I've got a B & M thermo cooler fitted also, was recommended it to keep the oil at optimal temp and thereby stop any potential damage after a good thrashing, but I didn't know you could set the temp manually? Yeah someone enlighten us!!

 

[Kitty's VR4]

Madhav, where do you finish up fitting yours on the car?

 

[Madhav]

Underneath where the stock battery used to be. There is a nice little space there.

 

[Kitty's VR4]

Ok, I'm considering similar location, behind passenger side fog light because of air flow & space available there.

 

[pu-11-me]

Should be about 80-85 degrees celcius..... I'll see if I can get a more definate answer for you guys though

 

[Madhav]

You can also use that space for a cold air intake you know, have a pipe running from near the fog light all the way into the engine but yeah, then you'd have to reposition the thermo oil cooler elsewhere.

 

[Kitty's VR4]

Thanks Dawso

 

[pu-11-me]

Operating temp - 75 to 85 degrees for SPIII, 80 is optimal

Thermo fan temp - 90 degrees (90 degrees is the upper operating temp for SPIII in a gearbox application, anything much higher than 95 and you should start becoming concerned!)

Hope that helps Kat

 

[godzilla]

The standard transmission "cooler" is intergrated into the radiator and our cars engine operating temp is up to 90-95 so wouldn't the tranny fluid be sent back at that temp ?

 

[pu-11-me]

The rad will cool it if it reaches that temp or higher

Specs say that it should be 75-85 under normal operation. Dunno exactly what temp they'll run at all the time just through the rad but I put my trans cooler AFTER the rad as it was recommended I do this by the transmission guru....

 

[godzilla]

Do you even need a thermo fan for the tranny cooler? I mean, it is getting airflow when your driving anyway.......

 

[godzilla]

I totally bypassed the rad and i just have a stand alone tranny cooler with no fan.

 

[pu-11-me]

Stop/start at lights is why they were created.... They could be handy but I didn't bother lol. I live in the country where we stop for wildlife crossings, not zebra crossing

 

[pu-11-me]

I totally bypassed the rad and i just have a stand alone tranny cooler with no fan.

That would be the optimal setup IMO, alloy rad and separate trans cooler!

 

[godzilla]

That would be the optimal setup IMO, alloy rad and separate trans cooler!

Thats what i have

 

[Kitty's VR4]

Operating temp - 75 to 85 degrees for SPIII, 80 is optimal

Thermo fan temp - 90 degrees (90 degrees is the upper operating temp for SPIII in a gearbox application, anything much higher than 95 and you should start becoming concerned!)

Hope that helps Kat

The standard transmission "cooler" is intergrated into the radiator and our cars engine operating temp is up to 90-95 so wouldn't the tranny fluid be sent back at that temp ?

Thanks guys,

Thats where I'm having the problem, its the differentiation between the ranges.

I'm going to run the Cooler prior to the Radiator with thermo set to 88 I think, as I said earlier I don't expect it will reach operating ranges on the thermo fan unless I'm on a trip or at a track day. As an example; if I'd been at work this week, the temperature ranges every day so far this week during the times I'd be driving the car have been -7 thru +8, and considering the total trip is only 1.5k the car only ever gets to 2 lines above cold mark even with pre-warming the car for about 2mins before I attempt to move the car.

Anyway off to Canberra for a couple of scan, I'll be back around 4 to see where this thread has gone and what recommendations come out of it..... thanks guys

 

[Kenneth]

You live 1.5k from work, and you drive? Clarkson would thank you for helping warm up England...

You can always warm up the fluid by standing on the breaks and doing a 3k launch... Be interesting actually to find out how fast it warms the fluid up!

 

[Hotwire]

You live 1.5k from work, and you drive? Clarkson would thank you for helping warm up England...

Tend to agree.... 1.5km you could walk that in 15 mins, so by the time you start, pre-warm the car, back out driveway, drive to work, get a car park, stop get out, you'd be 3/4 the way to work on your feet!

 

[Kitty's VR4]

LOL..... yea but then I wouldn't be able come home at lunch, beside would you want to walk to work when its minus 7 most morning during winter????

Back on topic though..... does 88ish sound about right??