Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2016 21:44:36 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Anyone have experience with the F.A.S./GTA Auto trans cooler?
In-Reply-To: <034e01d1555d$70200080$50600180$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
The OEM transmission cooler and particularly the way it is plumbed into the
cooling system is defiantly a questionable design. As for the concept of a
faster warm up the way it is connected engine coolant does not flow into it
until the thermostat begins to open. Worse is that it actually bypasses
coolant flow available to the radiator. It would be better to feed this from
the heater loop similar to the engine oil cooler on the 2.1 engines.
How effective this is a bit questionable. The main source of heat in an
automatic is the torque converter, especially since it is not of a lockup
type. The torque converter is self-cooling with the air fins and open
housing. As for their testing with the unit in 3rd gear power is pretty much
straight through. Run full power in 1st or 2nd gears such as a real hill
climb and I wonder how well it will work. As that trans oil gets to 250 or
more suddenly that oil to water heat exchanger works really well even with
190 water inside. Oil to water heat exchangers or elements inside radiators
is the norm for many vehicles. It is hard to beat the efficiency and
compactness of using a single radiator to cool everything.
When installing this you do not want to connect the two hoses together. Cap
the ports off or get a manifold from a non-automatic. It won’t have the ATF
cooler connections.
As for buying mail order to save sales tax that is a disadvantage or all
local shops and suppliers. In most states it is a sales and use tax and
there is a means to report and pay sales tax on items purchased outside and
then brought in for use. I'll just suggest that if we don't pay that little
extra to support local businesses we shouldn't be surprised when they are
not there when needed.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Stuart MacMillan
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 4:40 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Anyone have experience with the F.A.S./GTA Auto trans cooler?
After talking to Jon at FAS I'm sold. Their PowerPoint undersells the unit,
there is no mention or photo of the internal design that is the real key to
why it works. Turns out I have a local source, but 10% sales tax will be
more than shipping from Van Café!
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Schwaia [mailto:vw.doka@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 11:46 AM
To: 'Stuart MacMillan'; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: RE: Anyone have experience with the F.A.S./GTA Auto trans cooler?
Van Café sells the same one. You could reach out to them about any issues.
Cheers,
Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Stuart MacMillan
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 9:52 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Anyone have experience with the F.A.S./GTA Auto trans cooler?
The plastic coolant bleeder/connector on my '85 automatic has failed, and
since I'm converting to a Subaru 2.2 someday I don't want to buy a $200 part
to replace it that will be tossed eventually. This means getting rid of the
stock water cooled unit since this connector has connections for its
plumbing.
I like the simplicity and ease of installation of the F.A.S./GTA design, and
GTA has tested it, so it's at the top of my list. I know coolers have been
discussed here before, but I've not seen anything on this cooler:
http://www.foreignautosupply.com/parts-accessories/1-automatic-transmission-
heat-sink/#.VqJrjvkrLIU
So, anyone have one?
Thanks!
Stuart
