Does anyone out there have any expeience with adding an auxiliary transmission oil cooler?
I'm about to flush my tranny, and I've been considering adding a cooler to give my long suffering slush box a shot at longevity. It operates and shifts perfectly... no problems in either sport or economy mode, and never had any.
It's an inexpensive add-on, and is easy enough to place behind the spoiler grillwork on the driver's side.
Opinions about aux coolers and transmission oil type (diosaur vs. synthetic) would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

Marty
'96 855T

I've had a 6 tube silver Hayden cooler on my '95 for almost a year now without any problems. Very easy to install. My tranny has some internal slippage that burns the fluid after about 8k miles. The cooler helps alot. If you're in an area that has a real winter,unlike us here in SoCal, then you may need to make a cover so it doesn't do too good a job when the temp drops.

Marty,
I'd skip adding an aux cooler unless you're hauling a heavy trailer, etc.
Armie
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'94 850 154000kms '86 760GLE 272000kms 95 Silverado4x4

The tranny only holds 8.1 quarts total. So anything you can do to add some to that capacity would be a plus. Aaron has a nice install job there. There is no filter in the 850's tranny either so I would recommend installing a Magnefine inline filter in the return line. I used Quaker State synthetic blend tranny fluid in mine. I would recommend changing the fluid out every 25-30,000 miles since there's no filter. Hayden makes a bunch of coolers to choose from. The ones that look like little radiators are the most efficient. Like the Hayden Super Cool.





Mike
'95 850T

I thank everyone for their responses... thought provoking, to say the least!
I'm afraid I "assumed" ok... ok... I should know better.... that there was an internal mesh filter like most other trannys. Now I have to rethink my stand on adding in-line filters. I have always advised against adding filters (potential flow restrictions), but that was based on the assumption that there was already an internal filter of some sort. My bad!!!
I have never, and never will, use my car for towing. The oil that has always been used in this transmission is high quality "dino" oil.... changed every 40K miles or so. The car has had its oil changed twice since new (it now has 112K on it). The oil currently looks and smells like it has been used, but is not anywhere near what most folks would consider "bad". The tranny shifts perfectly in both economy and sport modes.
Now that summer is almost over, I think I'll probably think about this in the coming cold weather, but I suspect that I'll decide to add an auxiliary cooler and filter. I have a few things to do before I come to that point (still gotta tear out the instrument panel, console, and radio to change light bulbs, change the rear shocks, and replace the rear rotors and pads).
I thank you all once again for giving me the inputs I need to make a good decision.

Marty
'96 855T

My opinion is that it is almost a waste of time and $$$. They are put in th elow pressure line and when accelerating, don't get any flow to speak of. And... there is one in the car already.

Synthetic oils (atleast the ones that are worth buying...eg: Mobil 1) are REALLY expensive! 5.25 a qt around here. BG Flush machines (fairly common) take 16 quarts to flush.

Also, the trans cooler is a nice upgrade, but I have heard many conficting stories. Install it before the radiator to remove heat flashes from the fluid due to hard acceleration and whatnot.

But, I know some transaxles shut off the cooler lines when they hit 4th and the TCC locks.

Also, I have been using dino in my 1993 850 (the ones with the supposed bad transaxles) and its been doing fine. Flushed every 70K.

I installed cooler with fan infront of radiator/ac condenser. You can also check out at www.volvospeed.com (look under modifications: B&M cooler) for different location for trans cooler installation. Here's mine www.teal854t.piczo.com for pic.

Nice pics. Where did you put the horns?
On pic2, where does one get it and how big is it? My 1998 doesn't have any indicators for boost.
Nice wood... factory or stick-on?

Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(108Kmi), 95 854T(88K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)