A4 Dragsters- What to do about Trans temps..
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,246
Likes: 3
From: Troy, AL
The first thing I'd do is find out why the coolant temps are seeing 225. That is NOT normal.
I'd also run the tranny cooler AFTER the radiator.
I have had no troubles keeping the engine coolant and tranny (4L60-E) below ~210 degrees running 5-6 passes literally back to back with no one else holding me up in the staging lanes in cooler weather. Even in 85 degree weather a few passes back to back haven't been any trouble. This was running low 10s in the 1/4 with a 422ci engine. Stock radiator, stock tranny pan, 24K tranny cooler, 160 thermo with fan settings.
I'd also run the tranny cooler AFTER the radiator.
I have had no troubles keeping the engine coolant and tranny (4L60-E) below ~210 degrees running 5-6 passes literally back to back with no one else holding me up in the staging lanes in cooler weather. Even in 85 degree weather a few passes back to back haven't been any trouble. This was running low 10s in the 1/4 with a 422ci engine. Stock radiator, stock tranny pan, 24K tranny cooler, 160 thermo with fan settings.
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
All my coolant/oil/etc all new with the mods just went on.
My temps at freeeway speeds are 180F so the tuner must have modded the fans.
I am getting hptuners soon. I have found summit have a 9x13 160F fan'd trans cooler. i might put that on.
It was a 1.5hrs drive to the track and str8 to running (5 minute cooldown for tech/signin).
Maybe those trailers are a good idea after all. How do you have your fans programmed colonel?
maybe the TCI &brake stand burnouts = high temps.
My temps at freeeway speeds are 180F so the tuner must have modded the fans.
I am getting hptuners soon. I have found summit have a 9x13 160F fan'd trans cooler. i might put that on.
It was a 1.5hrs drive to the track and str8 to running (5 minute cooldown for tech/signin).
Maybe those trailers are a good idea after all. How do you have your fans programmed colonel?
maybe the TCI &brake stand burnouts = high temps.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,246
Likes: 3
From: Troy, AL
There's nothing wrong with a TCI converter. That's not your problem. I ran one for a time with no problems. And I do hellacious burnouts! 
I'll have to check my files to see my exact fan settings (it's on another computer that I don't have handy.)
I'll have to check my files to see my exact fan settings (it's on another computer that I don't have handy.)
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Ashburn, VA
Originally Posted by samz28
info on the derale pan? Where how much? does it have the extended pickup piece?
I want to say $150 ish...
I know Jegs & Summit sell it...so that's probably the best place to find the cost.
It doesnt need an extended pickup...because of the cooling tubes the pickup actually sits normally...
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
colonel please do. And were you doing brake stand burnouts or line lock burnouts? Would it be safe to say a 4500rpm "2" burnout with the brakes may be more tortuos than with a line lock?
(i have a line lock, and fan slp switch waiting to install).
btw what do you suggest for placement of both the safety/linelock and fan switch? Do folks just ghetto make something or is there a good place for it? I don't use the ashtray i was thinking bout there but i want to be sure no ******** goes "whats this" and flips the line lock on or leaves my fans on. Pics would be helpful and part #'s.
We'll get to the bottom of this.. I'm sure im not the only one with this hot summer heat problem.
I'm not sold on the +3qt pan. More fluid will heat up, and require more time to dissipate. Thats a known fact.
The bigger cooler with a fan would a big plus too if you tied it into fan #1 or a switch.
The newest addition to B&M's line of Super Cooler transmission and engine coolers is the Hi-Tek cooling system. Fitted with a high-quality, 12-volt electric fan, these coolers can handle tough cooling jobs. They include a thermal switch to activate the fan when the fluid temperature reaches 160°F. Can be used for racing, RV and street performance.
$209 for Hi-Tek 13-1/2'' x 9'' Cooler w/9-1/2'' . I think i'll go look around for a cheaper fan and try to make one myself..
(i have a line lock, and fan slp switch waiting to install).
btw what do you suggest for placement of both the safety/linelock and fan switch? Do folks just ghetto make something or is there a good place for it? I don't use the ashtray i was thinking bout there but i want to be sure no ******** goes "whats this" and flips the line lock on or leaves my fans on. Pics would be helpful and part #'s.
We'll get to the bottom of this.. I'm sure im not the only one with this hot summer heat problem.
I'm not sold on the +3qt pan. More fluid will heat up, and require more time to dissipate. Thats a known fact.
The bigger cooler with a fan would a big plus too if you tied it into fan #1 or a switch.
The newest addition to B&M's line of Super Cooler transmission and engine coolers is the Hi-Tek cooling system. Fitted with a high-quality, 12-volt electric fan, these coolers can handle tough cooling jobs. They include a thermal switch to activate the fan when the fluid temperature reaches 160°F. Can be used for racing, RV and street performance.
$209 for Hi-Tek 13-1/2'' x 9'' Cooler w/9-1/2'' . I think i'll go look around for a cheaper fan and try to make one myself..
TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 862
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by samz28
I'm not sold on the +3qt pan. More fluid will heat up, and require more time to dissipate. Thats a known fact.
those who actually own them claim trans temp drops of 15-20deg.
the former is speculation,
the latter is observation.
which one is the known fact?
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
Originally Posted by Stone0fFire
i notice only those who do not own the deep pans say this.
those who actually own them claim trans temp drops of 15-20deg.
the former is speculation,
the latter is observation.
which one is the known fact?
those who actually own them claim trans temp drops of 15-20deg.
the former is speculation,
the latter is observation.
which one is the known fact?
i'm all for it with some empirical data that shows it works in a drag race event/hotlapping(less than 5 minutes between runs)/warm temps(80+).
just don't want to spend the $$ if it is not going to help this situation.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
I have a PT4000, a B&M 19k cooler, and a manual fan switch. My low speed fan is on while my car is off, and my high speed is on while my car is running unless I'm making a pass. The highest I've seen my tranny temp is a hair over 180.
tnx TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 862
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by samz28
so you say once your trans temps get hot, it does not take longer to cool? got any logs of trans temps? would like to see this.
i'm all for it with some empirical data that shows it works in a drag race event/hotlapping(less than 5 minutes between runs)/warm temps(80+).
just don't want to spend the $$ if it is not going to help this situation.
i'm all for it with some empirical data that shows it works in a drag race event/hotlapping(less than 5 minutes between runs)/warm temps(80+).
just don't want to spend the $$ if it is not going to help this situation.
secondly, consider where exactly the fluid will heat up.
the fluid in the trans will heat,
but the fluid in the trans pan will cool.
the fluid in the line and in the cooler, will obviously cool.
no matter how many coolers or how deep of a pan you run,
how much extra fluid you add,
only the fluid in the trans will heat up.
it all doesnt get hot at once.
as long as you add more fluid outside of wherever it heats up,
you get more fluid outside cooling compared to the fluid you'd have cooking inside anyway.
am i missing something?
is GM, TCI, and 4L60-E.com trying to sell us something harmful because we think it will benefit us?
i would believe it if it were SLP, but TCI's been good so far.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Originally Posted by Stone0fFire
i notice only those who do not own the deep pans say this.
those who actually own them claim trans temp drops of 15-20deg.
those who actually own them claim trans temp drops of 15-20deg.
i agree....i know my tranny runs about 10 degrees cooler now...
granted its true that more fluid takes longer to cool but if it doesn't get to as high a temperature to begin with....who cares????
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: akron/canton, ohio
i had a problem last year of not being able to keep my trans cool. it wanted to run at 195F city driving once warmed up. after trying to figure out a solution and talking to some people on here, i went ahead and put another 24k b&m cooler on. the difference so far? 15F city driving. this is behind the air dam and without a scoop thus far. im in the process of attempting to rig a scoop up and hope to never see temps over 175F again.
TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 862
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by supersp0rt
i had a problem last year of not being able to keep my trans cool. it wanted to run at 195F city driving once warmed up. after trying to figure out a solution and talking to some people on here, i went ahead and put another 24k b&m cooler on. the difference so far? 15F city driving. this is behind the air dam and without a scoop thus far. im in the process of attempting to rig a scoop up and hope to never see temps over 175F again.
you running them in series?
im very interested in this idea.
Try getting a bigger trans cooler. I got the biggest one summit sells and running back to back I dont see anything close to 200. It usually stays around 180-190 in the texas heat. JP
