Overheating is the number one problem for your automatic transmission

 How does a transmission develop heat?

In a manual transmission, in order to get the vehicle moving you select a gear and slip the clutch. In an automatic, you select Drive and press the accelerator. The slip action happens inside the transmission (the torque convertor actually) and this is where the friction heat is generated. Frequent acceleration, deceleration, towing a van or camper increases the slip and consequently generates more heat.

Why is a transmission cooler essential?

Heat is the number one enemy of an automatic transmission. It destroys the additive package in the transmission fluid very quickly once the critical point has been reached. What’s more, prolonged high temperatures will harden the rubber internal seals which can lead to clutch slippage. Excess heat from towing, hill ascend and descend, beach driving etc will shorten the life of your transmission dramatically if not controlled. 

Fitting a transmission cooler of the correct size and type for your vehicle will increase life and performance of your transmission by reducing the oil running temperature. General rule of thumb – every 20 degrees cooler doubles its life!

In many cases, it can double or triple the potential life of your automatic transmission.