6s Automatic Transmission Heat Data Obtained...Not Good!!!!

[crossbow]

Snap-on measured the 6s ATX tranny temp @ IDLE at....

188 F

This of course means that the tranny is running over 200-220F while your driving spiritedly.

Need a refresher?



I'd say if anyone with a 6s ATX plans on keeping their car over 75k...they should invest in a tranny cooler.

[s2]

Any idea when you'll be able to install yours? Think you'll be able to get some temp measurements so we can compare? I'm really interested in seeing how much the cooler helps at both idle and during hard driving. It looks to me like I almost can't afford NOT getting one.

[Da 6]

Um.....yeah I'd say get one cause most cars are designed for outting around and normal conditions other than traffic. I tend to do some "Spirited Driving" myself and it's in manumatic most of the time so I already got one just waiting for a good day and tranny fluid and filter to install. I also figured this is a vehicle I'm gonna hold on to...my other idea was to get either a pusher or puller fan with a thermostat so it kickes in seprate of the oem cooling fans to keet the tranny in safe levels at all times...just a thought

I am installing mine this saturday, i cant see it being too hard, it should take a total of 30 minutes (crossbow will take longer cause he has to take pictures). its small, it fits where it should, and you should have almost no extra hose length required (minimize the length as much as you can)

If you dont plan on doing the 5-10k 4qt drain and fills, i would definitely get an external tranny filter. I am at 20k and this week I am putting AutoRX in the tranny for 1k miles then getting a full fluid exchange and replacing my filter. After that I am starting on the oil/tranny fluid change cycle.

The B&M superCooler is supposed to be a really good and efficient cooler, so i would say it could easily drop the temp at least 50 degrees, but we will only be able to tell after we put it on and get a gauge of some sort to tell how hot it is

[Da 6]

I got the Flex-A-Lite one for a suv....I can't wait to install that and the intake

[steelgray6]

just for curiosity's sake . . . does anyone know what kind of temperature the manual transmission in the 6s runs at?

Is this whole temperature thing an issue for the manual transmission? (please excuse the ignorance)

Thanks

[crossbow]

Hey Steel,

The temp thing only applies to automatic transmission. You and your #$&()!@&$ stick shift are safe...punk.

[steelgray6]

Originally Posted by crossbow

Hey Steel,

The temp thing only applies to automatic transmission. You and your #$&()!@&$ stick shift are safe...punk.

Thanks for the reply . . .. punk

[stretch]

Anybody know what temperature the Mazda 626 automatic ran at?

Granted, that was a Ford tranny, not a Jatco, but they would fail like clockwork at around 50,000 miles. Reportedly this was due in part to high temperatures.

Not many Mazda6 owners have hit the 50,000 mile mark, but I sure hope this isn't a sign that Mazda is carrying on the plague of the 626.

[Da 6]

sun of a @$#%* %#@!^&!!!!!!!!! My friends millenia was like that too....went thru 3 trannies!!!! Ordering Flex-ALite puller fan. Thanx for reminding me for that

[mazdamanm6]

This is not good news but it's definately not horrible news either. My 626 tranny lasted till 70k even though back then I was a complete newb and didn't change the fluid like I was supposed to. It's extremely important that the fluid is changed often (every 15k or so). The heat degrades the fluid which in turn shortens the life of the tranny. I'm pretty sure that the graph does not take into account frequent fluid changes and should only be taken as a rough guide. Considering the price of a tranny cooler, it would be dumb not to invest in one at this early stage. The in-line filter is also a must for those like myself that plan to do 15k flushes.

[84FordMan]

This would explain why Jaguar X (Or is it S)-type auto trannies are dieing so suddenly, they use the same Jatco 5-spd auto as ours. Based upon what I read on those Jag forums awhile back, I would make a tranny cooler the FIRST modification someone does to their 6 auto. Some of those Jag owners were experiencing total tranny failure sometimes as low as 15,000 miles, some on their 2 or 3 trannies by 28,000 miles.

[crossbow]

I am taking a rediculous amount of photos, so hopefully this will be easy to follow.

I'm trying to do a very clean install, which is taking significantly longer then otaking's 6i tranny cooler installation.

Both articles will be available for those who wish to have alternate options to mounting their coolers.

Due note however that the little ziptie things that come with the cooler, won't work effectively as an install option.

The AC condensor fins are mounted vertically, while the radiators are horizontal. Getting the zip tie through both mediums without heavily damaging a large block of fins is impossible. (The zip ties are VERY thick). I'm abandoned the zip ties in favor of a hard mount under the hood latch. (Placing the cooler about 6 inches in front of the radiator, and in the open front insert).

[mazdamanm6]

Originally Posted by 84FordMan

This would explain why Jaguar X (Or is it S)-type auto trannies are dieing so suddenly, they use the same Jatco 5-spd auto as ours. Based upon what I read on those Jag forums awhile back, I would make a tranny cooler the FIRST modification someone does to their 6 auto. Some of those Jag owners were experiencing total tranny failure sometimes as low as 15,000 miles, some on their 2 or 3 trannies by 28,000 miles.

With trannies dieing so early, other factors other than fluid degradation(due to heat) would have to be the culprit. I seriously doubt that the temps measured so far (188F)would cause premature tranny failure before at least 50K miles. And that's assuming the fluid is never changed. You got me a little interested in reading those Jag forums, do you have any links?

Doing a simple blotter test on the fluid would tell you if there's any excessive wear and tear going on inside the tranny and the state of the fluid. My fluid was reddish brown in color at 15k but had no particles and still smelled like tranny fluid. Considering my driving habits that's very good news.

Also, electronic failure within the tranny can also render it useless, so that can also be a factor in some early failures. That's the downside of having so much electronics controlling mechanical devices.

Not sure if this is what you read but I found a link to the Jaguar x type tranny issue:
http://forums1.roadfly.org/jaguar/fo...4827054-1.html

I really don't know if these trannies are exactly the same as ours. I think there are some
differences from manufacturer to manufacturer. Anyway there was a defect within the tranny the caused the early failures and there was a recall for it. I doubt that the defect made it into ours(and it was supposed to be fixed) but you never know.

[84FordMan]

I never bookmarked them, but I found the forums in Yahoo search, I believe I spent a good time here reading:

http://forums1.roadfly.org/jaguar/fo...e/oldarchives/

[mazdamanm6]

Originally Posted by 84FordMan

I never bookmarked them, but I found the forums in Yahoo search, I believe I spent a good time here reading:

http://forums1.roadfly.org/jaguar/fo...e/oldarchives/

Heh I think I found it already (look at my previous post) but thanks anyway.

[crossbow]

MM6,

Temp was 188F, not 193F. (Small correction).
Install finished, no leaks. Hard to test though cause you can't really drive with the front bumper off. I'm going to start putting everything back on now, and do some test drives.

(edited for typo with temp)

[mazdamanm6]

Originally Posted by crossbow

MM6,

Temp was 193F, not 188F. (Small correction).
Install finished, no leaks. Hard to test though cause you can't really drive with the front bumper off. I'm going to start putting everything back on now, and do some test drives.

Not a big difference, besides why does it still say 188F at idle in your first post? Also have you tried measuring it after hard driving?

[crossbow]

The temp of the ATF was 188F after 20 minutes at idle, as per the WDS reading.

I don't have a tranny temp gauge installed, so a dealer would have to go along for a ride to read off the stock car's ATX temp under load.

Which of course, I can no longer do, as I have a 16,000 GVW cooler installed.

(edited for typo with temp)

[chikoo]

one Big reason I went for the Stick. If the Mazda auto trans were reliable, I would NOT have gone for the Stick.

Btw, check out the Lubegard product.

http://www.lubegard.com/automotive/t..._platinum.html

[mazdamanm6]

Well chikoo, after reading all the problems in the other forum it doesn't seem like the stick is reliable either. Grinding, clunks, clutch chatter and one complete replacement. Doesn't seem like a good track record to me. As for the ATX, this is just preventative maintenance, when we see complete premature failures then we can call it unreliable.

[chikoo]

I concur.
designing powetrains is apparently not Mazdas forte.

[Da 6]

Originally Posted by chikoo

I concur.
designing powetrains is apparently not Mazdas forte.

from all the reviews and complains across the boards....no car under $32 is "perfect" ford and trannys is just a known fact.....found that out the hard way with a Ford Fucked350 . I saw alot of cooling fan/tranny cooler combos out there and they range from like $60 to $200.

the temp was 188 not 193, crossbow just wanted to bump it up and gave wrong info (a typo i am sure) So 188 isnt as bad as 193, its in a lower zone, but still when driving I am sure it gets up above 210 which may not be danger zone, but is still on the edge

[snap-on]

http://www.altimas.net/forum/showthr...hreadid=150461

http://carandtruckforums.com/cgi-bin...num=1076283996

3 minutes and I can see a trend. Or not. You decide.

Most members here know I am more than just an innocent bystander here..

I have seen trannys fail at 2500 miles..I also just serviced a 626 Saturday with 236,000 miles. (we have never put ANY additives in this car)

It took Mz 10 yrs to convince father Ford to allow them to get a tranny other than the CD4E they were forced to put in the 626. I am in no way saying the Jatco unit we have now is the best available but it sure is a major improvement over the CD4E.

The problem with any tranny is heat and fluid changes..With no servicable filter, the fluid MUST be changed at normal intervals..30k at a the most.

PS I didn't even have the heart to post the Mopar problems.

Well maybe I will

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...=Google+Search