Powersteering coolers - what to get?

[TERRA Operative]

Yep, rule for all coolers. Outlet always at the top. That way air won't be trapped in the cooler, leading to wasted passages.

The radiator flows down due to the need for water in the engine at all times, so by sucking from the bottom (heh heh) you will always have water available even if the level drops.

[mick08]

Not a highly technical discussion but I figured it was specific enough to go into this section. I need to add a powersteering cooler to my JZA70 as I intend on hitting the track for circuit work in the coming months. The JZA70 comes with a factory tube type ps cooler but it's not that efficient and my car doesn't have one anyway as it was excluded when the previous owner did the 1JZ swap. I'm after a simple cooler that will be suitable for up to 10 laps of constant thrashing at a time. Ultimately I'd like something that I can simply fit into the low pressure return line with a couple of basic hose clamps. Dont really want to mess about with additional lines and speedfloe fittings as it's not neccessary.

So, what are people out there using and how big does it have to be? I'm gonna be doing a largish order from summit for my engine oil cooler soon so something ex US is not a problem.

Also, what sort of fluid are people using? Is there a higher temp option out there that will be suitable?

Cheers

I would run a synthetic trans fluid in the pwr steer resevior, it can handle the heat better and can withstand longer fluid change periods- i always use Castrol Syntrans only avail from a Detroit diesel outlet- its expensive but its good shit, its a direct replacement for DEX3 but much better.

[MWP]

Im not sure about other models, but Toyota specifically state Dexron II for 1990-2000 Celicas.
IIRC the extra additive in Dexron III does some damage to the seals/hoses.

So i would recommend sticking with the exact fluid that the Toyota manual states.

[mick08]

Im not sure about other models, but Toyota specifically state Dexron II for 1990-2000 Celicas.
IIRC the extra additive in Dexron III does some damage to the seals/hoses.

So i would recommend sticking with the exact fluid that the Toyota manual states.

Haven't heard that, i been using the syntrans for years in powersteering in all the hilux's ive had without any issues.

[1JZ-Rolla]

Interesting point on the Dexron II vs III, wasn't aware of the seals/hoses issue. I wonder if Toyota's own "Type IV" ATF has the same additives?

[MWP]

Good question.
Ill be sticking with Dexron II though to remove the possibility of other fluids causing problems.

[AndyTTR]

There's no problem using Dextron 3 in place of Dextron 2. It's the same stuff (fluid properties are the same), just more refined... or so said the Castrol rep. Personally, I've never had a problem running 3 where 2 was specified for powersteering / hydraulic fans... might be a different situation for an Auto trans though. We've had problems with the auto boxes in a Soarer and a Rav4 caused by using Dex3 where Type IV was specified.

+ 1 for fitting oil coolers with the ports either both on top or atleast the outlet at the top and inlet at the bottom. Prevents air-locks as previously mentioned. I always laugh at 'track cars' in magazines where they've mounted a massive oil cooler with both ports at the bottom... just shows that whichever workshop built the car didn't know / care. It happens a lot - keep an eye out for it!

[Sciflyer]

Stock MA70 oil cooler with a bit of relocation and slight movement on inlet/outlet tubes.

That looks the same as the one i use in teh Soarer, cost me like $20, just use whatever trans fluid i have lying around, done several trackdays and never had a problem

[NeoNasty]

Best source of PS/trans coolers Ive found is VN commodores. They get a 'tow pack' and its just an extra trans cooler that sits inline with the standard (in radiator) one. There about half the size of an A4 sheet of paper and worth nothing. They come with brackets and piping too.

Visit your wreckers and have a geeze.

[Viper]

Hey chaps,

Was free today so I ventured into my local wreckers in search for these guys.

Found three different coolers from relatively common models.

As the previous posts state, the Ford EA and Commo VN/VT had coolers for their transmissions. When looking for the EA cooler, I also found that the old XF falcons also had a cooler too.

So I ripped all 3 out, paid for the EA and VN one (idiots wanted too much for all 3), and below are the comparisons.

VN (left) EA (right)


The XF cooler is bloody simple. Just a U-bend with some fins. Cooling wise I doubt its that useful, but very low restriction.
Best image I could find was this;



So, realistically, its between the EA and VN coolers.
I might get them both flow tested and see which is the least restrictive, but from the looks they would be about the same.

Hope this helps.

[spiller]

Viper, love your work man!

The XF cooler looks a similar design to the factory JZA70 PS cooler that i was talking about in my OP. The other two look HUGE, how do they compare size wise, to say, an A4sheet of paper?

[Viper]

Woops, linked the wrong one ;p.

A4 is 297mm x 210mm is both are smaller, just' ;p

[spiller]

that's fairly big then, almost big enough for use as an engine oil cooler, probably not thick enough though.

[1JZ-Rolla]

No way would they flow enough for engine oil duties, and I think they are designed for the non-pressure side of the trans/PS system (correct me if i'm wrong) i.e: on the return oil side?

Looking forward to seeing how you mount it up. For what its worth, the transmission shop I use reckons the VN-VS transmission coolers in the OEM "tow pack" have a fantastic BTU rejection rate, and not worth upgrading to anything aftermarket. Then again, the EA one is probably just as good in a power steering application, since its much less work than cooling the oil from a thrashing torque converter in an auto box.

Cheers
Phil

[takai]

Thats the EA one in my setup. Works well.