Do you need an oil cooler?? I would STRONGLY recommend it. My Vauxhall dealer had told me that I didn't need an oil cooler before my £2000 breakdown???!!! (see my previous post) The large Vx dealerership in Glasgow did not have the expertise to repair my gearbox but sent it to Mackie. How reliable is the dealers' advice. Do they really understand about towing - in my experienc NO!!!
Mackiee of Glasgow who repaired the gearbox, and fitted the oil cooler, strongly recommended having it fitted, Atherton transmissions who checked the fluid, as per Mackie's warranty 6 months later thought it a good idea and Selector gearboxes who recen tly changed the transmission oil on the 4 year schedule too said it was a good idea.
It true to say that I was probably unfortunate. The seal on my gearbox failed after I had been towing my large 'van on the motorway for over 150 miles. If that seal had not failed the gearbox would not have lost its oil and been badly damaged. But a very important factor in seal failing was because the oil was very hot. There is a very good chance if I had had the oil cooler fitted at that time the oil would have been cooler and the seal not failed. Who knows for sure??? Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
If I had had a cooler fitted before my BREAKDOWN, and it had prevented it, that cost of less than £100, for the cooler, would have saved me a £2000 repair bill, a week's lost holiday and a LOT of stress and worry. Again who knows???
What is certain is that
(1) 3 gearbox experts, only one of whom stood to gain by their advice, have advised it
(2) I have had over 60000 miles of gearbox problem-free motoring since the cooler was fitted. This has included a long distance towing on Continental motorways at the higher speeds allowed there.
As with most things "you takes your choice and pays your money" or not as you wish. I know that I would be VERY UNLIKELY to tow with an automatic without having an oil box cooler fitted. IMHO a lot of reassurance for a, relatively, low cost.
If anyone does want technical advice I would advise then to find a local gearbox specialist and get their advice.
Regards
Tim
------------- Tim and Cary
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