The problem is by the time the transmission stops working and it's towed to
the shop most shops will only do a rebuild, they won't take the time to mess
with anything else, like flushing it out.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Haynes [mailto:d23haynes57@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 2:52 PM
To: Stuart MacMillan; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: RE: oil to coolant coolers, get rid of the one on the automatic
transmission!

While having an ATF cooler fail makes for a mess it is not a definite tranny
killer unless left too long. Still, there are a number of reasons to upgrade
this marginal cooling solution.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Stuart MacMillan
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 2:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: oil to coolant coolers, get rid of the one on the automatic
transmission!

While these are pretty reliable, when the A/T cooler goes it takes out the
transmission, a $2000-$3000 repair. There are plenty of good oil to air
cooler options, and they are easier to install. I have the one German
Transaxle assembles and recommends, and it's the same one they make for Go
Westy (and included now on all their GT rebuilt automatics), but without the
thermostat bypass. That's only needed where the winters are very cold.

At $250 sans T-stat it's one of the cheapest options, and you can order from
them directly (it's not on their website).

Stuart