STX Petrol Auto

Hi Fella's

I have recently started towing a boat of around 2400kg, upon towing it the first time I noticed down near the foot area to get hotter than usual, needing me to have the fan on my feet to cool that area down. Now what I am thinking is it is heat from the auto transmission working harder than ever before. I am on the right track with this thinking, and will it hurt the tranny, should I get a transmission cooler fitted. Has anyone else experienced this if so what was the fix.
Cheers Mark

I would fit a tranny cooler anyway Mark. Anytime your towing its a good idea to have a tranny cooler.

You should already have a transmission cooler. A bigger one is better.

There will be the unit in the radiator or whatever they install factory but hey bigger is always better with a tranny cooler

Talk to a auto specialist.

I remember hearing a while back about a guy who bipassed the factory, ran a aftermarket one only cooler and the auto ran hotter.

He then put a another cooler in series with the factory oil cooler and it got it running cooler.

I have a D40 STX Petrol Auto and I also tow a boat of around 2.5T not to mention an off road camper loaded to the hilt which I take through some really soft sandy tracks.

I have found the auto does not overheat when towing the boat on the bitumen but can overheat when four wheel driving especially with a load.

The D40 auto already has a sizeable auto tran coller in addition to the radiator coupled cooler as standard. It shouldnt need another or aftermarket unit unless you are really giving it stick.

I found 2 things were causing a problem for me.
1) my after market bash plate was blocking airflow to the AT cooler which is low slung under the radiator. Some 20x20mm holes drilled in the steel plate fixed that problem and still offers protection.
2) I have an ARB bull bar fitted and the number plate had been positioned in such a way that it also limited airflow - this was easy to relocate

I then installed a AT Temp guage to monitor things, Since these jobs were done the unit never exceeds 80 deg C. Though I have not given it a full work out in 4WD. I will update the post when I have done that.