I'm curious if this is something one can do or I should visit a dealer....
On the MT, they have drain&fill plugs and is easy (helped my buddy do it). On AT cars usually you need to drop the pan, especially if you want to change the filter as well. How is it done on the RX-8?

 

depending on where you are in nj either go to the dealer or level ten ( www.levelten.com )

 

Havent yet. I finially found someone in town that carries RP oil and when the at cooler goes in (yep I've said that before) The oil get changed.

 

The instal of the ATX cooler seems to be hurdle - meanwhile, I thought of using RedLine High Temp Synthetic ATF.
Since it is more stable and can take higher temps, maybe there is no need for an extra cooler.
Any comments?

 

I picked up a case of RP ATF from RB when we were at SS8. Got it for $90.
I using the same though patern that its more stable at higher temp and is a better fluid than the OEM ATF.

Now to the AT cooler .the only real hard part of installing the cooler is, where.
I say where because I'm thinking of adding the second oil cooler to the usual spot where it is on the MT US 8.

So that leaves in front of the AC condenser. Hmmm. Would the air that has been warmed by the AT cooler cause any negitive cooling issues inside the cab of the car?
I think I'll have to get creative on where its mounted..

The plumbing into the existing AT cooler system is not hard. There is a small cooler on the bottom of the radiator. if you have the Service manual it shows the AT cooler in chap. 5 pgs 305-307. Also a better showing of the AT cooler on page 309

My drive to do all of this is beacuse I drive in 99% activematic. and live where the ambient air temp in the summer is 110 deg. plus / no humidity and plan to have the car for a while.

All in All maybe its a little overkill.

Hope this sheads some light.

 

What AT cooler are you guys planning on using? If there wasn't a specific model I was thinking of converting an FC oilcooler. I'm reall noy sure what the requirements are for AT cooling.

 

OK, I changed the ATF to High Temperature Synthetic RedLine. Tranny feels happier, changes are smoother, the whole car feels more responsive at any RPM, bogging when just starting/cold is gone, funny ATF smell after long rides are gone...
Not a cheap mod ($100 work/parts + $90 for fluid) but a nice improvment over the confused tranny I used to have :o)
You need 12-13 qts for the dealer to flush everything out and put only new stuff in.

 

The one I picked up is the B&M 130-70268
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...0535&langId=-1-

 

Well I just had the At fluid swapped and did notice a diffrence. I went with RP. Shifting with the paddles is now quicker and much smoother.. It now shifts back to first when stopped. before it would stay in 2nd. I really haven't had a chance to see what the diffrence is when its driven hard after it warms up. Right now it's only been driven 2 miles a day this week.

 

Where did you end up installing the tranny cooler? Did you have a dealer or outside tranny shop do it? Looks like i will be doing the same in the next couple weeks.

 

...Bump...

 

Sorry guys, I was able to spend some time driving it this week and it shifts way smoother. I haven't given it a good torture test... Mtn runs!! but for city/hwy its better.


I'm working on the tranny cooler install , DIY and doing some fine tuning w/ the directions
The cooler has been mounted and plumbed into the return side.
I'll whip up a DIY and post it. More than likely it will be done (DIY) Monday the 26th..

 

Uhmmmm. Bump!

 

Thanks Factor,
I would be interested in seeing what you end up with, and will most likely do something similar soon.
I hope you include where to hook the hoses up as well, routing that kind of thing. Also, how much fluid you used and did you drain the fluid out of the torque converter. Redline and RP can be expensive to use to flush the old out. OR is ok to just mix the new with what was in the converter. Anyway, good luck with it. Look forward to reading about your results.