Fluid, Cooler, etc, Questions on a 1994 A4LD Transmission

[foss40z]

I have a 1994 A4LD Transmission i put in my 88 bronco 2. I did a fluid change about a year ago with supertech merc III fluid. Supertech was from walmart and was made by Quaker State because it had the Q on bottom. Ive been noting some slipping from 2nd to 3rd and shifting rough when cold. The tranny has around 20k-30k on it.

just bought a new filter, gasket, and hayden rapid cool tranny cooler.

My questions are:
1. Which tranny fluid is preferred and have people had the best luck with. Which brand, synthetic or not, and merc III or V. It is suggested that i use Merc V.

2. I know the stock tranny cooler is marginal at best to cool the tranny. I purchased a Hayden Rapid Cool from CSK Auto for $50. It is the medium duty because the heavy duty will not fit. How much cooler can i get my tranny to run, and also would it be benificial to leave on the stock cooler, and add on the hayden, or just take the stock one off all together and put on the aftermarket?

Any info I would greatly appreciate.

Mr.Foss

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

you should use mercon 3.

and by stock tranny cooler do you mean through the radiator? you should always leave the stock one in place and connect the 2 coolers in series, i would connect the medium duty cooler to flow after the radiator and then return to the transmission.

temperature wise you'll be down quite a bit, this will prolong the fluid/trans life a lot

 

[foss40z]

I have the cooler that is built on the tranny which was a new replacement from a 93 ford ranger so it is 2 times as thick as the stock bronco 2 radiators. I also have a add-on tranny cooler that was a upgrade option from the factory. Im asking if i should leave the add on cooler and put the new hayden cooler in series, or if i should just take the factory add-on cooler off and just replace it with the new hayden cooler.

 

[Yellowsplash]

There is no Mercon III....Its Dexron III/Mercon. Dexron III is the same exact thing as Mercon. Dexron was GM's version, Mercon is Fords. They are marketed as the same now.

An A4LD uses Mercon, which is a conventional fluid. Mercon V is synthetic. While you could use Mercon V, it originally came with Mercon from the factory.

 

[foss40z]

Would I benfit by putting 2 external transmission coolers infront of the radiator? 1 is the new Hayden and the other is the add on from factory.. So the tranny fluid will go threw the Radiator, then threw the add on external cooler from factory, then threw the new hayden external cooler, then back into the transmission?? Truck is apart need it together tommorow. Input anybody? .

I live in Arizona and it never gets below freazing out here, but gets hot as hell..

Sould it put extra strain on the tranny pump that pushes the fluid threw??

Mr.Foss

 

[bighoss94ranger]

Since you already have the aftermarket cooler go ahead and install it where it will have good airflow and bypass the factory external cooler keeping the one in the radiator. Chances are the new one is larger and made of aluminum whick disspates heat really well. Make sure to flush ALL the lines to get any old junk out of there. Use the mercon V fluid. It is a synthetic blend which will help keep it from baking in your hot climate. Hope this helps. Hoss