Trans temps!

[Metal Man G8]

So today I raced a c6 vette which was very fun! I left her in drive and the trans acted like a confused teenager. I wasn't too surprised by this because of what I read about the trans in the gt but when I got home I put it in engineering mode and looked at my temps. Coolant is at 104 C and trans was at 94 C. To me both of those seem to be really hot. I'm new to gm cars so can yall tell me what you think about the temps.

Did the conversion coolant is 220º and trans is 200º

[iisme13]

Thats high on both. What are your mods? I think its time for a tranny cooler.
With my cooler I dont see 150 in stop and go traffic.


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[Metal Man G8]

I have a cai and as far as I know that's it.

[thebeast]

You need a cooler. In stop and go for over 3 hrs mine hit 160. Normal driving in the 140's. long haul in the 120-140 range

[DavesG8GT]

Scanned mine the other day for the first time, and this is with my stock converter. Horrible horrible traffic, literally sitting in drive for 20 minutes just creeping, plenty of stop and go, mine got to 170 F. 200 is definitely out of the norm high, especially for a stock G8 GT.

[Metal Man G8]

Ya I thought 200 was too damn hot. Anyone in houston want to install one for me?

[STL_G8GT]

Do it yourself... It's easy!

[Metal Man G8]

I probably could if I can get one that's plug and play. I found a kit that claims to be plug and play. I seen a few people have ordered it on this site. I'm on crutches right now and have been for a couple months and its just something that would be harder for me to do in my condition. If I do the install don't I have to change the fluid and filter on the tranni? Or is it really just plug in and done?

[Metal Man G8]

This one
http://www.pcmofnc.com/index.php/performance-parts/product/156-pontiac-g8gt-transmission-cooler

[STL_G8GT]

The pcm one is pretty straightforward but if you're on crutches I don't think you would be able to do the install and yeah you end up losing some transmission fluid and then refill. you can plug the ends but you still have to get the car up on Jack's to add more to it. It is plug and play however... The trans line connections are the easy part, it's removing the front clip and securing and then running your lines that can be a bit more difficult.

[Metal Man G8]

Ya the whole crutches thing makes it a bit more interesting lol so is the trans fluid running through the cooler lines or is the trans liquid cooled with coolant?

[STL_G8GT]

Trans fluid is separate, and there is an ever so small cooler integrated with the radiator. These kits keep that function, making these supplemental and not full replacement. The coolant being in the same radiator as the fluid helps heat it up sooner, as you dont want your trans fluid to be too cold.

[Metal Man G8]

Thanks for the info. You talked me into getting it done myself. Ill take the front clip off and all the bs and let my neighbor handle the trans cooler itself. Good thing is I have a few weeks before I go back to work so I'm trying to capitalize on the free time I have to get things like this done.

[iisme13]

Thanks for the info. You talked me into getting it done myself. Ill take the front clip off and all the bs and let my neighbor handle the trans cooler itself. Good thing is I have a few weeks before I go back to work so I'm trying to capitalize on the free time I have to get things like this done.

My tranny cooler kit cost about 200 when it was all said and done. I have a 3600 stall in my car bavk by 500hp. This install was easy. I used all AN fittings as well.

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[thebeast]

Don't waste your money on the PCM4less cooler. It Isn't enough

[Metal Man G8]

I know that the cooler looks weaker compared to others but how much of a difference could it really be?

[thebeast]

My temps still hit 190 with the pcm4less cooler.
I have since went with a custom earls cooler. And never see above 170.
Stock, my car would go to 220 at the track

[Metal Man G8]

Thanks for the heads up. I think I will go with something like what you got then. I don't even know what all fittings I need or what kind of hoses to get.

[Semperfire]

This is a great setup.
http://www.lashwaymotorsports.com/store/pontiac/2008-2009-g8/drivetrain/lashway-transmission-cooler-kit.html

[STL_G8GT]

This is a great setup.
http://www.lashwaymotorsports.com/store/pontiac/2008-2009-g8/drivetrain/lashway-transmission-cooler-kit.html

Just like anything else it can be done for cheaper but lashways kit is nice in that it comes with a quality cooler and comes with everything that you need!

[Metal Man G8]

Ya I talked myself into getting it. I just gotta figure out how to get the front of the car taken apart

[STL_G8GT]

Ya I talked myself into getting it. I just gotta figure out how to get the front of the car taken apart

Hardest part are clips under headlights and a couple hard to reach screws. You'll be fine :)

[thebeast]

My car was used, along with Ewing, to develop lashways kit. They installed mine

[Metal Man G8]

Temps under normal driving, coolant 212f and trans 187f. Kinda warm outside today to.

[Virus]

Don't waste your money on the PCM4less cooler. It Isn't enough

I will second this. It too expensive and it doesn't cool as well as stacked plate coolers such as B&M. I've had both and the B&M is much better at half the cost.

[gtp6515]

Just a quick question. My trans fluid does not go thru the bottom of the radiator. Is this harmful?

[iisme13]

Just a quick question. My trans fluid does not go thru the bottom of the radiator. Is this harmful?

No it will not hurt it at all. If you live in tge upper states I would say to use tge stock cooler just so that tge temps will get up whwn its near freezing outside. I live in texas so I bypassed the stock cooler and just did my custom cooler.

My cooler is a tru-cool 40k transcooler
http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav=item.view&id=380636370663
Alone with an fittings and lines.

My temps never see 150 in stop and go traffic.

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[gtp6515]

I live in Minnesota...its f ing cold here for months on end.

[drumsbh]

I just bought a B&M universal cooler. I've seen temps around 200 F in the middle of summer in stop and go traffic.

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[gtp6515]

What temp is unsafe? I would think heat would kill a trans.

[Virus]

What temp is unsafe? I would think heat would kill a trans.

Try to stay below 200. 220 is starting to cook pretty good.

[hflores3]

This is a great setup.
http://www.lashwaymotorsports.com/store/pontiac/2008-2009-g8/drivetrain/lashway-transmission-cooler-kit.html

Boy, you're not kidding. That is a good looking kit and if it keeps temps "down" -- its a winner.

So, help me here.... with a Maggie -- placement of this Lashway cooler "in front of the Maggie heat exchanger" -- would significantly reduce airflow to the heat exchanger (theoretically).

a) is there an alternate but functional location for these tranny cooler(s)?
b) there "has got to be a way" to have both of these cooler co-exist....eh?

[hflores3]

There is a nice graph I found (let me find it) .... from a transmission company that reflects "tranny temps" vs. the anticipated miles you can expect from your tranny

Clearly its got a Marketing slant -- but a nice reference point.

Let me find it -- and I will post it up.

18746

[Semperfire]

Its just an earls cooler that they are providing the rest of the stuff with so you don't have to piece it together. There is a couple threads I think with all of the separate things needed to get the same thing for me it was convenient to get theirs but it can be had cheaper as STL_G8GT mentioned.

I am not sure it would effect the Maggies cooler you can center mount it on the crash bar or off set it to either side, if you plan on an oil cooler later then I guess you'd want it off centered. Someone with more knowledge on the maggie would have to chime in though as I don't have one and don't want to steer you wrong but I do think it'd be fine



Boy, you're not kidding. That is a good looking kit and if it keeps temps "down" -- its a winner.

So, help me here.... with a Maggie -- placement of this Lashway cooler "in front of the Maggie heat exchanger" -- would significantly reduce airflow to the heat exchanger (theoretically).

a) is there an alternate but functional location for these tranny cooler(s)?
b) there "has got to be a way" to have both of these cooler co-exist....eh?

[Metal Man G8]

I'm glad I kept an eye on my temps because just normal driving the trans is too hot as it is fml here goes $400+

[STL_G8GT]

18753

Mine... B&m 7x13, ss braided hose

This spot leaves the heat exchanger wide open and places it in line with the lower grill.

[thebeast]

This is where I put lashways kit. It can be mounted upside down under the radiator support.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/thebeast916_2008/C8D98325-946B-4ED1-AC5F-3D21B20AA4DC-20571-0000204B88CEF516.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/thebeast916_2008/A3A1CBB9-5750-4201-B2A6-BC4BFAB271EA-20571-0000204B8FCA3B75.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/thebeast916_2008/D079C36E-0F92-40EF-9D0E-9D50606184D9-20571-0000204B83638A1C-1.jpg
There is plenty of room to mount it directly under where it is.

[matts88yj]

This is where I put lashways kit. It can be mounted upside down under the radiator support.


With a stacked plate cooler like you are running, it is not advised to run it upside down of how you have it pictured if you were to mount it under the radiator support. You need the fittings of the cooler to be on the top or pointing to the left or right, never with the ports facing down. Reason for this is because the fluid always takes the path of least resistance and will just trickle across the bottom of the cooler to the return line and go back into the trans without fully passing thru the cooler. If you do mount the cooler with the ports pointing to the left or right when looking at it from the front of the car, make sure that the feed line into the cooler is always on the bottom and the return line back to the trans is at the top. The fluid will then make a full pass thru the cooler fins and then back into the transmission.

Just wanted to clear that up in case anyone was thinking they could mount that stacked plate cooler with the ports facing downward.

[Semperfire]

This is where I put lashways kit..

Your car and a couple others with similar setups is why I went with Lashways.

[thebeast]

With a stacked plate cooler like you are running, it is not advised to run it upside down of how you have it pictured if you were to mount it under the radiator support. You need the fittings of the cooler to be on the top or pointing to the left or right, never with the ports facing down. Reason for this is because the fluid always takes the path of least resistance and will just trickle across the bottom of the cooler to the return line and go back into the trans without fully passing thru the cooler. If you do mount the cooler with the ports pointing to the left or right when looking at it from the front of the car, make sure that the feed line into the cooler is always on the bottom and the return line back to the trans is at the top. The fluid will then make a full pass thru the cooler fins and then back into the transmission.

Just wanted to clear that up in case anyone was thinking they could mount that stacked plate cooler with the ports facing downward.

Did not know that! Thank you for this information

[RichsGreyGT]

okay bringing this subject back up. Now that the temps are starting to climb here in the Sun Belt, I was just city driving and found an industrial park and did three or four semi-hard launches with my Nittos on...I only stalled it to 1500rpm or so and rolled into the pedal....anyhow, I left and drove down the street to a Chevron to grab some beer on way home..hit engineering mode and sump temps were 83C....

that seems to be pretty high for just 81-85F early evening with the sun down on the horizon..

Now I'm not sure what to think except my converter went for quite a while without locking on my little 45min cruise.....

anybody monitor the trans temps closely and see these numbers?

I bought a Yank3200 and that lashway kit recently....

[Virus]

83 is fine, especially given you weren't driving open road where air can run across the cooler plates and cool this has down.

[RichsGreyGT]

thanks...I think I'm just paranoid...I don't want to buy a new transmission unless after I destroy it with a Procahrger or something cool like that..

[Virus]

Lol, I'm on lucky number 4. This time I put 2 big coolers in.

[RichsGreyGT]

Holy shit! you have wrecked 3 6L80E tranmissions so far?

whats the deal? teach me how NOT to do that?

[Frostopsy]

Lol, I'm on lucky number 4. This time I put 2 big coolers in.

Wtf? Lol
Well, hopefully that works.

[Virus]

Long story, but my trams was 3.5 quarts low from the factory. That shortened the life of the stock trans. FTI stalls clutch delaminated which was the main cause of the other two. Not sure on the 4th. Ha, this is number 5. So far it's been great.

[RichsGreyGT]

Long story, but my trams was 3.5 quarts low from the factory. That shortened the life of the stock trans. FTI stalls clutch delaminated which was the main cause of the other two. Not sure on the 4th. Ha, this is number 5. So far it's been great.

Wow.....

I was told by a wise man to avoid FTI....so glad I listened....The wise man told me to stick with single disc and go with Yank or Circle-D for the 6L80e.....

if I ever see 220F or above when I'm driving the garage queen around this summer, I will have to buy an electric fan or something for the Earls Cooler...

I don't want to buy another tranmission for a looooooooooong time....

sorry to hear about your issues......yuck

[DavesG8GT]

Lol at the reason for Richard editing his post....drunk. Lol!!
Put down the whiskey there pee wee.

[thebeast]

83c is 183f. That's still high I think. Mine without a stall cruising is in the 140's and its 93f outside.
Beating on it at the track after a 3hr drive was only 155f.

[RichsGreyGT]

83c is 183f. That's still high I think. Mine without a stall cruising is in the 140's and its 93f outside.
Beating on it at the track after a 3hr drive was only 155f.

How hot does it get when you are in stop and go traffic for 30-45mins straight then do a few digs for practice and can't cruise and cool it down?

I might be paranoid though and I'm going to keep an eye on it.

[thebeast]

Yesterday in stop and go for 1hr it hit 170 and was 95 outside

[RichsGreyGT]

Yesterday in stop and go for 1hr it hit 170 and was 95 outside

okay that is a good reference point. I was only 10F higher and I have a 3200stall and I was WOT doing some launching right after half an hour of driving with the converter unlocked almost all the time...

I guess I just need to keep my eye on it when it gets hotter outside.

[thebeast]

I drive very moderately when the temps out are in the 90's

[STL_G8GT]

Theres a chart floating around the internet that shows the correlation between transmission temperatures in transmission life and if I remember correctly I think it was the 150 to 160 range was the sweet spot and as you get over that it drastically decreases the life. Keep in mind that it was posted by a transmission shop, but it's probably still relevant.

[Virus]

18962

[STL_G8GT]

18962

That's the one!!

[JonnyG2132]

My trans temp didnt get over 145* today on my comute to work, which is about a 20 minute drive. I do not have a trans cooler either. This was in about 65* weather. Does that sound about normal?

[STL_G8GT]

My trans temp didnt get over 145* today on my comute to work, which is about a 20 minute drive. I do not have a trans cooler either. This was in about 65* weather. Does that sound about normal?

Lots of stuff impacts it jonny, how you're driving, load on the engine, time spent at high Rpm, how much idling is happening, etc. The worst, of course, is prolonged high revs and then sitting idle...with no airflow the temp just rises and rises. If you're driving to work at 60mph and hit a couple stoplights, and aren't ragging on it, 145 sounds about right... Especially with such a mild ambient temp.

[JonnyG2132]

Lots of stuff impacts it jonny, how you're driving, load on the engine, time spent at high Rpm, how much idling is happening, etc. The worst, of course, is prolonged high revs and then sitting idle...with no airflow the temp just rises and rises. If you're driving to work at 60mph and hit a couple stoplights, and aren't ragging on it, 145 sounds about right... Especially with such a mild ambient temp.

That's true. Ill have to check it when Im doing more city driving because I was mosty on the expressway. Thanks

[RichsGreyGT]

That's true. Ill have to check it when Im doing more city driving because I was mosty on the expressway. Thanks

Jonny my trans temp was under 140F when I cruise interstate or highway with a locked converter.

It was up at 181F on stop-n-go and some hard driving though.

[Metal Man G8]

Trans cooler and camaro pan, wide mouth filter all installed. Pita for sure! All in all it took about 4 hours would have been less if I didn't make the trip to autozone for a pump and the mounting kit and some hose clamps. A couple things that apparently should have been sent out with my trans cooler.

Ill check in tomorrow with some running temps

[DanSVT03]

I daily drive my car with the Yank 3200 SS. Supporting it is also a B&M Cooler, and a 165 degree thermostat. The lower coolant temps in the radiator help cool off the transmission fluid through the stock cooler. As the fluid leaves the stock cooler, it then passes through the B&M Cooler mounted in front of the radiator, then returns back to the transmission. On a hot day, my temps stay around 160-165 on the highway. On a cooler day, it's hitting about 145-150. The highest I've ever seen was 180, and that was on a miserably hot 95+ degree day while fighting through city traffic. By the way, my cooler is mounted with the nipples facing down. I don't seem to be having any "flow" problems through it, and I know it's working because it drops the sump temperature lower than what my coolant temperature is while on the highway.

[matts88yj]

I daily drive my car with the Yank 3200 SS. Supporting it is also a B&M Cooler, and a 165 degree thermostat. The lower coolant temps in the radiator help cool off the transmission fluid through the stock cooler. As the fluid leaves the stock cooler, it then passes through the B&M Cooler mounted in front of the radiator, then returns back to the transmission. On a hot day, my temps stay around 160-165 on the highway. On a cooler day, it's hitting about 145-150. The highest I've ever seen was 180, and that was on a miserably hot 95+ degree day while fighting through city traffic. By the way, my cooler is mounted with the nipples facing down. I don't seem to be having any "flow" problems through it, and I know it's working because it drops the sump temperature lower than what my coolant temperature is while on the highway.

Is your cooler a stacked plate cooler?

[RichsGreyGT]

I daily drive my car with the Yank 3200 SS. Supporting it is also a B&M Cooler, and a 165 degree thermostat. The lower coolant temps in the radiator help cool off the transmission fluid through the stock cooler. As the fluid leaves the stock cooler, it then passes through the B&M Cooler mounted in front of the radiator, then returns back to the transmission. On a hot day, my temps stay around 160-165 on the highway. On a cooler day, it's hitting about 145-150. The highest I've ever seen was 180, and that was on a miserably hot 95+ degree day while fighting through city traffic. By the way, my cooler is mounted with the nipples facing down. I don't seem to be having any "flow" problems through it, and I know it's working because it drops the sump temperature lower than what my coolant temperature is while on the highway.

Dan thanks for sharing. I have a yank3200ss and my mounts are also at the bottom the way it's mounted in front of AC condenser.

No temps over 185 or so


I have the earls cooler that looks like a small engine radiator... Bought from lashway

[DanSVT03]

Is your cooler a stacked plate cooler?

Yep. It's a B&M Super Cooler, raited at 13,000 BTU's.


Dan thanks for sharing. I have a yank3200ss and my mounts are also at the bottom the way it's mounted in front of AC condenser.

No temps over 185 or so


I have the earls cooler that looks like a small engine radiator... Bought from lashway

You should be good. I think the 165 degree T-Stat also makes a big difference too.

[DanSVT03]

There's a member on the G8 Board who had a transmission failure at 80k miles. He also has a cam/stall set up with the Yank 3600 SS. His cooler was too small, and he reported seeing trans temps of 175 degrees C. That's well into the 300's on the Fahrenheit scale and it's amazing it even lasted the 40,000 miles that it did. Especially considering he drove the car hard every single day and also took it to the track that way.

[Virus]

Yep. It's a B&M Super Cooler, raited at 13,000 BTU's.



You should be good. I think the 165 degree T-Stat also makes a big difference too.
Circle D recommends a 24,000 BTU stacked plate cooler. I have 2 B&M's this size.


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[matts88yj]

Just so people don't think I'm making stuff up or talking out my ass, check out the following link for mounting tips.

http://bmracing.com/wp-bnmcont/uploads/bm_cooler_techdoc.pdf

[RichsGreyGT]

Just so people don't think I'm making stuff up or talking out my ass, check out the following link for mounting tips.

http://bmracing.com/wp-bnmcont/uploads/bm_cooler_techdoc.pdf

matt thanks for showing me that. I did not get that kind of data with my Earl's cooler.


I might be able to rotate it 90 degrees if I have enough slack in the lines....

[DanSVT03]

Circle D recommends a 24,000 BTU stacked plate cooler. I have 2 B&M's this size.


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That's a different converter. I am running a Yank.

[matts88yj]

matt thanks for showing me that. I did not get that kind of data with my Earl's cooler.


I might be able to rotate it 90 degrees if I have enough slack in the lines....

You're welcome! I received a sheet with my Derale cooler as well but they don't have it available in a PDF format online that would let me easily link you to it. I can see how it can be an easy oversight but better to be safe than sorry in my book!

[Metal Man G8]

Yesterday I checked the temp twice and on a 90º+ day the temps were 67C and 77C. Before the cooler it would have easily been in the mid 90C range.

I just looked at that b&m pdf. I mounted my cooler with the ports facing down. The cooler is obviously doing it job but would it really make a difference if I mounted it sideways or facing up? I don't see how the fluid wouldn't fill the cooler up being upside down, its a closed system.

[DanSVT03]

I just looked at that b&m pdf. I mounted my cooler with the ports facing down. The cooler is obviously doing it job but would it really make a difference if I mounted it sideways or facing up? I don't see how the fluid wouldn't fill the cooler up being upside down, its a closed system.

Should be fine. Mine's mounted with the ports facing down too, and the cooler is obviously working.

[drumsbh]

Starting to think mine has air stuck in it... I have B&M and it's mounted ports down. At wot temp goes up and when I'm casually driving it does go down, but not compared to everyone's here. I'm reaching 191F with it being in the 80s outside with high humidity. Sound like air in the cooler? It's the 15,000 btu universal.

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[STL_G8GT]

Starting to think mine has air stuck in it... I have B&M and it's mounted ports down. At wot temp goes up and when I'm casually driving it does go down, but not compared to everyone's here. I'm reaching 191F with it being in the 80s outside with high humidity. Sound like air in the cooler? It's the 15,000 btu universal.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

Drums - Mine got to 200F the other day in 100deg weather with a cooler that is about the same size as yours. Could be air in it, but keep in mind there are a MILLION variables at play here, including where and when people are measuring the trans temps...

[drumsbh]

Drums - Mine got to 200F the other day in 100deg weather with a cooler that is about the same size as yours. Could be air in it, but keep in mind there are a MILLION variables at play here, including where and when people are measuring the trans temps...

I have an Aeroforce gauge that has it constant real time.

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[STL_G8GT]

I have an Aeroforce gauge that has it constant real time.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

I'm not referring to how you measure yours... ;) But I guess that's neither here nor there.

Maybe a flush/fill is in your future?

[drumsbh]

I'm not referring to how you measure yours... ;) But I guess that's neither here nor there.

Maybe a flush/fill is in your future?

Lol

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[Metal Man G8]

Drums you mentioned wot. If you are referring to wide open throttle then temps near 200F aren't out of the question imo.

I still don't have enough data to say that my cooler being upside down has an affect on the temps. I havnt floored the car yet cause I want to be sure that my fluid level is correct. The shifts at first were a little hesitant feeling then as I drove the car more the shifts got quicker and more precise. Could anyone feel a difference with the wide mouth filter being installed? I can, she seems more eager to get out of the hole on take off.

[DanSVT03]

I have an Aeroforce gauge that has it constant real time.

I've been looking into this a little... How do you set that up? Would like to do a clean looking gauge for my trans temp in the cabin.

[RichsGreyGT]

Okay me and DavesG8GT flipped the earls cooler over and remounted it this morning(well mainly him but I am an excellent assistant)

The lines are now on the top. When the cooler was upside down, I never got over 90C while watching in engineering mode but hopefully it will cool even more now.

I also thought about an air pocket in the cooler when I read the B&M pdf file. I just eliminated that. I will post my results when I get the car off jack stands next week and monitor.

[hflores3]

18753

Mine... B&m 7x13, ss braided hose

This spot leaves the heat exchanger wide open and places it in line with the lower grill.

I "really" like how you set yours up. May I respectfully ask what total cost was for everything?

[drumsbh]

I've been looking into this a little... How do you set that up? Would like to do a clean looking gauge for my trans temp in the cabin.

They just plug into the obd port and you use the side button to get the display you want to see and that's pretty much it. I have 2 of them in the demon8 triple gauge pod.

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[STL_G8GT]

I "really" like how you set yours up. May I respectfully ask what total cost was for everything?

$170 all said and done. I would add the 4" spal fan and inline -6an thermostat to control the fan from derale. Puts you about 250. Also, that crash bar is no joke... Use stainless hardware and don't expect self tapping screws to even make a dent. I didn't have any stainless on hand so used small bolts and sprayed rustoleum on them. I'll update with the link to my thread in a min.

Edit
http://Forum.grrrr8.net/showthread.php?t=29170

Responded to your PM

[lloyd]

just had a look at my trans cooler and that has been fiited with the inlet and outlet facing down ,had a look at temps after a 20 minute drive in traffic and they were 58 c ,with a circle d stall 2400/2800 fitted