WRX CVT Transmission Cooler Upgrade: Everything You Should Know

Everything you should know about adding CVT Transmission cooler to your WRX (or any other car for that matter). I answer the following questions: Is a CVT cooler necessary? Why does the car not come with one? How does the stock cooler work? What are the different install configurations and benefits of each? Will this void my warranty?

In this video I focus on the role the CVT fluid plays and talk about the different options you have to reduce transmission temperatures. I use the words "cooler" and "warmer" interchangeably when referring to the stock setup throughout the video.

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Above all, Thanks for Watching!!

Credits:
A special thanks to my friends over at the Facebook CVT Owners group. A better group of CVT enthusiasts you will not find.

[Hesho]

Finally, I found someone who really makes me understand how CVT cooler works, the thermostat option will be the one I will go with .., Thanks a lot Bro.

[elasticyoonphile]

Thanks for the great overview and I'll look forward to see the thermostat controlled config installation in the next video!

[erickmarte]

This video need like 10 million views like a year ago. The importance of this video is not to be taken lightly. Imagine how many people would be happy car owners if they knew about this. Cvts wouldn’t get so much crap as they used to, and currently do. Thanks for making this video bro. Definitely a very important topic that a lot of people should learn about if they want to keep their cvt car running far longer than what it on paper.

[trytubeniceok]

Thanks for another great video. CVT fluid in general, including Subaru's HTCVT spec fluid achieves peak characteristics between apprx 175f-215f or 80c-100c. The fluid will reach flashpoint (vapors that can ignite) closer to 400f in which case something is very wrong. Your Subaru may throw a temp light above 240f in which case you can let your engine idle until the fluid temp returns to slightly less than engine oil temp, which is a design element of the factory cooler / warmer and control module. Temperatures above 240f will increase fluid degradation and strain other internal gasket materials. In order to reach temps of 220f in the Subaru CVT, you are probably driving aggressively up hills / mountains for 20 plus miles or desert rally driving in high heat or real track driving or towing / hauling extra load. I have no concerns about anything under 215f and have never pushed the car much over 200f driving aggressively. CVT transmissions operate under high psi (fluid pressures and chain pressures) so fluid quality and level is very important. Unless I start tracking or rally racing this car, I won't install a cooler but I will spend a few hundred dollars on fluid changes every 25-30k miles just to keep it fresh and new.

[KazimirPashkevich]

This was super informative and very clearly answered my question in the last video you talked about the CVT cooler! That thermostat idea is honestly genius and I don't know how I haven't seen anyone else mention that idea before (only seen mentions of in-line or bypass configs before). I seriously think that would completely solve the issue if you live in a climate that can get to some freezing temps but also want to ensure the benefit of extra cooling is actually avaialble for the summer seasons.

I actually had another idea sometime back to basically have a manual 2-way valve install for the extra cooler that I would switch from what I would call "winter" and "summer" mode. Basically the "summer" mode I would simply open the valve in one direction to allow the CVTF to flow through the extra cooler where as in "winter" mode I would switch the value in another direction that bypassed the aftermarket cooler. More manual work in this case but it was just an idea I was considering at one point. But knowing that we have these completely functional thermostats for such cases is just brilliant and basically completely automates my valve idea so seriously thank you for bringing that up and I'm really looking forward to your installation video.

If it truly ends up being successful for you then I have no doubt in my mind I'll have no further hesitation having the same setup installed for myself. Once again, thank you for your superb detailed videos and best of luck on the install! :)

[MidnightGreen]

I'm glad that stuff like this is out there. Subaru has coolers on the WRX S4 and now the new VB. I'd like to run a thermostat controlled setup, since I can get the benefit of a quick warm up as well as cooling when the trans fluid really needs it.

[SteedDigital]

Never realized that about CVT temps but maybe that's why mine has lasted 182k miles in my impreza without any issues and just normal fluid changes. I always wait for the blue temp light to go off even if it takes several minutes in the winter. good to know.

[Idtelos]

The last setup is also great for towing/offroad activities in vehicles like the Crosstrek, Outback and Forester.

[mspeir]

The older model Subaru CVT's (I cannot remember the exact model number now) had a small clutch who's sole purpose was to heat the oil. It was a tiny thing with clutch plates measuring around 3" in diameter, and oddly, there was no friction material. It was just steel plates. It engaged to heat the oil and then disengaged. Very clever design, now that I think about it.

[bachshl]

I love you videos! It’s seems as you changed your mind twice, once for going stage 2, second for going for transmission cooler. Regardless, your videos are very cool!

[luisrodriguez]

Another great video borther...CVT is the way to go in my case. Thanks for your knowledge.

[aIJay]

Great video summarizing alot of info that is all over the place. My request is to please cover which of the hard lines on the transmission are the fluid out and fluid return as well on your installation video!

[sigmazerofive]

Excellent video! It helped a ton as my first CVT car. I had two questions you may be able to answer. 1. I have always put my auto transmissions in Neutral when I get to a light. It’s a habit I had from driving manuals most my life. In a CVT is this a good habit or a bad habit? How does it affect the wear a tear of the transmission? 2. What OBD app do you recommend that gets transmission temperature on a 2024 Subaru? In the past many of the apps and including Scan Gauge didn’t. Thanks so much for making these videos.

[pf]

Great video series. I appreciate your attention to detail and the effort you are putting into this CVT series. You helped me make my concrete decision, because once I install the system I don't want to have to crack it back open to make changes or additions. I live in California and I am choosing to use the thermostat in line configuration. The reason being that I want to be sure the fluid is running at "Optimal temperature" rather than just blanket cooling the system. If the thermostat rarely opens due to not being necessary, I'm okay with that. Weather I go to the high desert off road driving "rock crawling" in Summer, (110 degrees) or if I'm up snow boarding in the winter months in 0-20 degrees, I will feel more confident that the CVT fluid is in it's engineered operating range and only using the cooler when needed.


Thank you.

[valneissignorjunior]

Very useful information and well done job explain in details how it works. Thanks a lot for sharing this to the Subaru community.

[vincentkosik]

Fantastic information! Learned a lot about the CVT fluid. Have a Nissan Sentra and this will help avoid failure and costing me $5, 000!!!!

[TomtheDilettante]

Great video man! Thank you for putting it together. I was contemplating a thermostatically controlled setup myself but a spooked by the possibility of having a warranty claim denied. If I did the mod, I'd of course want to put that on my own channel and if I removed it prior to taking it in for a claim, it'd be just my luck they pull up my video to use as evidence against me LOL. Still, a lot of good stuff to think about and this was super helpful. Thanks again!

[paulbriant]

Fantastic video. Your explanation of the stock cooler is outstanding and so usefull

[joelnrs]

This video is great. Excellent information and very informative.

[Moatasem]

‏Greetings to you and thank you very much for this wonderful video that I was looking for this type of video

‏I have a question why is the CVT Transmission Oil Cooler quad is used instead of cancelling and direct connection?? I hope your reply and thank you very much