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Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Cooler 2015+

  1. Mishimoto 2015 Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Fluid Cooler, Part 4: Prototype 3 Development and Final Results

    Mishimoto 2015 Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Fluid Cooler, Part 4: Prototype 3 Development and Final Results

    Interested in purchasing our WRX transmission cooler? Check out our product page for more information!

    Mishimoto Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Cooler

    For our third prototype unit for the CVT cooler, we decided to take a more traditional approach. We would place the cooler in a location that would guarantee airflow. The main concern was fitting our large 19-row cooler in a position that would not leave any space for other aftermarket components. First, we mocked-up the cooler and developed some basic brackets that would place the cooler in an angled position behind the upper grille area. Check out a few shots of the mounted cooler!

    Prototype 3 cooler mounted
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  2. Mishimoto 2015 Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Fluid Cooler, Part 3: Prototype 2 Development and Testing

    Mishimoto 2015 Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Fluid Cooler, Part 3: Prototype 2 Development and Testing

    Interested in purchasing our WRX transmission cooler? Check out our product page for more information!

    Mishimoto Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Cooler

    After we witnessed reasonable performance gains with our first prototype, we decided to evaluate what we liked and didn't like with the design.

    Pros

    • Short line lengths
    • Efficient cooling
    • Compact design and packaging

    Cons

    • Did not achieve the temperature decreases we wanted to see
    • Requires wiring of the electric fan
    • Airflow was not as sufficient as it could be

    This first design was efficient but not ideal for what we wanted out of the project. To obtain the desired cooling benefits, the addition of an electric fan was necessary. However, the fan would add complexity and wiring to the product, which we would like to avoid. So we hit the drawing

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  3. Mishimoto 2015 Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Fluid Cooler, Part 2: Prototype 1 Development and Testing

    Mishimoto 2015 Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Fluid Cooler, Part 2: Prototype 1 Development and Testing

    Interested in purchasing our WRX transmission cooler? Check out our product page for more information!

    Mishimoto Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Cooler

    Welcome back! The quest for low transmission fluid temperatures continues. Once we developed our goals and plan of action for this project, our engineering team went to work, grinding, welding, bending, and cutting. Our first prototype design was quite unique. We mounted one of our 19-row, stacked-plate fluid coolers next to the liquid-to-liquid transfer unit. This is the same location as the turbocharger on the previous generation of EJ engines. Check out the beginning of the mock-up below!

    Prototype 1 mock-up
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  4. Mishimoto 2015 Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Fluid Cooler, Part 1: Project Introduction and Goals

    Mishimoto 2015 Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Fluid Cooler, Part 1: Project Introduction and Goals

    Interested in purchasing our WRX transmission cooler? Check out our product page for more information!

    Mishimoto Subaru WRX CVT Transmission Cooler

    WRX stock liquid-to-liquid CVT cooler
    WRX stock liquid-to-liquid CVT cooler


    The lines are  rubber with a sheathing to protect them from any rubbing. This unit mounts to the side of the engine block on the passenger side. After evaluating the stock unit, our team decided to design a product to assist the stock unit. The stock setup also functions as a fluid warmer, which will help bring the fluid up to operating temperature, and then our supplemental cooler will help retain optimal temperatures. Check out our test vehicle below!

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