factory lines to the radiator are leaking on my audi, and the only replacement is the dealer at a cost of over 400 dollars. I'm thinking why not just install an aftermarket one? My main question is if it would be as efficient as the factory cooler, as most of them are meant to be used in conunction with the stock one, and i would be using only the aftermarket one.

Any advice or thoughts on where to find a small, high quality one?

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83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

I usually prefer external coolers, instead of coolers that only cool the oil to the same temp as the engine coolant. What if your engine overheats?
I think that if you get a good sized external cooler, you should be fine. Plug the holes going into the radiator, just in case.
Another reason I prefer external coolers, is I had one of the internal ones leak on me - a new radiator and transmission later, I was back on the road.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Ok cool thanks. I don't have a whole lot of room to play with, but could easily fit a 12" by 6" cooler or so. In theory that should be much bigger than the factory cooler. Additionally, i don't really track my car or run it really hard for extended periods of time, so i'm pretty sure it will be fine. Hell, even if i had to buy one of the monster ones with its own cooling fan it would still be 4 times cheaper than fixing the factory one. Damn dealer only parts....

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83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

Larry is correct. Since your in Florida where it rarely drops below freezing you'll be fine with running an external cooler. One of the main reasons auto manufacturers use an oil to water cooler on the tranny is so the transmission can reach operating temp faster in cold climates.

Their is another option however. You can take your old lines to a hydraulic hose repair shop and they will rebuild them while you wait. Shouldn't cost more than $50 for the set. I have this done all the time and the replacement is always better than stock.
Adam

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Current Stable:
01 ML55 AMG
92 500E (a few mods)
87 300E (lots of mods)
00 Chevy 3500HD Diesel Box Truck
68 18' Donzi Marine
06 GT i-Drive7 1.0 Mountain Bike (with GPS!)

PREVIOUSLY OWNED:83 300SD, 87 420SEL, 88 420SEL, 90 420SEL, 86 560SEL, 86 190E 2.3-16V AMG, 94 E320

i thought of that as well, or actually my father did. However, they are also leaking where they attach to the radiator, and i strongly suspect my mechanic partially stripped out the tightening bolts trying to overtorque them to stop the leak when the leak was really caused by a pinched o-ring.

In the event i take this car up north sometime during the winter, what steps should I take so that my trans can get up to operating temp using an external cooler?

__________________
83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.