'25 Integra ASpec CVT Build

[NickyV528]

Yes it was originally liquid carbon silver, how did you know that ? The hood jams ? Because now I'm gonna paint them lol.

So I've been digging into the universal oil cooler. That seems to be the only option for the Integra. I got to say that's the hardest part. If PRL or TSP which carries different brands doesn't have it than it seems to not exist. Last night I ordered the DC 25 row oil cooler, it doesnt look like it comes with hardware so I bought that separately on Amazon. -8AN adapters to hook up the lines is what I found so far as to what's needed for it. I found a good bundle that has multiple adapters here's the link.

https://a.co/d/gAa6wJP

I hope that link works. It was a weird way to post it for you. I should have everything by Wednesday. So I'll update the community on this thread. Installs seem straight forward, like everything else the hardest part is getting everything off so you can get to the areas you need to get to.

Hopefully there are no surprises because I'm pretty sure Acura hates us. Alot mods I have hit roadblocks with OEM parts. For example just changing exhaust tips for a sleeker look can't be done unless you cut the originals. They literally weld them on, and dont get me started with some of the clamps and tubing under the hood. So I can't wait to get to the transmission lines.

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[slowcountry]

Haha, yes the tower struts revealed its origins.

Mishimoto has a sale going on this weekend, was thinking about ordering it and figuring it out later. Here's the one I'm looking at https://www.mishimoto.com/mishimoto-universal-transmission-fluid-cooler-12-75.html

There's a slightly smaller stacked bar and plate one that would probably fit, but figure it'd be more restrictive to radiator airflow. I may consider their radiator upgrade down the road if I'm looking for something to do, but also don't really think it's necessary / more just to have it Lol

 

[NickyV528]

https://a.co/d/gAa6wJP. So this is the link to the one I got. It's affordable and comes with AN adapters https://a.co/d/gAa6wJP this link is the braided line kit I got. The cooler itself doesn't come with any other hardware except the different size attachments for the AN fitting for the lines.

Now the 30row cooler stack plated is what you want, especially for sufficient cooling and to compliment any mods you have and will have. Its a perfect fit to sit snug right in front of the radiator with a good amount of room to not be on top of the radiator. Those zip tie mounting hardware is crap. I'm going bolt on and less restriction to the air for the stock system and honestly astheticsly pleasing.

The cooler came at around 7pm EST and I had done all my prep and investigation to find the lines I need to splice. I'm doing the in-series method, which is the best way. I'm pissed because it got dark and I'm not trying to do a sloppy job. It's Crucial to take our time. So I had to throw my bumper back on and button everything up.

I am going to return to it tomorrow once I get home from work. I will def post a video because there are zero for the new Integras. Mostly trucks because of there towing. My work today should help alot of people. Here are some things I learned today.

1. There are Zero Lines running from the transmission to the radiator. (At least on the CVT I can't imagine the Manual is much different.)

2. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME GOING UNDER THE CAR AND REMOVING ANY SKID PLATES! Only to get those clips supporting The bumper.

3. Alot of new vehicles use fluid - fluid or Coolant - Fluid method. I think ours is coolant - fluid.

4. We have a stock cooler to do the heat exchange, coolant and transmission lines go in and out from this cooler.

5. We only need to splice the outlet cooler line to the inlet transmission line ( no need to touch the hot line from the transmission)

6. Once the bumper is off and you got your auxiliary cooler mounted you can do the work. Might be a good idea to remove the intake for more work space.

The idea with the in series method which is how we will get optimal cooling, is to let the hotline carry fluid to the stock cooler, than direct the fluid into our Aux coolers into our inlet fitting on the Aux and than set up our outlet to the inlet line carrying the fluid back to the transmission. Determining which one is the hot line was challenging but I have an idea which one it is. I'll run the test tomorrow and post it and I'll also post the whole process. I had to wrap it up and spent most of my day learning and mapping out my strategy. Vids will be uploaded tomorrow if all goes well.

 

[NickyV528]

Haha, yes the tower struts revealed its origins.

Mishimoto has a sale going on this weekend, was thinking about ordering it and figuring it out later. Here's the one I'm looking at https://www.mishimoto.com/mishimoto-universal-transmission-fluid-cooler-12-75.html

There's a slightly smaller stacked bar and plate one that would probably fit, but figure it'd be more restrictive to radiator airflow. I may consider their radiator upgrade down the road if I'm looking for something to do, but also don't really think it's necessary / more just to have it Lol

So I want to send and update on the CVT transmission fluid cooler. It has been a pain in the A$$ I have put a good 24hrs in the course of about 4 days. So here's what I got so far.

The new Gen CVTs are very complex, there are zero lines running from the radiator to the transmission like most older vehicles. The system runs on a fluid to fluid system through a heat exchange. Some people call it a secondary cooler or stock cooler. Which I guess it is but it's actually a heat exchange. It is a diamond shaped plate attached to the top of the transmission on the drivers side. There are two lines leading it to it and I at first assumed those were the fluid lines, they are not. Both carry coolant.

So that all being said from what I'm hearing is a sandwich plate that is literally a necessity. We will place it behind the exchange and than it will be able to provide us with passageways not lines that we will connect our performance transmission fluid cooler too finding the inlet outlet is prob going to be a start the car for two seconds and see where it pours out of. This is the most complex thing I have done so far. I will keep you guys updated as I continue this frustrating journey loln

 

[slowcountry]

Very interesting! I found that part when searching maintenance guides but I couldn't find it in the bay. Also, it didn't look like what I assumed the fluid cooler would look like.

Since you mentioned that, was able to find a post on here where someone installed one:
https://www.integraforums.com/forum...to-your-teggy-today-👨🏻‍🔧🧰🚿🛠.50286/post-834197

@Ap2Iven we've been over here trying to figure out the whole CVT cooler deal - would love to hear your experience with the install!

 

[slowcountry]

With the ETL cooler, what im curious about is why that plate/bracket needs to be mounted in front of the stock cooler? It looks like you could leave that out and connect the stock ports to the new fluid cooler?

I'd like to go with a mishimoto cooler, but theirs doesn't include that plate/bracket.

ETL

Mishimoto

Gemini aid:
The adapter plate you saw in the ETL kit is a custom-machined part that is essential for:

Providing a mounting point for the new fluid lines.
Diverting the fluid from the stock heat exchanger to the new external cooler.
Ensuring a proper, leak-free seal with your car's specific transmission case.

If you were to buy a universal Mishimoto cooler (which is just the core and some basic hoses), you would also need to either find a company that sells a compatible adapter plate separately or have one custom-made.

 

[slowcountry]

Here is a thread from the civic forums on this ETL cooler install

https://www.civicx.com/forum/threads/review-of-the-etl-cvt-cooler.74565/

 

[NickyV528]

Very interesting! I found that part when searching maintenance guides but I couldn't find it in the bay. Also, it didn't look like what I assumed the fluid cooler would look like.

Since you mentioned that, was able to find a post on here where someone installed one:
https://www.integraforums.com/forum/threads/what-did-you-do-to-your-teggy-today-.50286/post-834197

@Ap2Iven we've been over here trying to figure out the whole CVT cooler deal - would love to hear your experience with the install!

So here's the final approach I'm confident is the one and only option for the best results. The part is not a sandwich plate, a sandwich plate would go between the heat exchange and the transmission. What we need for the CVT is a CVT Transmission adpater. This is going to replace that diamond shaped plate completely. The adapter should have two ports one in one out. Than we join the two existing coolant tubes that lead to it and reroute the circuit to go back onto it's route to the radiator. This will create an Air-fluid cooling system for our transmission.

The most challenging thing is finding a part to fit the 2022+ Civic/Integra CVT it is obviously crucial to have a proper fit or catastrophic damage can be done.

This is the only one I can find that is a Direct fitment.

Transmission Adapter Link

 

[NickyV528]

With the ETL cooler, what im curious about is why that plate/bracket needs to be mounted in front of the stock cooler? It looks like you could leave that out and connect the stock ports to the new fluid cooler?

I'd like to go with a mishimoto cooler, but theirs doesn't include that plate/bracket.

ETL

Mishimoto

Gemini aid:
The adapter plate you saw in the ETL kit is a custom-machined part that is essential for:

Providing a mounting point for the new fluid lines.
Diverting the fluid from the stock heat exchanger to the new external cooler.
Ensuring a proper, leak-free seal with your car's specific transmission case.

If you were to buy a universal Mishimoto cooler (which is just the core and some basic hoses), you would also need to either find a company that sells a compatible adapter plate separately or have one custom-made.

The ETL is for the older models it will not fit

 

[slowcountry]

I mean it looks like it fits in the photos. Was able to get it 40% off so we shall see!

 

[NickyV528]

So here's the final approach I'm confident is the one and only option for the best results. The part is not a sandwich plate, a sandwich plate would go between the heat exchange and the transmission. What we need for the CVT is a CVT Transmission adpater. This is going to replace that diamond shaped plate completely. The adapter should have two ports one in one out. Than we join the two existing coolant tubes that lead to it and reroute the circuit to go back onto it's route to the radiator. This will create an Air-fluid cooling system for our transmission.

The most challenging thing is finding a part to fit the 2022+ Civic/Integra CVT it is obviously crucial to have a proper fit or catastrophic damage can be done.

This is the only one I can find that is a Direct fitment.

Transmission Adapter Link

Also

I mean it looks like it fits in the photos. Was able to get it 40% off so we shall see!

If your willing to give it a shot but i highly suggest not to, it can cause some serious damage. They look similar but I did notice a slight difference in the shape. 25560-R3W-003 is the part number for 11th gen civic which will fit our Integras. This is the same part number as the 10th gen but there is also a chassis code 10th Gen is FC/FK ours is FE/FL so it won't fit and if it does it's 100% not the right fit. If your on a website that inputs your make model and year it will tell you doesn't fit.

 

[NickyV528]

I mean it looks like it fits in the photos. Was able to get it 40% off so we shall see!

Oh Damn you put it in!!?? I didn't notice before I sent my first response lol. Let me know how it goes. That's brave, Your sacrifice will not go unnoticed your a legend for that one lol

 

[slowcountry]

Not me, that one was Ap2lven's post/photo. I should have the kit by Friday, but not sure when I'll get it on, have a decent amount of work queued up:

Fix Boost Leak / Hardpipe bracket bolt
WOT Performance hood struts
PRL Front Calipers, SS brake lines, Brake fluid change + new pads/rotors front & rear
ETL transmission cooler + trans fluid change

My new garage door comes in on the 23rd so it'll be a few weeks before I can get after these. It's painful - have to keep the car in comfort mode for now to limit boost to around 18psi, the boost leak seems to occur around 22 or 23+.

 

[NickyV528]

Damn sorry about the leak. Do you know the cause ? You should try to fix that if it's a simple loose coupling.

FYI I did look into it more. After our convo The ETL for the 10th gen you bought the kit for, can possibly work out. But from what I've heard it may require some alterations. Did that guy mention that ? From my research it may require some drilling out some bigger holes to bolt on.

I mean for me personally I'm not trying to have transmission failure. I'm not experienced enough to fabricate engine parts, if that's the case
I think I'm gonna go with that adpater from Poland and wait 3 months for it to ship

 

[slowcountry]

It was almost certainly from my install on the charge pipe kit - the hardpipe has a 2 bolt bracket on the engine block to hold it in place. I accidentally used the OEM bolt (which is longer) on one of the holes and torqued it off. The single bolt on it creates a pivot point under high load.

This allowed one of the couplers up by the throttle body to come loose. So it's fine for now, but I have to limit boost until fixed. No S drive mode for now.

Taking it for an oil change today and will see if the dealer can get it out, otherwise headed to a machine shop.

I saw those comments about having to drill a bit - hopefully it's simple or not even necessary, but we'll see.

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