TheSamba.com :: View topic - My attempt at a transaxle cooler (manual trans)

Wed Aug 10, 2011 6:36 pm

I my experimenting with a transaxle cooler/filter for my syncro to see if the oil temps drop on the highway right now it runs at 170-185 on hot day and steep hills.The temp sensor in the trans starts the cooling pump at 150deg and shuts it off at 135deg it can not hurt to filter the oil as well.

Wed Aug 10, 2011 7:30 pm

Looks good, colorful. :wink: Where did you locate the pump? I would recommend a guard of some sort for the lower hose, it would be bad to snag it going over some trail debris and lose all the oil.

Wed Aug 10, 2011 7:43 pm

westyventures wrote: Looks good, colorful. :wink: Where did you locate the pump? I would recommend a guard of some sort for the lower hose, it would be bad to snag it going over some trail debris and lose all the oil.
Not to worry the skid plate covers all of the hoses.I got the pump from here.

http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/oilsystems.htm

Wed Aug 10, 2011 7:52 pm

Alaric.H wrote:
Not to worry the skid plate covers all of the hoses.I got the pump from here.

http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/oilsystems.htm

Oh, yeah, skid plate... forgot that! :lol:
I meant where is the pump located, photo please? <edit - I see it now, the white thing?>

Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:30 pm

Looks like a pretty simple worry free set up 8)

Thu Aug 11, 2011 5:58 am

Interesting.
I see Weddle did similarly for EricA.
Curious to know if a drop in temp will help the longevity with a more powerful engine.

Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:50 pm

Alaric.H wrote: I my experimenting with a transaxle cooler/filter for my syncro . . .

You're reinventing a wheel -

http://vanagonsyncroproject-herman.blogspot.com/2007/02/transmission.html

http://picasaweb.google.com/itzdshtz/VanagonSyncroProject02#5041246109161147426

Richie

Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:06 pm

ALIKA T3 wrote: Looks like a pretty simple worry free set up 8)

I like Herman's idea of using a power steering pump much better. Modern power steering pumps are a proven quantity, last damn near forever, are directly driven and cheap to boot.

Richie

Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:16 pm

RicoS wrote:
You're reinventing a wheel -

http://vanagonsyncroproject-herman.blogspot.com/2007/02/transmission.html

http://picasaweb.google.com/itzdshtz/VanagonSyncroProject02#5041246109161147426

Richie

No, not at all the same setup. Alaric's is plug in and go, no internal oil channels, drilling etc. That's hardly what I'd call 'reinventing' anything. :roll:

Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:45 am

Looks good Alaric

Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:48 am

Is the silver cylinder in between the drain plug and the pump a check valve?

Fri Aug 12, 2011 9:17 am

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: Is the silver cylinder in between the drain plug and the pump a check valve?

That might be the filter that he mentioned.

Looks good.

Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:37 am

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: Is the silver cylinder in between the drain plug and the pump a check valve? That is the reusable filter.

Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:53 am

Ah hah! When you mentioned a filter, my mind automagically went to a spin-on design and wouldn't move off that thought.

Fri Aug 12, 2011 12:04 pm

What size AN adapters did you use for the fill/drain port connections? I've been mulling over the same thing, but wasn't sure where to attach the inlet/outlet.

Very cool, BTW.

Robyn

Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:20 pm

squeegee_boy wrote: What size AN adapters did you use for the fill/drain port connections? I've been mulling over the same thing, but wasn't sure where to attach the inlet/outlet.

Very cool, BTW.

Robyn Lets see the fill is1/2 npt the drain is 24x1.5
and the hole you drill in the bottom of the trans for the temp switch is 3/4x16.

Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:29 pm

I fired it up to prime it and the hose started weeping gear oil just about the whole length pretty good size mess bad hose I guess.

Sat Aug 13, 2011 5:27 am

And why do you think you need a transaxle cooler? Does it really run that hot?

Wed Aug 24, 2011 5:26 am

I have driving with the trans cooler for a few thousand miles now and looking at the temp gauge there is a 40 deg drop in temp. In FL I unplugged it and the oil temp went to 183deg so I pulled over and plugged the pump in and the oil went to 145 deg in less than 2 minutes.I am in MI now and the out side temps are much lower so it is running at 115-125 deg the biggest difference is the shifting where it was very hard or notched to go in to gear it is looser now so shifting is easier.

Wed Aug 24, 2011 6:01 am

Thats a sexy setup.

Cant imagine here in New England that the internal temps are as high as in other parts of the country, but that looks like a great solution.