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

Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:20 am

One must be cautious when aiming an oil stream at the meshing R&P, as thick gear oil can force the ring gear away from the pinion head. I don't know at what rpm or volume this could be catastrophic, but it is something to be aware of. The SA splash plate might be good enough for our purposes.

Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:37 pm

While stocking my shelves at my shop, I noticed something interesting on the redline gear oil. We stock their lightweight and heavy shockproof gear oils. It says right on the heavy shockproof gear oil that trans temps can drop by 25 degrees by using it. Has anyone tried this? Is this a bad idea? The stuff is like glue, but is supposed to flow enough to be fine in cold temps, and yet stick and resist sling off even at extreme temps... Would something like this keep the stuff in the trans from moving around and expanding?

I'm probably going to re-purpose my 96 plate mesa cooler off my old bay window bus for trans cooler duty soon, and will likely change the gear oil in the trans at the same time. I don't want to put this heavy shockproof gear oil in if its a bad idea because our trans have the diff in them or whatever the reason is for using swepco over redline stuff...

Tue Aug 28, 2012 8:43 pm

I've heard enough negative reports to reject shockproof .. especially with external electric pump.

Tue Aug 28, 2012 8:54 pm

Negative in what ways? Just curious not trying to debate here.

Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:03 pm

> whatever the reason is for using swepco over redline stuff

here is some background discussion to help you accept that Swepco is the way to go, not Redline

I also encourage you to use the search on Samba to catch up on past discussions

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/subaruvanagon/message/20202
Our primary gear manufacturer has warned us about the use of synthetic oils
in racing transmissions for a couple years now. Their own tests have
thoroughly convinced them that there is no synthetic available that protects
stressed gears nearly as well as a high quality organic oil. Having heard
the specifics, I am quite convinced, and have passed this information along
freely to our customers whenever asked (taking a bit of flak from synthetic
reps). Jeff Field's advice is solid, and his credentials are as good as
they come.

Despite Redline's salesmanship, their oil has failed to prove equal to Mobil
1 synthetic in professional Porsche racing. There are other "hot shot"
European synthetic oils that fare far worse, despite boasts of their use in
F1 racing. And now that Porsche has eliminated synchronizers in their
latest racing transmissions, there is discussion of moving away from Mobil
1, back toward organics --- at least in the ALMS.

The hypoid design of the Vanagon R&P (all '68 & later VW vans) craves a high
quality organic like Swepco 201. Yes, it's a hassle having to deal with
poor shifting until the oil has warmed up (in cooler climates), but I'd
rather be replacing my 2nd gear idler and operating sleeve than my ring and
pinion set.

Paul Guard
Guard Transmission

Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:26 pm

I read the tranny gear oil topic, didn't see that in there. I also asked GMW Paul, and he recommended the swepco. That's really all I need to put it in. I was more curious about the problem gears mentioned about the shockproof stuff.

Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:46 pm

kuleinc
I sent you a private message so as not to hijack the thread

please reply to me there.. Ive sent you private messages in the past you have not replied to. Do you not get them?

Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:59 pm

I get them and read them, they are so good no reply is needed. Thanks for your help! :) I get carried away worrying and over thinking too much, like so many here...

Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:26 am

kuleinc wrote: Negative in what ways? ..

RedLine may claim otherwise, but the excessive additives in their shockproof bake onto everything. (It really made a mess of Porsche's GT2/GT3 oil pumps & filters.) I believe the already minimal oiling routes in the Syncro trans may be completely obstructed by the accumulation.

Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:07 am

A couple of questions:

All -- I have an 091 in my 78 TDI Bus. After 15K on the last transaxle, I'm thinking that it would probably benefit from this mod in the same way?

Alaric -- How many miles on your setup so far?

Thanks!
Mark

Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:40 am

About 18k so far.

Fri Aug 23, 2013 6:15 am

Alaric,

So I'm looking more at doing this for my bus.

It looks like the final recipe which has been working for you is:

Oil drain->Weddle Pump->Filter->Cooler->Fill hole

Is that right?

Did you change the filter since v1.0 where the pump burned out?

Thanks much!
Mark

Sat May 31, 2014 5:22 am

Hi,

I have the same situation here, unable to shift after long drive in 4th gear during summer. Mainly the problem I have is unable to get out of gear when transmission is warm. The Syncro transmission getting too hot confirmed with IR gun.

I was looking at this kit for a Porsche G50 transmission:

http://www.patrickmotorsports.com/package/mid-engine-transaxle-service/

Look like all needed component are included, might need more hose than 5 feet, from my search the drain and fill plug for a G50 trans are also M24x1.5

When I look at price for each component, it seems the price for the kit is fair.

Note to GW, Vancafe, why not selling such kit? Seem like this is getting to become the norm these transmission cooler with the larger tire, engine and speed...

Any tought before I order?

Thanks

Mat

Sat May 31, 2014 7:06 am

While my Westy is not a Syncro, The added HP/torque from the AAZ is slowly killing my tranny. All's well for the first 1/2 hour on the freeway then the shifting begins to go south.

I just changed the oil from Royal Purple to Amsoil Severe Gear 75-140 and while everything seems a bit smoother and quieter, I still hear a growl climbing a 3% freeway grade in 4th (at 65-70).

Has anyone attempted to make an air scoop to direct air over the unit at freeway speeds? The cooler is a solid fix apparently but I already have an engine oil cooler/fan and another cooler/fan for the WAIC plus a water tank. Adding yet another cooler, hoses, switch, etc. is something I'd like to avoid if possible but then, so is replacing my transmission.

Heck, I'm almost thinking of cutting openings in the back of the body (on each side of the licence plate) to improve air flow over the whole, hot mass :shock:

Sat May 31, 2014 8:45 am

Theres a previous thread where someone was thinking about adding rubber scoops that flex down the faster you go to direct more air over trans. Porche has something like it.

Sat May 31, 2014 3:06 pm

I did add a rubber air scoop to my skid plate before going down to Syncro Solstice.

Just looking at previous tranny temps, I believe the scoop helps to cool the transaxle at least 5º. The cooler the ambient temps, the better. But it does seem to help. Not as much as an oil cooler, but it only cost me some time, a piece of rubber mudflap, and a few nuts and bolts.

So far I am happy with anything that will help cool the $yncro Tranny!

I will post some pics when I get a chance.
I do know that it catches air under there because my son in law was following me down I-70 and said something was loose under there and moving around! I made it so that it will hang lower as wind speed increases to grab more air. Rocks, mud, and snow did not seem to affect it. Although the snowdrift we busted through did pack snow under the transaxle, but it melted quickly :wink:

My rubber scoop! 8)

Sat May 31, 2014 10:23 pm

Great info. Enough to get the juices flowing.
I was even thinking of a serious duct just below the bumper and running tubes back to the trans. Something as wide as the bumper but thin and "stealthy"

Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:02 am

Here are a couple pics of the rubber scoop that I installed.

It is hooked to a skid plate that I fabricated up.
I plan to make a little hook to hold the rubber up when off roading to help keep mud and debris from getting to the transaxle.

This does seem to help force more air to the transaxle and engine to cool them off. I have noticed about a 5º difference since adding it to the vehicle.

I got the idea from Porsche to cool the inner CV joints. Under speed rubber flaps enlarge to scoop up more air. The 3/8 mud flap does just that. Down the freeway it will hang down rather far and really grab some air.

(5)five degrees isn't much, but I will take it! :lol:

Sun Jun 01, 2014 4:33 pm

Very informative - thanks much for the info.
I will definitely do something along this line before I cook my transmission.

Mon Jul 28, 2014 6:06 am

mathieux46 wrote:

I was looking at this kit for a Porsche G50 transmission:

http://www.patrickmotorsports.com/package/mid-engine-transaxle-service/

Look like all needed component are included, might need more hose than 5 feet, from my search the drain and fill plug for a G50 trans are also M24x1.5
Any tought before I order?

Thanks

Mat

Mat, Did you ever install this kit? I am having my tranny rebuilt by Matt at AA next month and will be adding a cooler. Looking for something fairly turn-key.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this setup?

http://www.patrickmotorsports.com/part/transmission-cooler-system-g50-930-915-901/

Thanks! :D