Anyone running a transmission cooler?

[truegearhead]

I’m on my second transmission and every track weekend at least once I can smell transmission fluid but I’m not leaking any (it’s burning off). Does anyone else have this problem? I’m wondering if a transmission cooler could help. Seems easy enough to install, is there any science to the pump setup?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by truegearhead

I’m on my second transmission and every track weekend at least once I can smell transmission fluid but I’m not leaking any (it’s burning off). Does anyone else have this problem? I’m wondering if a transmission cooler could help. Seems easy enough to install, is there any science to the pump setup?

The science is easy: Line out to the pump from the bottom drain plug, pump to an oil to air heat exchanger, line from exchanger to the oil fill plug. Biggest issue is where to mount the cooler.

[The Radium King]

https://www.planet-9.com/reviews/cayman-performance-modifications/p410-setrab-50-113-7612.html

[truegearhead]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

https://www.planet-9.com/reviews/cayman-performance-modifications/p410-setrab-50-113-7612.html

Awesome. Thanks.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by truegearhead

I’m on my second transmission and every track weekend at least once I can smell transmission fluid but I’m not leaking any (it’s burning off). Does anyone else have this problem? I’m wondering if a transmission cooler could help. Seems easy enough to install, is there any science to the pump setup?

My thinking goes like this...

The transmission is generally fairly well sealed so if you can smell fluid burning off then you most likely have a leak (or at least a seep).

Have you fully inspected the transmission for signs of leakage/seepage? If it is indeed burning off, then there is likely residue left behind.

Have you monitored the trans fluid level (checked before and after a track day) to see if there is any measurable fluid loss?

Is there a chance that what you're smelling isn't trans fluid but something else?

Its not obvious to me how a trans cooler will help this situation.

[itsnotanova]

Lots of guys run coolers. My friend has an S with a 6 speed he races in WRL. First 4 hours of the race his trans temp was 225 with a trans cooler. He had a trans line burst and had to disable the cooler. The next 3 hour without the cooler the trans got as high as 305

[rastta]

My 6 speed box goes back in for a rebuild on Monday as I lost 3rd gear on a downshift. From what I've been reading the transmission does fine for normal track days - as it has enough time to cool down between runs. It's when you run it under racing, especially more enduro type racing and when you share the car during track days,that it overheats. Since this is the second failure I've had after track days where my wife and I have run the car back to back at times, I'm opting for a cooler. Found a TuneRS kit for sale locally.

[rastta]

Bought the kit and have been looking into how to install it. One question is - can I install a temperature sender inline off the feed line? I have MoteC in the car and can program it to read the sensor and turn on the fan and pump. However - I need a sender to trigger it.

I was looking at something like this.

I can put this inline from the drain line that feeds the pump. Right now the plan is to use the drain plug for the feed, but my shop is looking to see if there is a location to drill the case for the feed.

Thoughts?

[steved0x]

I heard that it is best to tap in the return line so that it sprays on certain parts of the transmission, I wish I had more details. Check out Chris Cervelli's blog where he talks about transmission coolers and how he controls them with his Motec: https://boxsterdrysump.wordpress.com/

[rastta]

Originally Posted by steved0x

I heard that it is best to tap in the return line so that it sprays on certain parts of the transmission, I wish I had more details. Check out Chris Cervelli's blog where he talks about transmission coolers and how he controls them with his Motec: https://boxsterdrysump.wordpress.com/

Thanks for the link!

[rastta]

First time using the transmission cooler last weekend. Wife and I did 15 sessions combined over three days. Often going on track within 20 minutes of each other with the car. Since I dont' have a temp sender for the oil - I IR temp read the case. At the end of the first session without the cooler the case was 200 degrees. After using the cooler it never got above 175 degrees. It's VERY effective in keeping temps down. I used the TuneRS kit.

I ran it off an on-off switch for now - but the fitting I posted above is a switch not just a temp sender. It's made to turn on the pump at 190 degrees of oil temp. It's located right off the fitting on the bottom of the trans.