Just for Kicks - Passive Transmission Cooler
 

had some time and i am heading to the track in 2 days... so i thought i would make a cooler for my transmission pan...

took a 300mm x 140mm x 18mm head sink and attached it to the pan. used a brand new one and used some thermal tape surrounded by 3m 5200 permanent adhesive. i have no idea how much this will help? but it was fun. lol

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...b0cfe2211d.jpg
masking the area and cutting the thermal pads
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...9a32537cc6.jpg
laying the 3m 5200 around the thermal pads
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...8e74ea3cb9.jpg
cure time is 7 days... yes SEVEN!
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...9c21ed60e6.jpg
all completed!
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...7b9ce3e596.jpg
side profile of it completed

A CLK550 at the track? That's pretty cool.

Hopefully it functions as anticipated instead of insulating the pan!

As long as those fins are aluminum, as they look to be, and the 3M tape does not insulate the pan from the fins, it should dissipate heat more readily. Aluminum is one heck of a heat radiator/dissipater.

If it doesn't cool the oil better, you might try attaching leads at the corners of the fins and attached the other ends directly to the pan. If the aluminum is in contact with the heat source (pan) it will readily transfer the heat.

Let us know how it works. I don't track my car or plan to install this but it is nevertheless very interesting.

may be i should have clarified more...

sekisui 5760 tape is a thermal tape. used for IC chips and other misc computer stuff to attach heat sinks.... not for structural. but it has some light holding properties. really good stuff out of japan that is supposed to compARE TO 3m thermal tape.

yes, the heat sink is aluminum and was made to hold IC transistor modules and amplifier circuits.

adhesive i am using is 3m 5200, the black caulk looking stuff. it is used in the boat industry for moorings and misc below the water line permanent (rip the hull open strength) applications. it is also used in the engine rooms of the boat and stuff so it has some chemical resistance properties. the only weakness that i know of is smooth plastic. since plastic weeps oils... this stuff needs the surface to be completely clean to hold and excel.

so no insulating properties here and should be weather resistant under the car with some oil chemical resistance. +1 on all skill level up. haha

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d6084315b8.jpg
pull out my fluid, at about 30k miles since the last flush
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...e4d44e4df4.jpg
wiped down the body... cleaned up really easily
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...8d55194115.jpg
new deeper pan with custom heat sink all installed

Neat project! My clk500 transmission overheated on track, and took out the controller board (known failure in the 5 speed anyway). I was thinking of adding a heat exchanger, but for 20 minute sessions, i wonder if a heat sink that size will help. Do you have any OBD tools to monitor transmission oil temps?

i do not have any OBD tools. i have been wanting to get one... but my car has been so good, i didn't actually need one yet? lol... dont' want to jinx myself.

so far i have been driving around with no change. i planned to go back to the track next weekend... but i think i have an emergency work trip planed to UK... so no good on that track day. once i plan it, i will try to get an OBD tool and take it with me to the track.