901 transmission oil temperature limit

[Buische]

I have a 914 with a Buick V6 engine, expecting 200 hp and 250 N-m torque when better engine goes in, and am moving the radiator to the back. I will blow radiator exit air at the transaxle and axles. Thermostat on engine is 180F, but may see 195-200 F at the inlet if cooling system gets pushed. Planning to use this for autocross mainly, plus runs to coffee-n-cars and errands.

Do I need to take steps to deflect air from the transaxle? Do I need synthetic oil, or is this just good insurance?

I'm wondering if 914 and 911 6 cylinder cars blow similarly hot air at the transaxle, and maybe have less purging of heat from the exhaust than I will have. So am I just on par with typical 911 or 914-6?

Thanks,
Chuck

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I don't know the answer to your temperature questions, but the general consensus is to avoid synthetic transmission oils, because they tend to make our synchromesh mechanisms work less well.

--DD

[Buische]

Originally Posted by Dave at Pelican Parts

I don't know the answer to your temperature questions, but the general consensus is to avoid synthetic transmission oils, because they tend to make our synchromesh mechanisms work less well.

--DD

Good to know! Thanks for being direct on that.

Chuck

[jess p]

If this helps I’ll give you my 2 cents on engine transplants into Porsche cars. I once converted a 912 swb car to lwb by changing out the torsion tubes, going to 911 trailing arms and then installed a built sbc 350 engine with a 915 trans, expensive clutch from Patrick motor sports and headers. The later 915 trans took all the abuse from that 350 hp, 325 torque engine and laughed at it. The heat from the headers I modified I’m sure in this Arizona heat cooked that trans as well.
I considered a Buick v6 but in the end decided against it because of concerns of vibrations from those engines and what it might do to the 901 trans. Wrap your exhausts with heat tape, that was in my experience more insurance in protecting the trans than anything else.