Additional ATF cooler

[8080pbmw]

Hi Everyone, I have this experience that during hot days / after some time spent on traffic jams the car will feel sluggish. The automatic gearbox will feel heavy/tired with some louder noise coming from the engine during accelaration.I have a feeling that the ATF cooler on our car might not be efficient enough for our super hot as hell M'sia weather.So I have got myself an used ATF cooler which I plan to fix up inline with my existing ATF cooler.Questions: (1) Has anyone done this before? (2) Aparts from the additonal ATF needed, extra hose to connect it to the present ATF cooler, additonal mounitng bracket, Is there any negative side-effects on the gearbox? Any feedback will be much appreciated. Cheers.

 

[Strider]

Yeah, I would love to learn more about this.

 

[python_dev]

My 5 speed Manual does this as well when in jams for a while, but just get it out on the highway for a while and it's response clears up... I belive it would have more to do with the fuel managment system then Gearbox.

 

[Jipster]

Dudes, specialist slush box people like M-Scope, EH Auto etc all do ATF cooler retrofit but a a price. Suggest you go to these guys to avoid any issues.

Heat and stop-start traffic aka jams are what causes premature slush box failure.

Changeover to synthetics are also said to improve performance/life but have not used those before. Well known lubes are from redline, royal purple.

The above only for slush box people.

 

[8080pbmw]

Thanks for all the feedback.
The thing that got me thinking was when I was at this dyno workshop kepo on people's car during dyno that I saw this ATF cooler that is meant for those MyVi, Kenari...small car. It claimed to be able to offer better fuel economy, smother gear change and prolong the life of the gearbox.
However, I live in Penang where most/all of the slushbox people are in central M'sia. Anyway, I'll consult the mechanic I go to to see if he can do it or not.
Will update my progress if any.

Cheers.

 

[pussy]

why do you want to re-invent the wheel ?

by putting and additional oil cooler for the atf, will put a bigger strain on your box, i.e. lower bar pressure.. then well see if the box lasts...

in traffic jams, any car will be sluggish, cos of no wind crossing into the engine till you move..

 

[keN330]

I dunt think will be bigger strain to your auto box, i had fitted hayden transmission cooler for my auto box b4 i converted to manual and i think it works perfectly...

Agree, if u have changed to better transmission fluid like those Jipster had mentioned.

 

[pussy]

ken.. by viture of removing the old oil cooler and putting a better one ? yes, that's fine, but adding another one to the existing one is a bad idea..

 

[8080pbmw]

correct me if I'm wrong. My idea was instead of changing the present ATF cooler to a bigger after market unit, I would just add an additional unit to increase the cooling capacity of the total system.
I don't have any data to support this idea but I think the present unit could be undersized for our local climate.
The drop of pressure could be a cause of concern though.
Maybe a ATF pressure reading before and after will be helpful.
Any idea what is the specification range for the ATF pressure within the GM 4 speed gearbox on the E36? If the pressure range still falls between the manufacturer's spec, then I should be allright?
Thanks for the feedback man.
Cheers.

 

[E3six]

This is what i would do 1st....

1) Check my fan clutch and aux. fan. to be insure still in optimum operation.
2) Check ATF cooler fins, fins shdn't dent or damage, check between fins, shd clean and not clog up by any particals like sand or dirt etc. lastly check your ATF cooler if clog up internally.

Rgds

 

[AnGeLiCdEmOn108]

Interesting topic mate. I was in fact talking to a friend of mine who did the same to his scobby. He suggested me to do so but no time to visit the shop.

Anyway, changing the entire cooling system for the ATF is surely advisable rather than addin in.

Was searching on the google on the topic and got this site which might be useful. Have not read it yet... Happy reading... http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/atf-cooler.html

I will be looking forward for your reply once you have visited yr mechanic...

Cheers...

 

[keN330]

ken.. by viture of removing the old oil cooler and putting a better one ? yes, that's fine, but adding another one to the existing one is a bad idea..

No i did not remove the old 1 its addon to it....

I thought the mechanic was going to remove it but they say was fine with it may be 2 is better than 1 haha... so just go on.... i have it running for about 3 months plus then i swop 2 manual liao.. Pro long effect hmm....... think it should help a bit.

I had fitted engine oil cooler as well, b4 was running on near 90 deg and now 80deg, more significant at nite only 70plus. Based on the concept it should help lower the temp.

Actually u cant quite feel anything, i had the cooler add on and change to red line automatic racing atf the same time. So that time feel great...

 

[8080pbmw]

I have just added in the additonal ATF cooler to the car. There is actually place for the 2nd ATF cooler next to the existing one in front of the radiator.
Asked the mechanic about it( which he said is good to do it ) before I went ahead to ask him to check leak and clean the 2nd unit before installation. My mechanic also used back all the original manifold and hoses and added 3 hose clips to be on the safe side. Needed addtional litre of ATF for the extra capacity added in.
I actually feel the car smoother but it's just 30 min. drive of after office hour drive back home.
I'll gauge it for the next couple of days and update everyone.
Will post up some picture once I transfer them from phone to PC.
RedLine Racing ATF sounds interesting....

 

[8080pbmw]

Pictures of ATF Cooler , Before and after installation.

 

[viewfinder]

8080pbmw the pictures are great but way to small, especially the text embedded.

 

[AnGeLiCdEmOn108]

Nice work & pictures 8080pbmw... Which workshop did you send your car to? Saw the pricing for your additional 2nd ATF cooler. Is it a 2nd hand one? What brand is it? Do you know how much a new one will cost?

cheers...

 

[8080pbmw]

8080pbmw the pictures are great but way to small, especially the text embedded.

Sorry about that, I don't know how to post up large size picture on the forum, the allowed size is very small.

 

[8080pbmw]

Nice work & pictures 8080pbmw... Which workshop did you send your car to? Saw the pricing for your additional 2nd ATF cooler. Is it a 2nd hand one? What brand is it? Do you know how much a new one will cost?

cheers...

Thanks. I got it done at Chu Seng in Penang.
Yes, the 2nd ATF cooler is a used one from Lionel. it's the original one found in all automatic BMW.
The condition is reasonable as Lionel's ride is also more than 10 years old. But the ATF cooler only have some dents on some of it's cooling fins and covered in dirt from years of motoring. A quick clean with engine degreaser followed my dish washer fluid and rim cleaner shows the clean aluminium colour of the cooler.
I asked the mechanic about the price for a new one but he does not know as he said it's not something that needed to be changed.
With the amount of forumer changing to manual gearbox, the ATF cooler should be easy to find. The aftermarket one meant for small car like Kenari are smaller but thicker and cost approx. RM350.00 new but it is made in Korea and I don't think it will fit perfectly in the car.
The location where the 2nd ATF cooler fits in is so perfect that nothing is needed to be modify.
I check the underside this morning to find no leakages and warm the car up to normal operating temperature to check again before driving off to work.
So far so good.
Gear change is slightly smoother ( maybe it's just in my head ) but I'll see if the fuel consumption can be better as the efficiency the gearbox can be maintain during hot days/traffic jam.

 

[AnGeLiCdEmOn108]

Thank you very much for the detailed info mate. Lionel changed his ride to manual? Wah... Is this the same Lionel from KL? Yah observing the advantages of the additonal device will be interesting. If it is worth while... Anyway how is the gearbox pressure now? Did you manage to check the pressure?

 

[8080pbmw]

didn't managed to find out the pressure of the ATF. my mechanic told me it's alright to add the 2nd cooler into the system.
Yes, it the same Lionel Koh in KL. His hometown is Penang mah.
Cheers.