Advice on adding the ATF cooler

[JasonYew]

Guys,Anyone had installed additional ATF cooler to replace current cooler?My pomen mentioned that e46 ori ATF cooler is not so efficient, and he advice to add additional ATF cooler to reduce the ATF heat and prolong Gearbox life.Thx

 

[pussy]

yes, he is right.. in both ways, one for his wallet and the other he cares about your gearbox.. some has done it, putting a air-to-air cooler instead of the ori, air to water heat exchange... the e34 gearboxes did have it, works fine...

 

[xcrave]

Then again ... if you want to spend on making it cooler might as well add buy the best ATF Fluid as this will have much reliability compared to A+B = Disaster... since you wont know what the ATF cooler might do to years of research to endure death valley and Siberia

 

[QD250]

wonders why BMW never thought about this...

 

[ayree]

I've been advised to add this atf cooler when i bought the car last year. been driving every 2weeks from kl to jb. so far so good.

 

[astroboy]

wonders why BMW never thought about this...

Ada ma. ATF-to-water heat exchange utilising the bottom deck of the radiator sudah ada ma, then water-to-air cooling done by the entire radiator.

The additional ATF cooler is actually meant for vehicle that frequent hill climb or with a tow hook that does towing, yet refuse to shorten the ATF change interval.

I replaced mine at 40k km, the drained RM55/L ZF LongLife6 still appear gold in color and much better than those goreng pisang oil. Confirm I don't need the extra ATF cooler. Even if I need to tow my jetski around, I can always shorten the ATF change interval to 20k km or yearly which ever comes first.

 

[sewell]

Ada ma. ATF-to-water heat exchange utilising the bottom deck of the radiator sudah ada ma, then water-to-air cooling done by the entire radiator.

The additional ATF cooler is actually meant for vehicle that frequent hill climb or with a tow hook that does towing, yet refuse to shorten the ATF change interval.

I replaced mine at 40k km, the drained RM55/L ZF LongLife6 still appear gold in color and much better than those goreng pisang oil. Confirm I don't need the extra ATF cooler. Even if I need to tow my jetski around, I can always shorten the ATF change interval to 20k km or yearly which ever comes first.

Ada ATF-to-water heat exchange for E39 kah? if got i also want to add leh

 

[astroboy]

Ada ATF-to-water heat exchange for E39 kah? if got i also want to add leh

Ekkk... E39 is using a separated ATF-to-air heat exchanger la.. :13:

But the E46 all using part of the radiator, cut cost kot.. :4:

E36 also like the E39, separated ATF-to-air ATF cooler:

My E90 u look at the diagram can pengsan..
In/Out hose from transmission to the heat exchanger..

This is to show how the ATF heat exchanger connecting to the radiator coolant system.. :stupid:

 

[JasonYew]

wonder why e39 and e36 is having seperate ATF cooler, and e46 doesn't have.

If it is due to cost down issue, i rather spend a little bit more on after market ATF cooler to protect the GB.
And I use to travel to Kelantan, climbing the karak, lipis routes i guess is a bit stressful on GB.

 

[astroboy]

Water cool is better than air cool. If that's not true, we would using air cool engine like the old VW Bettle, fit for WWII, no need to put water..

Many ladies still don't understand why our cars run on water while still need to fill petrol... :4:

 

[QD250]

Ada ma. ATF-to-water heat exchange utilising the bottom deck of the radiator sudah ada ma, then water-to-air cooling done by the entire radiator.

The additional ATF cooler is actually meant for vehicle that frequent hill climb or with a tow hook that does towing, yet refuse to shorten the ATF change interval.

I replaced mine at 40k km, the drained RM55/L ZF LongLife6 still appear gold in color and much better than those goreng pisang oil. Confirm I don't need the extra ATF cooler. Even if I need to tow my jetski around, I can always shorten the ATF change interval to 20k km or yearly which ever comes first.

which is my point la.... current set up is good enough already....

the extensive the usage, increase the preventive maintenance la....

 

[JasonYew]

Yea.... i believe shorten the ATF change may help to maintain the GB in proper condition.
Sound like additional ATF cooler is not really necessary for normal daily usage.

 

[moots]

View attachment 20890

nah.....e39 atf cooler....on the rh side.the lh wan is d power steering fluid cooling pipe

 

[sewell]

View attachment 20890

nah.....e39 atf cooler....on the rh side.the lh wan is d power steering fluid cooling pipe

ya, now what we want it to made the ATF cooler to be cool by water.

 

[pussy]

you guys all BMW engineers.... salut...


just leave the car the way how it was built....

 

[morrogan]

In my personal humble opinion, E39 - Automatic Transmission Fluid circulate to the dedicated radiator and cool down by air. For E46 the Automatic Transmission Fluid circulate into a small conceal pipe in the small box and in turn cool by water circulating from the main radiator.

 

[morrogan]

That is why for E46, the heat exchanger where water from main radiator cooling the concealed ATF pipe must be changed around 70-80k km. If the concealed ATF pipe crack and water went into the gear box, die la.

 

[astroboy]

My E90 keep losing water.. how do I know it doesn't end up in the transmission? :13:

So the coolant help cool down the ATF.. :4:

 

[moots]

ya, now what we want it to made the ATF cooler to be cool by water.

haiyaa...no need lar.why introduce inherent faults.system designed for best efficiency oledi.....like wat pussy mentioned.just get garden hose and spray water to that feller to dislodge years of grime and dirt.and spray outwards.....

 

[morrogan]

My E90 keep losing water.. how do I know it doesn't end up in the transmission? :13:

So the coolant help cool down the ATF.. :4:

Not too familiar with E90 system but don't think the pipe concealed in the heat exchanger fail so fast. May be due to leak in pipe or thermostat housing gasket.