Do i need transmission oil cooler if i go FI?

[sooper]

Im about to put on an active supercharger on my 323 steptronic. Do i have to install a transmission oil cooler? It's a cheap upgrade (considering flex-a-lite) which i wont htink would do more help and prevent damage. Seems nobody in the forums made this mod when they went sc/tc.

[BMWfanfromQuebec]

No, it wont get hot enough

[Novare330]

Im about to put on an active supercharger on my 323 steptronic. Do i have to install a transmission oil cooler? It's a cheap upgrade (considering flex-a-lite) which i wont htink would do more help and prevent damage. Seems nobody in the forums made this mod when they went sc/tc.

well, to put it simply, its not required, but it wouldnt hurt to have

[bluejeansonfire]

well, it may be a very good idea. I've never heard of a plausible theory on how boosted cars blow their autos, maybe a temperature drop might help.

[sooper]

No, it wont get hot enough


well, to put it simply, its not required, but it wouldnt hurt to have
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Thanks for the advise. It really got me thinking when in the process of installation, a friend walks up and asked me "why no transmission cooler?" Then thinking again, active would have included one in the kit if it was required.

[sooper]

well, it may be a very good idea. I've never heard of a plausible theory on how boosted cars blow their autos, maybe a pressure drop might help

Yeah, good idea that may be an option in the future

[SPDu4ea]

It's never a bad idea as long as the kit comes with a thermostat. It is a bad idea if it is a cheap kit with no thermostat -- as fluid that is too cold is just as bad as too hot.

[sooper]

I haven't seen one with a thermostat. Have you heard of flex-a-lite? They come in different sizes and the small size would be easy to fit our cramped engine bay. Where I am from it does not get cold and the climate is rather constantly hot so I don't think too cold would not be an issUe. One more thing, if you drive your car hard will the tranny perform better if it were operating on a lower temp?

[sooper]

bump- has anybody tried this?

[bluejeansonfire]

i know many e46s came with tranny oil coolers. But they weren't much beyond a big heatsink, it didn't exactly allow for oil to flow through it. I think that upgrading this unit, just adding a little piping and a proper cooler. If the factory doesn't use a thermostat, I wouldn't bother.

[sooper]

[QUOTE][i know many e46s came with tranny oil coolers. But they weren't much beyond a big heatsink, it didn't exactly allow for oil to flow through it. I think that upgrading this unit, just adding a little piping and a proper cooler. If the factory doesn't use a thermostat, I wouldn't bother.
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http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/u/v/54.png


Heres a picture of the stock heat sink. you just have to series the cooler with the piping

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

The stock heat exchanger is a liquid-to-liquid cooler. Yes transmission fluid goes into that and gets cooled by the coolant. It's obvious that the fluids do not mix. All part of a liq2liq exchanger. And yes it has a thermostat. I am pretty sure your E46 has one.

The heat exchanger is ok for daily driving and all that. But if you drive your car fairly hard and want to improve reliability, I would recommend installing a secondary transmission cooler. I track mine hence it has one. It definitely helps to cool the transmission fluid a little better. I posted some results in my track blog (http://vsetrack.com/projects.htm).

Scroll down and click on "Secondary Transmission Cooler".

Btw, I'd avoid flex-a-lite. In my books, Setrab makes the best coolers.

[BimmerDude18]

No, it wont get hot enough

You don't know jack about transmissions if you are posting this. The reason most transmissions run coolers on trucks is the extra load that they receive over normal use. It would make sense to run one with a SC, I am in fact surprised I hadn't seen something earlier on this.

And Mr. Paddle Shift s evidence.



Please for the love of god if you don't know don't post an opinion. I know you are trying to help, but that type of advice is just like telling someone water is as good as motor oil.

[sooper]

The stock heat exchanger is a liquid-to-liquid cooler. Yes transmission fluid goes into that and gets cooled by the coolant. It's obvious that the fluids do not mix. All part of a liq2liq exchanger. And yes it has a thermostat. I am pretty sure your E46 has one.

The heat exchanger is ok for daily driving and all that. But if you drive your car fairly hard and want to improve reliability, I would recommend installing a secondary transmission cooler. I track mine hence it has one. It definitely helps to cool the transmission fluid a little better. I posted some results in my track blog.

Scroll down and click on "Secondary Transmission Cooler".

Btw, I'd avoid flex-a-lite. In my books, Setrab makes the best coolers.


Thanks for the advise. I saw your blog and i did notice that when you drive your car hard (thus hotter tranny) the car shifts earlier. Maybe it is a protection programed into the trans ECU.

[monkeyjuice5150]

I have the Setrab Oil Cooler, fits all e46/36 cars for sale.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=660636


Temp drops about 10-20 degree