ATF Cooler on the cheap :)

[kevsta]

Ok, the guys on the Aussie forum tell me that it's viable to use my air con condensor as an ATF cooler.

as the air con doesnt work anyway, and what with the difficulty of getting a defunct R12 system working again I've been considering converting the compressor to supply compressed air anyway, so it's perfect.

It's already mounted under the bashplate, it already has 2 fans installed, seems plenty big enough surface area wise, and the best bit is that I have to remove it anyway, to get to the f*&%*ing ADD actuator from my 4wd post.

has anyone else done or considered doing this? ..any thoughts or tips welcome. it looks straight forward enough, I'm just going to cannibalise the air con hoses I think, remove the accumulator, re-route the pipework and top up the ATF fluid.

will also take pics and attempt to get a write up done once the big move is over.

[Chillitt]

tried that, didn't get away with it... the standard pipes aren't big enough diameter to let the oil through quick enough to do any good. also they are too small to fit the hoses. if you can braze on new pipe work it might be a goer...

[kevsta]

really?

thats interesting. i thought they looked to be similar (ish) diameter? will take it all apart tomorrow and have a good look, see whats needed.

did you run it and it didnt work, or how far did you get when you realised there were problems?

[Chillitt]

thats interesting. i thought they looked to be similar (ish) diameter? will take it all apart tomorrow and have a good look, see whats needed.

did you run it and it didnt work, or how far did you get when you realised there were problems?

hehehe right to the bitter end.. plumbed in and everything. then I gave up and bought one from the local chavy boy-racer cabbage launcher shop!

[kevsta]

how..

so how did you know it wasnt flowing enough?

was it just the pipes? I would have thought (very) hot gearbox oil would flow down even a smallish hole fairly easily, and any pre-cooling before the rad cooler is more than its getting now.

would have also thought heat transfer capability of the condensor with 2 fans on it would be more than enough, so was it just a case of supplying enough flow to it?

sorry for all the questions

[Chillitt]

The box still got hot, and it leaked like a sieve. apart from that, it was fabulous! I think theres a write up on the oz forum that worked..

[kevsta]

hmm

..have been searching this forum, the os one, and the rest of the web for about a week now, found one mention in passing on our antipodean friend's site, but nothing much help really.

ok thanks dude, given me some stuff to think about.

p.s. what were you doing to heat it up, towing? approx weight?

cheers, kev.

[Chillitt]

I was towing a sodding great box trailer. it wasn't heavy, but it was a bit of a drag... Its ok though, cos i sold it for a huge profit

[kevsta]

lol

bo*&%*s!! ..thats exactly what I have to tow to spain in 2 weeks time, prob about 1000-1300kg gross. big square bugger.

[Chillitt]

bo*&%*s!! ..thats exactly what I have to tow to spain in 2 weeks time, prob about 1000-1300kg gross. big square bugger.

does it look like this?

[kevsta]

its..

..bigger and squarer.

its actually the box from the back of a BT van, on a large single wheel braked trailer. its 10' 6", by 6' 6" by 6' 6". 1800g gross weight.

I towed it home (about 25 miles) 2 weeks ago with no issues, but no long hills, and it was empty.

[Chillitt]

You WILL need a cooler of some description then... are you planning to put much in it? if so, start saving for a 3 ltr or a landcruiser!!!

[kevsta]

hmmm

no time for vehicle swaps.. ..T-2 weeks and counting..

quite a bit going in volume-wise, and a KLR600. wouldnt have thought contents weight will be much over 3-400kg, bike is 155. maybe 500kg max, possibly 500kg trailer. am thinking possibly one metric ton max total, and a fair amount of wind resistance.

..will take ferries as far as possible, and take it nice n easy, is maybe 800 miles total driving.

its a one off journey though, wont be towing heavy, often, or far at all once there.

it just has to survive the one big test.

[MattF]

You're far better off getting a proper ATF cooler. All accounts of people trying the aircon rad that I can remember have never worked out successfully. If possible, get a thermostatic valve as well. It will only allow flow through the cooler when it's actually required. Over cooling can be as bad as over heating.

[The Lovely Boyo]

You're far better off getting a proper ATF cooler. All accounts of people trying the aircon rad that I can remember have never worked out successfully. If possible, get a thermostatic valve as well. It will only allow flow through the cooler when it's actually required. Over cooling can be as bad as over heating.

I discussed this very same project with TonyN last year - our conclusion was that for a British winter it would not be good.

However - you're going to Spain so too cold probably won't be the problem.

I'd spend the few quid and fit a proper one - cheaper than a new auto box!

http://www.kenlowe.co.uk/oil-coolers...tic/index.html