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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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CHF or ATF
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11-16-2016, 11:42 AM | #1 |
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CHF or ATF
The cap on the res says ATF but I've read that the sticker for CHF can come off easily. Anyone have an easy way to tell?
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11-16-2016, 11:57 AM | #3 |
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I got my car with 6100 miles on it and it has always said just ATF. The other sticker should have stayed at least that long.
Is there 335D variability in terms of which power steering fluid was loaded at factory? |
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11-16-2016, 12:11 PM | #5 |
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From my experience at the dealer, only diesels were ATF.
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11-16-2016, 12:30 PM | #6 |
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What about light brown? ...Like fresh engine oil. Is that spent CHF? Doesn't look or smell like ATF.
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11-16-2016, 12:56 PM | #8 |
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It does in the pic...but to the eye it just looks brown.
From this can we rule out CHF at least? It could also be traditional PS Fluid, no? |
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11-16-2016, 02:05 PM | #10 |
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no clue...just trying to be a good little owner and take care of a few things as I post her for sale.
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11-16-2016, 02:21 PM | #11 |
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Fluid appearance is different on the paper towel. Do you have a turkey baster? Walmart has them for $1.99. Draw out some and look at color. I bet it's more red than the paper towel.
I will volunteer to do the same since I have ATF sticker. I have the baster from getting fluid out of master cylinder. |
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11-16-2016, 02:31 PM | #12 |
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It's definitely brown (no real hint of red) and smells a bit like mineral oil. Very thin viscosity. Make me think it is spent CHF...as that is mineral oil, right?
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11-16-2016, 03:07 PM | #14 |
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11-16-2016, 08:46 PM | #17 |
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I did extensive research on this exact topic after I started to freak out after I changed PS fluid with D4 ATF.
A lot of clues point to the fact that "all" 335ds came with ATF and I eventually convinced myself I did the right thing. Been several thousand miles and several months since the change with no issues. I think ATF is the way to go. Never seen any evidence of a 335d that has the CHF sticker at any point in its life.
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2011 E90 335d M Sport | KW V3 | M3 Bits (arms/bushings/sways) | JBD | Apex ARC-8 w/PSS
2015 i3 REx | Solar Orange | Tera World | Tech |
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11-17-2016, 01:40 PM | #18 |
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I ended up putting CHF in anyway. Who knows. I mixed a tiny bit of ATF in with the CHF I took out and there was always a red tint to that. Before I mixed with ATF there was no red tint at all. The old fluid smelled a lot like mineral oil and seemed similar to the CHF just stronger. From what I understand the downside to ATF is if the system is CHF then ATF will eventually eat at seals.
From what I can tell is people have mixed and have been fine for a while...so, again, who knows. |
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11-17-2016, 01:54 PM | #19 |
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11-17-2016, 02:51 PM | #21 | |
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Quote:
Interestingly enough, I had a PS pump failure at the 152k mile mark, which is fine with. Parts lasting more than 150k is pretty good as far as I'm concerned. Rack however, still works fine. |
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11-17-2016, 11:35 PM | #22 |
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ATF is a hydraulic fluid. End of the day it is a pump forcing fluid on a 'ram' that moves via the pressure. At what point are you splitting hairs. As long as the viscosity is close to what the pump is rated for run it.
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