[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

So, what were you looking for out of going to a metal pan? More protection? Better temps via the pan being a slightly better radiator? Did you track your temps before/ after?

Aluminum has a very low infrared emmitance and therefore doesn't emit well. Trying to say low emittance means low radiation heat transfer.
Raw unpolished aluminum is a bit better at e=0.3. Polished aluminum e=0.03 to 0.05.
I also run a aluminum pan but its for a 7 series Alpina. Me and another 335D owner who runs factory black plastic one run about 2C apart (87 vs 89C) in gearbox temps delivered. Data comes from Carly parameters menu. The gearbox was running about 6 to 8C warmer than the engine coolant (81C).

I did cut a hole in my lower closeout panel to convectively cool the pan but doesn't seem to be doing anything. Real answer is a transcooler it would seem and isolate from the water cooling system. I thought getting airflow on the pan would help but i was wrong. I will save money in long run and the pan is more durable. Not sure it would survive a rock hit like 335stoner took to his pan though. He leaked out pretty quickly.

[RL18]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

Aluminum has a very low infrared emmitance and therefore doesn't emit well. Trying to say low emittance means low radiation heat transfer.
Raw unpolished aluminum is a bit better at e=0.3. Polished aluminum e=0.03 to 0.05.
I also run a aluminum pan but its for a 7 series Alpina. Me and another 335D owner who runs factory black plastic one run about 2C apart (87 vs 89C) in gearbox temps delivered. Data comes from Carly parameters menu. The gearbox was running about 6 to 8C warmer than the engine coolant (81C).

I did cut a hole in my lower closeout panel to convectively cool the pan but doesn't seem to be doing anything. Real answer is a transcooler it would seem and isolate from the water cooling system. I thought getting airflow on the pan would help but i was wrong. I will save money in long run and the pan is more durable. Not sure it would survive a rock hit like 335stoner took to his pan though. He leaked out pretty quickly.

Wouldn't you see the real temp drop when driven hard? Like on a track or just aggressive driving?

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

Aluminum has a very low infrared emmitance and therefore doesn't emit well. Trying to say low emittance means low radiation heat transfer.
Raw unpolished aluminum is a bit better at e=0.3. Polished aluminum e=0.03 to 0.05.
I also run a aluminum pan but its for a 7 series Alpina. Me and another 335D owner who runs factory black plastic one run about 2C apart (87 vs 89C) in gearbox temps delivered. Data comes from Carly parameters menu. The gearbox was running about 6 to 8C warmer than the engine coolant (81C).

I did cut a hole in my lower closeout panel to convectively cool the pan but doesn't seem to be doing anything. Real answer is a transcooler it would seem and isolate from the water cooling system. I thought getting airflow on the pan would help but i was wrong. I will save money in long run and the pan is more durable. Not sure it would survive a rock hit like 335stoner took to his pan though. He leaked out pretty quickly.

Good information- so barely a difference. I'd be willing to bet your hole isnt as effective as you might think. Ever consider putting a NACA duct in front of it on the splash shields? or any kind of scoop? In my aerospace trained mind, a hole in the pan would sooner be drawing more air from the engine compartment/ hot trans area out, which would make a small difference. A bigger difference would be introducing fresh air from under the car into the mix, right before the pan. If there's a decent length of splash shield before the NACA duct, it could be decently effective. A scoop to redirect air above the splash shield would be better, but you'd lose clearance, however small you go.

Just curious, did you crunch the numbers to see how long it would take to see a financial benefit? I ask mostly because the way I see it, FCP is buy it for life for the price of shipping, which is why I went that route.

Originally Posted by RL18

Wouldn't you see the real temp drop when driven hard? Like on a track or just aggressive driving?

Do you mean because of the higher speeds? Sure, potentially at 100+ you'd see a slightly larger difference, but in general, steady state highway driving is the premium situation for fluids to be cooling down. Lots of airflow, low load. If it only made a 2C difference there, it's not going to make 5x that while being tracked, with 100x the load and everything else making even more heat too. Personally, I'm casually optimizing my X5 to tow, which it does absolutely splendidly. I'm considering a trans cooler, but my trans temp while towing 6500# for 2300 miles never really concerned me, so I haven't jumped at a trans cooler yet.

[RL18]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

Do you mean because of the higher speeds? Sure, potentially at 100+ you'd see a slightly larger difference, but in general, steady state highway driving is the premium situation for fluids to be cooling down. Lots of airflow, low load. If it only made a 2C difference there, it's not going to make 5x that while being tracked, with 100x the load and everything else making even more heat too. Personally, I'm casually optimizing my X5 to tow, which it does absolutely splendidly. I'm considering a trans cooler, but my trans temp while towing 6500# for 2300 miles never really concerned me, so I haven't jumped at a trans cooler yet.

That's what I was thinking but like you say more airflow to the pan would probably help the most, but a trans cooler would be the best solution. Just curious, what are your temps while towing?

[robnitro]

If you go with an external trans cooler make sure it has a thermostat. Fluid too cold is as bad as fluid too hot (heat helps evaporate moisture and heat activates some additives in the oil for extreme pressure boundary layer lubrication)

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

Good information- so barely a difference. I'd be willing to bet your hole isnt as effective as you might think. Ever consider putting a NACA duct in front of it on the splash shields? or any kind of scoop? In my aerospace trained mind, a hole in the pan would sooner be drawing more air from the engine compartment/ hot trans area out, which would make a small difference. A bigger difference would be introducing fresh air from under the car into the mix, right before the pan. If there's a decent length of splash shield before the NACA duct, it could be decently effective. A scoop to redirect air above the splash shield would be better, but you'd lose clearance, however small you go.

Just curious, did you crunch the numbers to see how long it would take to see a financial benefit? I ask mostly because the way I see it, FCP is buy it for life for the price of shipping, which is why I went that route.



Do you mean because of the higher speeds? Sure, potentially at 100+ you'd see a slightly larger difference, but in general, steady state highway driving is the premium situation for fluids to be cooling down. Lots of airflow, low load. If it only made a 2C difference there, it's not going to make 5x that while being tracked, with 100x the load and everything else making even more heat too. Personally, I'm casually optimizing my X5 to tow, which it does absolutely splendidly. I'm considering a trans cooler, but my trans temp while towing 6500# for 2300 miles never really concerned me, so I haven't jumped at a trans cooler yet.

Here is a picture of the cut out. I don't wish to install a scoop. Sorry the picture was really documenting an exhaust install and the alum pan just happen to be there too.

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by RL18

That's what I was thinking but like you say more airflow to the pan would probably help the most, but a trans cooler would be the best solution. Just curious, what are your temps while towing?

Temps on the highway stayed about 92C If I remember correctly. the highest I caught was 97 and that was chugging stop and go traffic. Does the 335d have the same coolant->trans fluid on the radiator?

Block/coolant temp never got about 215. It was rare to see it over 205, and under cruise it held right around 200.

[RL18]

Originally Posted by Spyro235

Temps on the highway stayed about 92C If I remember correctly. the highest I caught was 97 and that was chugging stop and go traffic. Does the 335d have the same coolant->trans fluid on the radiator?

Block/coolant temp never got about 215. It was rare to see it over 205, and under cruise it held right around 200.

That's not bad at all. You pretty much stay under 200 degrees all the time. I assume the 335d and x5d have the same setup though. Unless the x5 has more cooling for towing.

[BB_cuda]

Can you guys see the picture i posted of cutout (in post #138)? When i first put it in, it showed perfectly. I now come back 2 hours later and i can't see it. Posting again to test the system.

[RL18]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

Can you guys see the picture i posted of cutout (in post #138)? When i first put it in, it showed perfectly. I now come back 2 hours later and i can't see it. Posting again to test the system.

I can see it just fine on the mobile app

[RioPGTMN]

For clarity on this

1. Do any of pans offer additional fluid capacity?

2. With the filter change - Is the filtering a measurable upgrade?

Thanks

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

Can you guys see the picture i posted of cutout (in post #138)? When i first put it in, it showed perfectly. I now come back 2 hours later and i can't see it. Posting again to test the system.

Both pictures show for me in chrome.

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by RioPGTMN

For clarity on this

1. Do any of pans offer additional fluid capacity?

2. With the filter change - Is the filtering a measurable upgrade?

Thanks

#1) no extra capacity.EDIT: There is a guy that put in a Ford Pan that fits our bolt pattern. He says it hold 2/or3 (I forget) extra liters. This pan hangs down about 2 more inches. He put it on an X5 so he reduced his ground clearance. This pan would be a for sure NOGO on a 335d (unless drag strip only perhaps).
#2) no info there. I’d have to cut the metal filter open at next change to see filtering media. Filter on OEM pan only catching big stuff.