very simply what is the running pressure of the auto box cooler? i am looking to do a little "home modification" to the oil cooler (as some moron fitted an ebay special 6 row cooler (looks like one from the back of a fridge) and jubilee clipped the hoses to the steel pipes at the autobox end which isnt ideal at all.

in my quest to make a more permanent finish my idea is (in addition to making it look a shade neater), having a small T connection in line onto the top of the cooler with a valve of some description that i can use to fill the autobox with oil so i dont have to run a hose through the level plug and hence make topping up, and oil changes easier in the future. I figure this could be tucked quite neatly underneath the grille for use as and when required.

would low pressure oil resistant hydraulic hose suffice? if not which would be reccommended
is copper suitable for use with AFT (fitted with compression fittings)

30-40psi at idle when warm has been mentioned. Ask the hydraulic hose supplier their recommendations on the hose and pipe spec.

didnt think about temps, 100-150degC?

the transmission high temp warning comes on a 120*C that's what i know

Probably no use at all but the D3 trans oil cooler hoses are jubilee clipped to the cooler hose stubs as standard.

Alternatively, presuming you have a D2, if you can get hold of a D1 auto box sump, these are the same shape but fitted with a dipstick, that you can check level and fill up through. Good opportunity to do an oil and filter change at the same time.

Tony

I asked ZF technical the same question. You could do far worse than ask them too - they were very helpful when i rang...

For my D1, I was told that full pressure is less than 80 Psi. Less at idle ( as per Discools post ), less when the TQ is locked ( presumably, the box is using the pressure!), and also that the flow reverses when the TQ locks.

In terms of oil temperature, ATF turns to carp at 90C, and will not do your box any good. Having tuned my 300Tdi to 164HP ( but limited it to 145 ), and, after my discussions with ZF, I fitted a much larger cooler on the basis that they told me I would not overcool the box. I also fitted a temperature gauge in the cooler, and rarely see anything above 50C.

I have a 19 row oil cooler on the way with some nice AN10 barbed hoses. I was looking at fitting two things, a T piece near the cooler (top of) so i can easily crack a valve and fill the box if necessary through the cooler drain, and a temperature gauge at the other end.

will let you guys know the results of the oil cooler as the one on there at the moment is diabolical and as the box gets warm it gets clunky but is smooth as silk when cold (so i dont think its doing a good jkob of cooling),