Overheating on track only

[alexk]

Originally Posted by lawsy

Doubt that very much Alex.

I saw it a few times.
94c you are in the middle.
95c and you go to 3/4

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by alexk

I saw it a few times.
94c you are in the middle.
95c and you go to 3/4

But then what takes it to the red?

[O'Neill]

Originally Posted by shimmy

But then what takes it to the red?

+1, also, if water temp becomes critical, is there a warning light.

[stevenEK9]

i was one of the people running electric fan with both OEM fans removed at DN10 and coolant temps were fine, highest i saw on track was 92 deg but generally it sat about 85

before heading out each session i ran it in the service menu so had the digital coolant readout on the dash

FYI the second dot on the analogue gauge is about 100 deg - this was about the highest i saw in the pit area due to heatsoak off the oil late in the day as by end of the day (did 20 laps) the oil was up near 125 deg after doing 4 laps on the trot, rest of the time oil sat about 115 at most

over winter I will be fitting a bimmerworld oil cooler, combined with the fluidyne rad & slim fan setup this should give the perfect setup on the track - Grant with the black CSL mentioned that his higher capacity oil cooler (HPF I think it was) made a massive difference in keeping the oil temps more stable at about the midway mark on the oem oil temp gauge. shouldn't need to worry about overcooling the oil either as there is a stat in the oil filter housing of the S54

[Graham]

How comes you aren't staying with the mishimoto rad?

[stevenEK9]

Originally Posted by Graham

How comes you aren't staying with the mishimoto rad?

it's a mishimoto fan i've got fitted Graham, the rad is a Fluidyne/turner motorsports one

Ali's car showed that the oem rad is good enough (albeit mine helped keep temps down by a couple deg more)

so if you are looking for a good setup, I would do the same fan mod as us but with an upgraded oil cooler - grants car never had problems with coolant temps with all the oem fans in place, just goes to show how much the oil temps (which can sit about 125deg easy in oem trim) affect the coolant temps on these cars

[alexk]

Originally Posted by shimmy

But then what takes it to the red?

Above 100C which is an issue for this engine.
When you are in red, the red is iluminated behind so you know you have an issue.

Quoting from the E46 M3 user manual.

Between the blue and red zones
Normal operating range. The needle
may rise as far as the edge of the red
sector during normal operation.

I just start to wonder if we are being too sensitive with the temperature displayed ?
I personally had an issue with the radiator and viscous fan (again this one) but if BMW says it's normal to go up to where the red is starting (obviously not inside the red and the red lamp on), why should we worry if it's a bit above the middle ?

Putting this on the table as it has been troubling me for a long time.
Father says below 99C it's not a problem.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by stevenEK9

it's a mishimoto fan i've got fitted Graham, the rad is a Fluidyne/turner motorsports one

Ali's car showed that the oem rad is good enough (albeit mine helped keep temps down by a couple deg more)

so if you are looking for a good setup, I would do the same fan mod as us but with an upgraded oil cooler - grants car never had problems with coolant temps with all the oem fans in place, just goes to show how much the oil temps (which can sit about 125deg easy in oem trim) affect the coolant temps on these cars

Ah ok I'm with ya

I am looking into oil coolers now, they just seen pricey for the E46 M3 due to the shape, you can buy universal kits for half the price!

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by stevenEK9

it's a mishimoto fan i've got fitted Graham, the rad is a Fluidyne/turner motorsports one

Ali's car showed that the oem rad is good enough (albeit mine helped keep temps down by a couple deg more)

so if you are looking for a good setup, I would do the same fan mod as us but with an upgraded oil cooler - grants car never had problems with coolant temps with all the oem fans in place, just goes to show how much the oil temps (which can sit about 125deg easy in oem trim) affect the coolant temps on these cars

So you are saying OeM rad is good enough, I still think we have not found the issue that is causing this, just various ways if masking it, let's not forget this issue occurs at full speed, maximum airflow theoretically, maximum cooling.

Still think it could be an airflow issue. Also let's not forget the fans do not work at high speeds, they are turned off.

[alexk]

Next thing I am replacing is the temperature sensor.

But again, the manual says this is normal.