Temporary solution for reducing powersteering overheating

[wwjd15]

Now I'm at the 3rd powersteering pump and 2rd steering rack after about 10 track days. Tired of braking the P/S system so we wanna try something different to prevent it keeps overheating and broken down.

Before:
If I start tracking in the morning, I wouldn't be able to drive more than 3 laps anytime after 2pm during the day due to overheating the P/S fluid.

After:
We tested it full day at Buttonwillow, even though it was still overheated after 15 min none-stop tracking at afternoon, but I could track at lease. This isn't a perfect solution but I just wanna share that it does work.

Why overheating?:
As you can see from the pictures there's no air to the P/S cooler, that's the ultimate reason why it would cause overheating.

Temporary solution:
Move the passenger side of the cooler down to the lowest point you can reach. That's it.

[pbonsalb]

I would have simply doubled or tripled the cooler size.

[wwjd15]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I would have simply doubled or tripled the cooler size.

That was what another shop said and put the GT4 cooler (double the size of what we have on normal E9x) on my car last time and I killed the second pmup.
The most important is still the air flow not just the size of it. There's not enough air for the cooler as you can see from the pictures.

[xchosun1x]

ricky..ur car is just badass dude.

hahah really...so nice

[Orange fever]

track junkie

[crummer]

I have a very early '11 build (7/10) and in speaking with a BMW tech, he was complaining that they have changed the hose clamps on the power steering system. When asked why, he stated that the pressure in the steering system has been increased.

Not a lot to go on, but I suspect the pressure in the steering system has been increased in the past 12 months. Not sure if it helps or hurts your situation, but thought I would share.

[KyongLaw]

I would have simply doubled

[BPMSport]

Wow that's crazy..

I never had this problem and have tracked my car a few times..

That car must have been though a lot! Looks great though.

[dapopa9]

WWJD - did you just make your own mounting bracket and then screw it onto the stock radiator bracket?

And did you only lower the passenger side mounting point?

[dapopa9]

and is the cooler that is in our Passenger Side wheel well the transmission oil cooler or the engine oil cooler?

Do you have an upgraded one in that pic above?

[bigjae1976]

Maybe you can use the right side hood vent to direct air somewhere via ducting???

[jacobe92]

Innovative! Zip tights are out. I like it. Pending patent?

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Maybe you can use the right side hood vent to direct air somewhere via ducting???

That wouldn't be a bad idea since it's just a dysfunctional vent from the factory..

[wwjd15]

Originally Posted by xchosun1x

ricky..ur car is just badass dude.

hahah really...so nice

Thank you James!! Yours look badass too!

Originally Posted by crummer

I have a very early '11 build (7/10) and in speaking with a BMW tech, he was complaining that they have changed the hose clamps on the power steering system. When asked why, he stated that the pressure in the steering system has been increased.

Not a lot to go on, but I suspect the pressure in the steering system has been increased in the past 12 months. Not sure if it helps or hurts your situation, but thought I would share.

I didn't know that. But I have tried 08 pump which used ATF, and it did fail. Now I'm back on 09-11 pump which uses Pentosin.
In fact, if you look under the car where BMW rounds all the lines, you will understand why they would fail.

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Wow that's crazy..

I never had this problem and have tracked my car a few times..

That car must have been though a lot! Looks great though.

Thank you Mike! I wish this wouldn't happen again or I will have to make a cooler for it.

Originally Posted by dapopa9

WWJD - did you just make your own mounting bracket and then screw it onto the stock radiator bracket?

And did you only lower the passenger side mounting point?

Yes. We have to make the bracket. It's very simple though.
We can only lowered the passenger side due to the additional engine oil cooler I have on the driver side.

Originally Posted by dapopa9

and is the cooler that is in our Passenger Side wheel well the transmission oil cooler or the engine oil cooler?

Do you have an upgraded one in that pic above?

I have an upgrade tranny cooler on the passenger side. the stock one is there too but it's much smaller.

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Maybe you can use the right side hood vent to direct air somewhere via ducting???

The air flow at the front hood vents area is guiding to the radiator, we try not to upset that but with better air flow to the P/S cooler.
Did I misunderstand your point? I wasn't very sure if we are talking about the same place.

Originally Posted by jacobe92

Innovative! Zip tights are out. I like it. Pending patent?

LOL

[erm324]

awesome thread, quick question - what were your symptoms that your power steering wasnt working properly? Did you feel like the car wasnt in complete control under full throttle? Sometimes when im around 6grand and up during full throttle the car seems anxious to veer to one side or another (very subtle, but still noticeable) - im trying to pinpoint whether its the eibach springs i ahve on the car or a power steering problem. thank you!

[wwjd15]

Originally Posted by erm324

awesome thread, quick question - what were your symptoms that your power steering wasnt working properly? Did you feel like the car wasnt in complete control under full throttle? Sometimes when im around 6grand and up during full throttle the car seems anxious to veer to one side or another (very subtle, but still noticeable) - im trying to pinpoint whether its the eibach springs i ahve on the car or a power steering problem. thank you!

I can put them in different categories.

Overheat: feels stiff at steering wheel input angle more than 45%

Fluid low: having problem with steering wheel turning at uphill area

P/S pump gone: hit something in front of your face j/k. It won't turn during low speed, be prepared to turn it very very hard at low speed.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by wwjd15

The air flow at the front hood vents area is guiding to the radiator, we try not to upset that but with better air flow to the P/S cooler.
Did I misunderstand your point? I wasn't very sure if we are talking about the same place.

I'm talking about the vents on top of the hood. One side is the intake, the other side is non-functional.

The vents in the front bumper are a non-option IMO. Between the intake, radiator, oil cooler, and trans cooler...no room.

If you could use the non-functional hood vent, you're not sacrificing cooling from somewhere else. I was thinking you could just clamp a brake duct hose and run it to the p/s pump or something.