Adventuring Northern Cyprus to Romania Trip

[Lorin]

I really struggled with the ATF getting too hot in the Pyrenees two years ago. Using low range with the CDL off is a good way to keep the box cool on the steep switchback climbs.

It is worth noting that the ATF light comes on at 150C and turns off at 120C. At those temps your ATF is likely cooked. Changing it should be a top priority.

There are a couple of things you can do to improve the box cooling. Adding an aux ATF cooler makes a huge difference. My temps have reduced substantially since adding one. The recommendation with the A442F is the bigger the better. In terms of bang for your buck, this is the best single option - relatively cheap and easy to do.

Fitting an ATF temp gauge allows you to manage temps very effectively and stop getting anywhere near the light coming on.

The other is to fit a lock-up switch - this allows you to lock the TC in 2nd and 3rd thereby stopping the heat production. If you combine it with an uprated valve body you can also lock the TC in 1st. The upgraded valve body also improves cooling.

Wholesale autos in Oz recommend swapping out the ATF for fully synthetic Castrol Transmax Z. They suggest this is good for a 5C drop on its own and it is much more stable at high temps. Not cheap though.

 

[StarCruiser]

I managed to find a rather nice slim, but full rad width, oil cooler out of a fairly recent jag that also has a few rows for the power steering fluid. When I finally get round to fitting it in addition to the standard, I was wondering whether to add it in permanently or with a valve to be able to bypass it? Thinking not to over cool in the winter. Any thoughts appreciated.

Apologies for the Threadjack.

 

[TALAMAN]

Great photos Dervis! Looks like you are having a great time despite the ATF - of course ambient temperatures are so high at the moment so that can't be helping either!

Keep the pics coming - Bon Voyage!

 

[Lorin]

I managed to find a rather nice slim, but full rad width, oil cooler out of a fairly recent jag that also has a few rows for the power steering fluid. When I finally get round to fitting it in addition to the standard, I was wondering whether to add it in permanently or with a valve to be able to bypass it? Thinking not to over cool in the winter. Any thoughts appreciated.

Apologies for the Threadjack.

There are so many differing opinions on this it can all get a bit confusing. I don’t think there is any real ‘evidence’ to suggest there is one right way but neither is there anything solid to suggest a bypass valve is needed - it is all just conjecture. I think if the truck were to be used in seriously sub-zero temperatures there may be some argument for a bypass. For the use most of our trucks will see, including some ‘harsh’ UK winter temps, a bypass is just unnecessary complication as far as I can see.

The other point of contention is whether the aux cooler goes up or down stream of the OEM cooler. On this there are some fairly solid findings reported by people with different set-ups and they all converge in line with the recommendations from specialists like wholesale autos. The aux cooler should go down stream from the OEM cooler. The OEM cooler is very efficient at removing excess heat - as evidence by those who bypass it and experience even higher temps. The aux cooler is there to remove the heat the OEM set-up can’t. A couple of people on Mud experimented with putting the aux cooler both before and after the OEM and all reported a much greater drop in temps with the latter set-up.

 

[StarCruiser]

A couple of people on Mud experimented with putting the aux cooler both before and after the OEM and all reported a much greater drop in temps with the latter set-up.

This is where I would put it as the ambient air temperature should be lower than the water temperature in the radiator, the rad will only cool to a minimum of the water temperature, circa 70c but the air temperature could be much lower and will then cool the ATF further. The other way round, assuming a very efficient air cooler, the radiator could, in theory at least, heat the ATF back up again.

Threadjack over Dervis.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

This is where I would put it as the ambient air temperature should be lower than the water temperature in the radiator, the rad will only cool to a minimum of the water temperature, circa 70c but the air temperature could be much lower and will then cool the ATF further. The other way round, assuming a very efficient air cooler, the radiator could, in theory at least, heat the ATF back up again.

Threadjack over Dervis.

All’s good Richard interesting yet important topic no worries.

 

[Ian Rubie]

Threadjack over Dervis.

Not quite lol.

The counter argument is, in low speed but high load situations the OEM cooler puts large amounts of heat into the cooling system that it cannot deal with. This leads to the engine overheating as well as the transmission.

If the aux cooler is first in line then some of this heat is removed before it hits the cooling system.

As Lorin said there are differing opinions and I'm not sure which is correct.

 

[StarCruiser]

Hmmm!!
That makes sense too.
Bu663r!

 

[clivehorridge]

Fit 2 then, one before and one after, or drive a manual...

 

[StarCruiser]

Fit 2 then, one before and one after, or drive a manual...

I was going to say that Clive (two). No thanks to the manual though.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

DAY 5

From the campsite and a cool night left the and ventured down hill in low range in the twists and turns. Found this to be really helpful control the vehicle in decent. Not used this really before but on this trip really getting to test the vehicle and learn its 4x4 potential and behavior more.

 

[TALAMAN]

Sounds like your having fun Dervis! I said your low box would come in useful! Going downhill be easier on the ATF and make you worry less too!

 

[Michael Montgomery]

DAY 6

Arrived in Yalova late around 8pm to a family friends home and hospitality after a very long drive. After settling in and venturing out to eat at a local seaside fish restaurant it was getting late and for the first time slept indoors. Lol

This morning took the opportunity and highly recommended the local Turkish Bath 35TL My first time but thankfully more than freshened up and made up for the late few days wild camping.

 

[Deleted member 13129]

DAY 6

Arrived in Yalova late around 8pm to a family friends home and hospitality after a very long drive. After settling in and venturing out to eat at a local seaside fish restaurant it was getting late and for the first time slept indoors. Lol

This morning took the opportunity and highly recommended the local Turkish Bath 35TL My first time but thankfully more than freshened up and made up for the late few days wild camping.

View attachment 148220

Hi Dervis nice pics , is that your bath towel hanging out to dry in the last pic .

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Hi Dervis nice pics , is that your bath towel hanging out to dry in the last pic .

Idk Tony surprisingly wouldnanbe good fit lol

 

[Michael Montgomery]

In the early evening at 7.45pm had prebooked a vehicle ferry service from Yavola ferry terminal to Istanbul yenikapi terminal. 1.45hrs journey for 113TL Jeep price .

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Once on the other side ventured to what would a few hours of late night driving to Edirne border checkpoint.

Was the first night of driving and yet a long one as I was advised to get there at night to avoid long queues of many hours normally.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Guys due to Istanbul traffic and steer tirness arrived at 1pm to a fairly short queue thankfully thinking this wouldn’t be too long as I felt once I get through I’d camp up in the roof tent in the parking area on the Bulgarian side.

Like all checkpoints passed through the Turkish passport control and then the Bulgarian passport didn’t like or accept the vehicle registration document being from Northern Cyprus. The border crossing officials were not the nicest and asking why only provoked more hostility so I had no choice to turn back and go through the Turkish passport control again.

By this time it was 2.30am. Very tired and disappointed touched base with Clive to share the bad news

Clive thank you for your support and understanding in the early hours of the morning.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

DAY 7

We both decided to try again in the morning whilst I’d already traveled so far to get here and so barely a few hours sleep with the vehicle parked on a off-road section near the entrance I decided I would walk though to avoid queuing again.

So around 9am walked through and eventually asked if my vehicle would be ok before queued up. The border control were a look nicer and assisted me in giving the vehicle registration document to a lady to which she gave it to the office. Things looked up at this point as it wasn’t a straight no and felt optimistic. Some 45 mins of waiting for an answer sadly it was not accepted and so finally had to accept that my venturing to Romania was over

The reasoning behind the decision was because northern Cyprus is not recognized as a country!!
So not having planned such an outcome I now was in disarray to what to do next?

 

[Michael Montgomery]

So in light with the lastest disappointment guys and talking to my father friend in Yavola to where I stayed one night, was advised to not return back to Istanbul to Yavola and to venture down south where there was no traffic towards Çanakkale.
Now not feeling rushed and tired I decided to stop off at famous town of Gallipoli and recoup myself to what’s next?