Remote Oil Filter/Cooler (bin the std cooler?)

[PHaT MR30]

Im about to buy an Earl's Remote Oil Filter/Cooler setup and i was wondering, can i get rid of the water cooled oil cooler located on the block?

it would just mean 2 less water lines that i have to replace, and leave a bit more space under there (i am limited with space for anything as it is).

[Beer Baron]

the only thing to be aware of with the factory 'cooler' is that one of it's main (and important) purposes is to heat the oil up to temp from cold. if you do away with it the car will take a fair while longer to come up to operating temp. this will be even worse if your oil cooler sey-up doesn't have an 'oil-stat'.

[Beer Baron]

oh I just remembered something else! I have an Earls 16row oil cooler that I bought brand new for my GTI-R. It's still in the box and wont be used now as the GTI-R is sold, and the GTR already has an oil cooler.

If you are interested in it, send me a PM.

[Sydneykid]

the only thing to be aware of with the factory 'cooler' is that one of it's main (and important) purposes is to heat the oil up to temp from cold. if you do away with it the car will take a fair while longer to come up to operating temp. this will be even worse if your oil cooler sey-up doesn't have an 'oil-stat'.

Maybe where you live, that could be a problem. But any place in Australia that my cars have been to or are ever likely to go, too low oil temp has never been or will ever be an issue. I have not seen the need to have an oil thermostat on any car and I have never had a problem.

Most of my cars run on Castrol Formula R Synthetic 10W60 it has a cP at -25 degrees C of 4,700 and a Pour Point at -42 degrees C. Somehow I don't think I will be taking my Skyline or Stagea anywhere that cold. However I could always use Castrol Formula R Synthetic 0W40 which has a Pour Point at -54 degrees C, just in case it gets really chilly.

[Beer Baron]

fair enough mate, but I never mentioned anything about too low oil temp being a problem. I just said that without the factory oil 'cooler' in there the oil will take longer to reach operating temp. and that if you had removed that, and had an oil cooler it will take even longer still. I wasn't suggesting that he needs an oil-stat, I was just pointing out that the factory oil cooler is also used to heat oil, not just cool it.

[Sydneykid]

fair enough mate, but I never mentioned anything about too low oil temp being a problem. I just said that without the factory oil 'cooler' in there the oil will take longer to reach operating temp. and that if you had removed that, and had an oil cooler it will take even longer still. I wasn't suggesting that he needs an oil-stat, I was just pointing out that the factory oil cooler is also used to heat oil, not just cool it.

No problems Richard, oil thermostats are one of those useless things (in Australia) that retailers throw up to make you spend twice as much on a Jap "brand name" oil cooler kit. It gets a bit annoying after a while

[PHaT MR30]

so question is then, leave it in place or remove it?

im not so sure that they come with a fitting to mount straight on the block thats what i am concerned about.

I was going to get the optional Thermostat with the earl's kit as ive had this guy in my ear about having a stat, but now from what you say maybe i don't???

i dunno, temp's aren't that much cooler down here in the winter !!

[Beer Baron]

you're in tassie yeah?

well, personally I'd leave the stock cooler there. whether or not you need a thermostat is another question. unless you have an all out race car I can't see how it could hurt you (appart from the expense). There is plenty of evidence around that they aren't needed in street cars on mainland aus. I'm sure Gary's experience on this matter is far more comprehensive than mine, so on the 'stat issue, I say listen to him. If you search around I'm sure you find plenty of evidence to support either argument.

Perhaps install it without one, and if you find that the oil is taking too long (in you opinion) to get up to temp you could just buy and install one then. if you find it's ok without one then you've saved some dough

[jaik]

I purchased a non thermostated GREX kit.... and I got no thermostat because SK said so My housemate is going blue in the face telling me I should have gone one. MY oil cooler is a much nicer blue

JK