Oil Coolers

[Sydneykid]

90% of all engine wear happens in the first 2 minutes until the engine oil reaches operating temp. So running the oil cooler in this period of first start up is a big no no as you don't want to slow the oil heating process and extending the wear period on the motor every cold start up.

Hi Pete, on the race cars we have data logging so I know exactly how long it takes for the oil to increase temperature and by how much it increases temperature. In cold climates, where the oil drops to minus celsius temperatures overnight, a thermostat may well be worthwhile. In some places I have had to run a heater under the sump before I start the car. But in Australia I have seen no evidence to support any requirement for a thermostat on an oil cooler.

I think Roy covered it pretty well. The oil cooler is going to do nothing to cool down the oil in the time since you have started the engine, put your seat belt on, turned up the stereo and backed out of the driveway.

I have never ever used a thermostat on an oil cooler on any car in Australia and I never will. I have plenty of logged evidence and many cars over the years to base this opinion on.

cheers

[pnblight]

Hi Pete, on the race cars we have data logging so I know exactly how long it takes for the oil to increase temperature and by how much it increases temperature.  In cold climates, where the oil drops to minus celsius temperatures overnight, a thermostat may well be worthwhile.  In some places I have had to run a heater under the sump before I start the car.  But in Australia I have seen no evidence to support any requirement for a thermostat on an oil cooler.

I think Roy covered it pretty well.  The oil cooler is going to do nothing to cool down the oil in the time since you have started the engine, put your seat belt on, turned up the stereo and backed out of the driveway.

I have never ever used a thermostat on an oil cooler on any car in Australia and I never will.  I have plenty of logged evidence and many cars over the years to base this opinion on.

cheers

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hi gary,

i hear what your saying but i know my cars are never to the 70 to 80 deg oil temp until i'm like 5minutes down the road after starting/seat belt /radio etc i reason i know this is that is the point at which i think ok its now time that i can have some fun and not before ,i dont think i stated that car wouldn't work without a thermostat in the oil line in australia more that by running one you will not slow the warming process those inducing more wear. Even where stationary the oil cooler with disapate heat quiet well (but when moving before your up to temp is where it will have its biggest impact)and with add to the total volume of oil which has to be heated by having a thermostat it take the cooler out of the loop until the oil is to an operation temp. I guess this is one of the topics which is almost imposible to prove well and my point would be if you were to buy a oil cooler kit and had the choice of thermostat or not thermostat i would most definately get the thermostat as it will only help and has NO down sides that i know of todate.

pete

ps i am actual fitting a new apexi kit when the new motor goes in it has a 70deg thermostat and dash 12 fitting with custom brand line and 19 role cooler, and will be ducted in the left hand front corner.

[Ronin 09]

yes, and also  Aussie delivered  r32 GTRs used oil coolers.   3 in fact....

wonder what size the lines are

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

R32 GTRs only run one additional cooler - it's a transfer case cooler and is located in front of the rear diff

[FATGTS-R]

Ah geez, I hate threads like this when there is good points made for both for and against and I sit on the fence in my own mind.

My Car, R31 GTSR also came with a factory cooler and has no thermostat fitted.

I have always wondered what effect it has and take it very slowly for the first 5-10 minutes to try and warm up the oil. I have no oil temp gauge so just wait untill the pressure stabilizes before doing anything rash.

What would be the best and safest way to speed up the oil warming process while doing the least harm? Obviously, driving slowly to minimise the air passing through the core but what else? Having a prolonged idle process when started? Idling and blipping throttle?

Would it be better when driving to use a lower gear and keep rpms up to warm it up or use a taller gear with more load and have rpms down?

[MerlinTheHapyPig]

I have never ever used a thermostat on an oil cooler on any car in Australia and I never will.  I have plenty of logged evidence and many cars over the years to base this opinion on.

cheers

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ok, cool. I've settled that point.

Now i'm trying to figure out if that cooler I am suggesting, is going to pose an unacceptable restriction in the system, or if it's not going to handle the pressure. Inside diameter of the feed lines is 8mm and it's a '90s magna transmission cooler.

-Cheers TK

[Beer Baron]

if you are getting it tested i would want it tested to at least 9 or 10 bar.

personally i would just buy a nice earls or serck or mocal core. they are pretty cheap now. Earls in particular have slashed their prices in the last 2 years.

I run a trust set-up on my car and i'm not 100% certain of whether is has an oilstat or not. it does have 4 lines coming out of the remote filter mount so i've always assumed that there is one built into that. it works very well and i don't have any problem with oil being too hot or too cold. if in winter it starts taking too long to get to temp then a little piece of alluminium sheet i have just gets slotted into the duct to block off half (or all of) the core, problem solved.

[Bl4cK32]

I agree with pete about the time it take the cars oil to warm up. The mechanical gauge ive got indicates that it takes more than 5 mins sometimes to get the oil on its way up to 70 + deg. Sometimes if im putting on my way to work at 3am it may just barely get to 80 as it is....I dont sit in my car with it idling waiting for it to warm up. I get in, get organized, then start the car and take off slow....

As for :

R32 GTRs only run one additional cooler - it's a transfer case cooler and is located in front of the rear diff

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Gtr's do run more than one, there is a water to oil cooler where the oil filter is located....but since i dont own a gtr, i cant tell you how many other it runs....

[WetGTR]

Once I had mine installed (HKS Oil Cooler) there was no difference in the amount of time the oil came up to operating temp @75 degress at cold start. It was around 2min of idiling , belt up slowly out of drive way and stuff (oil temp ready) and slow driving after that for 5min - 10min to be safe.

The oil cooler only helped keep my oil temp at 75-80 where as before it used to go higher after a blast. Oil Coolers will not work unless air is passing through them so I don't understand why without a thermostate there would be any difference.

I also have -12 braided earl lines and connecters. Alot of oil running around and also pressure has nothing to do with flow. Remember N1 oil pumps....they have higher pressures but don't flow any more then a standard pump.

Edited October 31, 2005 by WetGTR

[discopotato03]

Would I be right in thinking that a full flow oil cooler and a wide viscosity range synthetic oil eg Castrol R 10/60 would do the trick ie thinner at low temps and good lubricating over a very wide temperature range ?

Cheers A .

[Bl4cK32]

Once I had mine installed (HKS Oil Cooler) there was no difference in the amount of time the oil came up to operating temp @75 degress at cold start. It was around 2min of idiling , belt up slowly out of drive way and stuff (oil temp ready) and slow driving after that for 5min - 10min to be safe.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No difference in startup would be because the HKS has a thermostat in the sandwich block.

The oil cooler only helped keep my oil temp at 75-80 where as before it used to go higher after a blast.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

exactly the reason why i am fitting one

Oil Coolers will not work unless air is passing through them so I don't understand why without a thermostate there would be any difference.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Id say that having the oil go through the lines, and cooler would have to have some part in acting like a heat sink. Id rather have the oil in the motor heating up to temp as fast as possible.

Its like the intercooler just acting as a heat sink when you are sitting at the traffic lights....

[Ronin 09]

Gtr's do run more than one, there is a water to oil cooler where the oil filter is located....but since i dont own a gtr, i cant tell you how many other it runs....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep, you're right, but that is a sandwich between the filter and the block, and it works marginally at best... I meant that only the N1s have a factory fitted external fin-type oil cooler

[WetGTR]

I didn't know that HKS Oil Coolers had the thermostate in the sandwich section. You learning something everyday.

That being said I understand that the oil cooler will act as a heat sink but it will go up in temp fairly quickly I believe while it is idiling.