Would I need an oil cooler thermostat?
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Would I need an oil cooler thermostat?
I was thinking of doing the "fresh air mod" and mounting my oil cooler behind it. For daily driving, I could just keep my solid stock plate cover over it, but at the track, switch to the modified one. Would this eliminate the need for a thermostat? Any drawbacks to this set up? TIA.
#3
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Oct 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Posts: 40,081
Received 8,924 Likes
on
5,330 Posts
If the only source of air flow through the cooler is from the license plate area it probably will, the real issue is getting enough air flow through the cooler for the cooler to do what you want on the track. The hole behind the cover will be limited in size and how you locate the cooler behind the plate may limit air flow through the cooler. There isn't a lot of room for a cooler in that area and if the air isn't blowing directly through it then you may not get as much cooling as you expect.
Bill
Bill
#4
Safety Car
If the only source of air flow through the cooler is from the license plate area it probably will, the real issue is getting enough air flow through the cooler for the cooler to do what you want on the track. The hole behind the cover will be limited in size and how you locate the cooler behind the plate may limit air flow through the cooler. There isn't a lot of room for a cooler in that area and if the air isn't blowing directly through it then you may not get as much cooling as you expect.
Bill
Bill
AAron's setup works real good on the track and blocking it for the street would work ok (in Va)
#5
Safety Car
Member Since: Nov 2000
Location: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 0
Received 27 Likes
on
24 Posts
I don't think that you will get the desired cooling at that location. It should be directly in front of the radiator for max air flow and cooling. I run the Mocal 150 Degree thermostat with my DRM cooler. It only circulates something like 5-10% of the oil through the cooler till the car gets up to temp. This way it avoids thermal shock from cool oil when the thermostat opens. My car is street driven frequently in cold temps. If I did not have the thermostat, it would take forever to get the oil temps up. Moving a plate to block the cooler is a PITA - the Mocal was about $125, well worth the $.
#7
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Thanks for the input guys. Even though it would be easier and cheaper to put cooler behind license plate, I think I will go ahead and put it in the traditional place in front of the other condensers. I don't want to take a chance on putting it behind license plate and then not have enough cooling. Besides, I track with a bra on the front, and I don't want to cut a hole there. Thanks.