LS9 oil cooler for LS2/3 blower cars?
08-26-2011, 08:53 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
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LS9 oil cooler for LS2/3 blower cars?
I've been looking at the LS9 oil cooler, and am wondering if it would work on a standard LS3 car. I have an '08 Z51 car with an A&A system. I had to lose the Z51 air to air cooler and now have a Dewitts radiator with the trans and engine oil coolers built in.
Just want to know if the LS9 setup is more efficient than the cooler in the radiator, and where the coolant lines from the cooler tie in to the cooling system on the ZR1. Seems to be a nice solution for FI C6s that have limited space in the nose for coolers.
FWIW, Edelbrock is including the LS9 oil cooler in their Z06 E-Force. Good idea or not worth the trouble?
Just want to know if the LS9 setup is more efficient than the cooler in the radiator, and where the coolant lines from the cooler tie in to the cooling system on the ZR1. Seems to be a nice solution for FI C6s that have limited space in the nose for coolers.
FWIW, Edelbrock is including the LS9 oil cooler in their Z06 E-Force. Good idea or not worth the trouble?
08-26-2011, 08:57 PM
#2
FWIW the Camaro uses that same cooler and the Z06 went to it last year. It bolts to the block at the same location your Z51 oil cooler lines mounted to. The water lines are tied in at the front freeze plug on the driver's side and a Tee fitting in the radiator hose.
08-26-2011, 08:58 PM
#3
Team Owner
Seems to work pretty good on the ZR1. As I understand, the ZR1(and the newer Z06) oil pans have mouting provisions for this cooler. To use it on a wet sump engine, you will have to fabricate some mounting brackets.
Of course, with this oil cooler, you will add additional load on your radiator, as the engine coolant also cools the oil. You might want to consider the oil coolers that mount in place of the fog lights.
Of course, with this oil cooler, you will add additional load on your radiator, as the engine coolant also cools the oil. You might want to consider the oil coolers that mount in place of the fog lights.
08-26-2011, 09:18 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
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FWIW the Camaro uses that same cooler and the Z06 went to it last year. It bolts to the block at the same location your Z51 oil cooler lines mounted to. The water lines are tied in at the front freeze plug on the driver's side and a Tee fitting in the radiator hose.
I read the Edelbrock Z06 install instructions and saw the fitting that goes in the block as well as the radiator hose tee fitting. How is it installed in the ZR1? Special upper radiator hose maybe? I could source parts from Edelbrock if needed I'm sure.
Seems to work pretty good on the ZR1. As I understand, the ZR1(and the newer Z06) oil pans have mouting provisions for this cooler. To use it on a wet sump engine, you will have to fabricate some mounting brackets.
Of course, with this oil cooler, you will add additional load on your radiator, as the engine coolant also cools the oil. You might want to consider the oil coolers that mount in place of the fog lights.
Of course, with this oil cooler, you will add additional load on your radiator, as the engine coolant also cools the oil. You might want to consider the oil coolers that mount in place of the fog lights.
My understanding was that it bolts up to the stock oil line mounting location. Are you saying there are additional support points that a wet sump pan will not work with?
And I don't like the idea of running aftermarket AN cooler lines around the car. Just not my style. I like the factory engineered look and approach to the problem. Plus, I am already using the coolant to cool my oil via my Dewitts radiator. Just thought the ZR1 setup could be more efficient.
08-27-2011, 12:13 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
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That appears to be the case with the factory installed coolers. The good news is that Edelbrock makes a bracket to install the LS9 cooler onto early LS7s and dry-sump LS3s. It bolts to the oil pan rail, and I'm assuming it should work on a standard LS3.
08-27-2011, 01:00 PM
#9
Drifting
Seems to work pretty good on the ZR1. As I understand, the ZR1(and the newer Z06) oil pans have mouting provisions for this cooler. To use it on a wet sump engine, you will have to fabricate some mounting brackets.
Of course, with this oil cooler, you will add additional load on your radiator, as the engine coolant also cools the oil. You might want to consider the oil coolers that mount in place of the fog lights.
Of course, with this oil cooler, you will add additional load on your radiator, as the engine coolant also cools the oil. You might want to consider the oil coolers that mount in place of the fog lights.
08-27-2011, 01:26 PM
#10
Former Vendor
The ZR1 cooler is inadequate unless you have a big radiator, and keep coolant temps below 200. At 260 water temps, oil temp is 280+
The camaro cooler is smaller, and the coolant block is rotated 90* from the ZR1. I would not use the Camaro cooler unless it was your only option.
With EITHER of those coolers, you will need to tap back into the radiator, or coolant return hose from the top of the radiator. It pulls coolant from the side of the block, and returns it to the left radiator tank.
Trini, what he is saying, is that the BTUs must come from somewhere- Its heat energy, it doesnt disappear, but is simply removed from the oil, and its returned to the water, thus adding temp to the water/coolant system.
we run the stock cooler on the ZR1 hill climb car, and with out the big radiator ( not a dewitts, or even our current supercool style, but a race inspired 2 row with custom fin/inch like we use in the ALMS car, it was not enough oil cooler.
The camaro cooler is smaller, and the coolant block is rotated 90* from the ZR1. I would not use the Camaro cooler unless it was your only option.
With EITHER of those coolers, you will need to tap back into the radiator, or coolant return hose from the top of the radiator. It pulls coolant from the side of the block, and returns it to the left radiator tank.
Trini, what he is saying, is that the BTUs must come from somewhere- Its heat energy, it doesnt disappear, but is simply removed from the oil, and its returned to the water, thus adding temp to the water/coolant system.
we run the stock cooler on the ZR1 hill climb car, and with out the big radiator ( not a dewitts, or even our current supercool style, but a race inspired 2 row with custom fin/inch like we use in the ALMS car, it was not enough oil cooler.
08-28-2011, 12:27 PM
#11
Melting Slicks
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The ZR1 cooler is inadequate unless you have a big radiator, and keep coolant temps below 200. At 260 water temps, oil temp is 280+
The camaro cooler is smaller, and the coolant block is rotated 90* from the ZR1. I would not use the Camaro cooler unless it was your only option.
With EITHER of those coolers, you will need to tap back into the radiator, or coolant return hose from the top of the radiator. It pulls coolant from the side of the block, and returns it to the left radiator tank.
Trini, what he is saying, is that the BTUs must come from somewhere- Its heat energy, it doesnt disappear, but is simply removed from the oil, and its returned to the water, thus adding temp to the water/coolant system.
we run the stock cooler on the ZR1 hill climb car, and with out the big radiator ( not a dewitts, or even our current supercool style, but a race inspired 2 row with custom fin/inch like we use in the ALMS car, it was not enough oil cooler.
The camaro cooler is smaller, and the coolant block is rotated 90* from the ZR1. I would not use the Camaro cooler unless it was your only option.
With EITHER of those coolers, you will need to tap back into the radiator, or coolant return hose from the top of the radiator. It pulls coolant from the side of the block, and returns it to the left radiator tank.
Trini, what he is saying, is that the BTUs must come from somewhere- Its heat energy, it doesnt disappear, but is simply removed from the oil, and its returned to the water, thus adding temp to the water/coolant system.
we run the stock cooler on the ZR1 hill climb car, and with out the big radiator ( not a dewitts, or even our current supercool style, but a race inspired 2 row with custom fin/inch like we use in the ALMS car, it was not enough oil cooler.
Well, I guess the real question is this: Would the ZR1 oil cooler with a Dewitts radiator be more efficient than using the internal cooler that is in my radiator right now? Or am I splitting hairs?
My coolant temps seem to be very well in check with my current setup. I'm not a road course guy, but took a long drive through the valley to Orange county yesterday with temps in the 100-112 the whole way - which is pretty abnormal for SoCal. I got on it hard for a few miles up a large grade, and I don't think I saw any coolant temps higher than 215. Most of the drive I was seeing 198-202 coolant temp.
I would like my oil temps to be lower, though. With my current setup, they are always higher than my coolant temp after a thorough warm-up.
08-28-2011, 11:11 PM
#12
which makes me wanna ask, do LS3 camaros have an oil cooler from the factory? After driving two, I came to a conclusion - based on oil temps - that the car does not have an oil cooler, get on the throttle for a minute and the temps go WAAAY up.
I really want to know how to make this work as well on an LS3 camaro, so thats sort of inline with the thread.
I really want to know how to make this work as well on an LS3 camaro, so thats sort of inline with the thread.
08-29-2011, 11:31 AM
#13
Former Vendor
The one posted above, post 6, is a camaro oil cooler.
The oil coolers will certainly help, but based off our research, they need a bigger radiator, and potentially need a bigger oil cooler.
The oil coolers will certainly help, but based off our research, they need a bigger radiator, and potentially need a bigger oil cooler.
08-29-2011, 11:34 AM
#14
Former Vendor
The other big issue that no one thinks about is exhaust clearance. The ZR1 cooler requires a custom set of headers to clear the cooler. Its not a lot, but forewarned is forearmed 
08-29-2011, 08:40 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
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I have a set of your 1.75" Super Pros on my car, FWIW.
08-30-2011, 11:40 AM
#16
Former Vendor
I have a ZR1 jig and your headers do fit in there with about 1/2" of clearance, so you should be fine.
If you totally had to delete your oil cooler, the LS9, even the camaro cooler is a step in the right direction from where you are now.
If you totally had to delete your oil cooler, the LS9, even the camaro cooler is a step in the right direction from where you are now.
08-30-2011, 12:39 PM
#17
Le Mans Master
If you wanted to get creative, using your stock lines and cooler mount it in bumper behind the fog light. It was take a little fab work for a bracket though. Just a suggestion.
08-30-2011, 06:58 PM
#18
Melting Slicks
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What are your thoughts on a ls9 cooler VS what I have right now?
08-30-2011, 11:15 PM
#19
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I have the heat exchanger from my LS3 Camaro available if you decide to go that route.
