[ASKED] Changes to Engine Oil Cooling
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 304
Likes: 70
[ASKED] Changes to Engine Oil Cooling
I realize that this question is long and has lots of details in it, but it is necessary to do a level set for the forum readers so everyone is informed on how engine oil cooling has changed over the years.
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For many years GM has used radiators with an engine oil cooler inside left tank for trucks, SUVs, and in the Corvette 2005-2007 Z51s. This method of cooling engine oil works well and has the added benefit of warming the engine oil during warm up. It also keeps engine room congestion and the number of pluming connections to a minimum.
The 2006 – 2010 Z06s use a large air/oil cooler mounted in front of the radiator. This method of oil cooling works well at the track, but in normal street driving it keeps the oil too cold. On a 50 to 60 degree day, it is common to see oil temperatures in the 120 to 140 range (DIC). The DIC is reading oil temperature from the bottom of the external reservoir, the oil first travels to the oil pump, then thru to the oil filter then thru to the oil cooler before it enters the engine. So the temperature of the oil entering the engine is even colder than what the DIC says. What is the optimum oil temperature for a LS7?
The 2011-2013 Z06s, 2009-2013 ZR1s, and C7 Z51s/Z06s use a coolant/oil cooler assembly to cool/warm engine oil. This method needs to have a coolant line plumbed from the block to the cooler assembly and from the cooler assembly to the radiator. The cooler assembly and extra plumbing would seem to add to engine room congestion and increased potential of coolant leaks as time goes on.
The current Camaro Z28 uses a bigger coolant/oil cooler assembly than the Corvettes.
Can you please tell us the advantages and disadvantages of each oil cooling approach from an engineering point of view and why you changed the oil cooling approach so many times?
**************************************** **************************************** ****************
For many years GM has used radiators with an engine oil cooler inside left tank for trucks, SUVs, and in the Corvette 2005-2007 Z51s. This method of cooling engine oil works well and has the added benefit of warming the engine oil during warm up. It also keeps engine room congestion and the number of pluming connections to a minimum.
The 2006 – 2010 Z06s use a large air/oil cooler mounted in front of the radiator. This method of oil cooling works well at the track, but in normal street driving it keeps the oil too cold. On a 50 to 60 degree day, it is common to see oil temperatures in the 120 to 140 range (DIC). The DIC is reading oil temperature from the bottom of the external reservoir, the oil first travels to the oil pump, then thru to the oil filter then thru to the oil cooler before it enters the engine. So the temperature of the oil entering the engine is even colder than what the DIC says. What is the optimum oil temperature for a LS7?
The 2011-2013 Z06s, 2009-2013 ZR1s, and C7 Z51s/Z06s use a coolant/oil cooler assembly to cool/warm engine oil. This method needs to have a coolant line plumbed from the block to the cooler assembly and from the cooler assembly to the radiator. The cooler assembly and extra plumbing would seem to add to engine room congestion and increased potential of coolant leaks as time goes on.
The current Camaro Z28 uses a bigger coolant/oil cooler assembly than the Corvettes.
Can you please tell us the advantages and disadvantages of each oil cooling approach from an engineering point of view and why you changed the oil cooling approach so many times?
Last edited by grcor; Jul 4, 2015 at 04:27 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 102
From: Sarasota FL
St. Jude Donor '13
Interested myself as I prefer the older style separate cooler in front of the radiator. I'm glad my 2010 Grand Sport has the same oil cooler that my 2007 ZO6 had on it. With the hot weather in Florida my oil stays under 200 degrees most of the time.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,737
Likes: 551
From: North California
Awesome! Cannot wait for the response. Great question.
One great departure from previous GM cooling systems is the CTS-V and Camaro V8 cooling systems for 2016 utilizing auxiliary cores for both the intercooler and radiator. I'd love for Tadge to discuss an application like that for the Corvette.
One great departure from previous GM cooling systems is the CTS-V and Camaro V8 cooling systems for 2016 utilizing auxiliary cores for both the intercooler and radiator. I'd love for Tadge to discuss an application like that for the Corvette.
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