Will an oil cooler really lower engine temp.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,167
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From: Ft.Worth Texas
Well, after reading all this, my conclusion is the oil cooler is not necessary but I'm going to bubba me up an oil pre-pump to get that stuff pressurized before the engine turns over. That way I should get about 8.34 million miles out of a motor.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
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From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Having had BMW bikes in years past, this seemed interesting so I checked, and the answer surprised me.
That series of BMW bikes is oil/air cooled with the head being totaly enclosed and cooled by oil. The cylinders still have fins for air cooling. The crankcase etc is also conventionally cooled. Quite an inovative design.
BMW production cars (water cooled) have had external oil coolers for at least the last 20 years.
Certain Porsche models which are air cooled, relyed heavily on an external cooler for overall cooling with the most important factor being that their design oil temperature was approx 185°.
I think we can all agree that these makers are a lot less price conscious than GM, so cost should not be a consideration.
So not trying to reinvent the wheel here, I certainly would think that the little cost of properly adding and having an oil cooler would certainly be better than not having one. These guys have an excellent track record and their conclusions are good enough for me.
BTW, here is another interesting tidbit I ran accross.
Porsche 2006 Cayenne Turbo S is the world's most powerful SUV, with 521 HP is also the world's most powerful production V8, and more powerful than almost all other V10s and V12s, too.
That series of BMW bikes is oil/air cooled with the head being totaly enclosed and cooled by oil. The cylinders still have fins for air cooling. The crankcase etc is also conventionally cooled. Quite an inovative design.
BMW production cars (water cooled) have had external oil coolers for at least the last 20 years.
Certain Porsche models which are air cooled, relyed heavily on an external cooler for overall cooling with the most important factor being that their design oil temperature was approx 185°.
I think we can all agree that these makers are a lot less price conscious than GM, so cost should not be a consideration.
So not trying to reinvent the wheel here, I certainly would think that the little cost of properly adding and having an oil cooler would certainly be better than not having one. These guys have an excellent track record and their conclusions are good enough for me.
BTW, here is another interesting tidbit I ran accross.
Porsche 2006 Cayenne Turbo S is the world's most powerful SUV, with 521 HP is also the world's most powerful production V8, and more powerful than almost all other V10s and V12s, too.
I don't think it's wise to base your decision for or against an oil cooler on German designs. Those folks in Germany have been "overbuilding" vehicles for a very long time. But they also have VERY different driving situations (Autobahn), as someone else noted. Most American cars driven IN America DON'T have oil coolers. That pretty much negates the few from Germany that do.
Dep
Team Owner
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From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
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I don't think it's wise to base your decision for or against an oil cooler on German designs. Those folks in Germany have been "overbuilding" vehicles for a very long time. But they also have VERY different driving situations (Autobahn), as someone else noted. Most American cars driven IN America DON'T have oil coolers. That pretty much negates the few from Germany that do.
Dep
Dep
Besides oil coolers are there to cool the oil, which has more to do with keeping oil in their prime lubricating heat range than cooling the engine, at least in my mind.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
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From: Florida
I don't think it's wise to base your decision for or against an oil cooler on German designs.
Those folks in Germany have been "overbuilding" vehicles for a very long time.
I agree, if you consider increased dependability and much greater longevity "overbuilding"
But they also have VERY different driving situations (Autobahn), as someone else noted.
For many years now, German cars have been intended for a world market, some are even manufctured here in America. If only American cars were so sought after world wide.
Most American cars driven IN America DON'T have oil coolers. That pretty much negates the few from Germany that do.
Japan has consistantly over the past few decades taught us about American cars in America and just recently surpassed GM for marketshare. It might be time for us to fall back and punt. Maybe with a little more forward thinking, we can catch up again.
the little cost of properly adding and having an oil cooler would certainly be better than not having one
I agree, if you consider increased dependability and much greater longevity "overbuilding"
But they also have VERY different driving situations (Autobahn), as someone else noted.
For many years now, German cars have been intended for a world market, some are even manufctured here in America. If only American cars were so sought after world wide.
Most American cars driven IN America DON'T have oil coolers. That pretty much negates the few from Germany that do.
Japan has consistantly over the past few decades taught us about American cars in America and just recently surpassed GM for marketshare. It might be time for us to fall back and punt. Maybe with a little more forward thinking, we can catch up again.
I prefer to play it safe have a cooler.
Team Owner
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From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Well if you want to "play it safe" might as well have airbags installed all around and install 4 oil filters and never drive on days where the outside ambient temp doesn't go above 95 degrees and get puncture-proof tires and bullet-proof glass and a 12 point roll bar, etc etc etc. Where does it end????
Do you even KNOW when oil temps actually become a worry? Or are you simply a paranoid gizmo addict??
Dep
Do you even KNOW when oil temps actually become a worry? Or are you simply a paranoid gizmo addict??
Dep
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From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
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Depends on the oil.
I am planning on using a pair of turbos, and probably mobil 1. I will probably email Mobil and find out about the operating range, and install an oil cooler and thermostat. But with 2 heat generators for the oil, I think its gonna be required.
Especially with the amount of money, time, and love I am putting into this.
I like the idea of the oil accumulator too.
I am planning on using a pair of turbos, and probably mobil 1. I will probably email Mobil and find out about the operating range, and install an oil cooler and thermostat. But with 2 heat generators for the oil, I think its gonna be required.
Especially with the amount of money, time, and love I am putting into this.
I like the idea of the oil accumulator too.
Last edited by Guru_4_hire; Mar 3, 2007 at 01:21 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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for a turbocharged engine an oil cooler is a very good idea (granted that you use a thermostat) since the turbos will put a significant amount of heat into the oil.
i have both an oil accumulator for turbo oiling after shut down and a big oil cooler (w/ thermostat AND a manual bypass valve)
i have both an oil accumulator for turbo oiling after shut down and a big oil cooler (w/ thermostat AND a manual bypass valve)
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
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From: Florida
Well if you want to "play it safe" might as well have airbags installed all around and install 4 oil filters and never drive on days where the outside ambient temp doesn't go above 95 degrees and get puncture-proof tires and bullet-proof glass and a 12 point roll bar, etc etc etc. Where does it end????
Do you even KNOW when oil temps actually become a worry? Or are you simply a paranoid gizmo addict??
Dep
Do you even KNOW when oil temps actually become a worry? Or are you simply a paranoid gizmo addict??
Dep
Just like the topic of this post says.
BTW It was 89° F here today and it is winter.
.
Last edited by noonie; Mar 4, 2007 at 03:04 AM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 625
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From: The Villages FL
Oil Cooler
The oil cooler on the L98 C4's had an adaptor on the oil filter mount that routed hot oil to the radiator for cooling. Project Shark Attack had one installed and the engine temps never were anything other than 210 degrees on the water temp gauge. The cooler reduces oil temps about 20 degrees or so, but the combination helps to stabilize the engine temp reducing the up and down temperature spikes, especially with A/C. An engine can live without an oil cooler, but everything in total helps, even if just a little bit, towards longevity.
Spike
Spike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
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From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
The oil cooler on the L98 C4's had an adaptor on the oil filter mount that routed hot oil to the radiator for cooling. Project Shark Attack had one installed and the engine temps never were anything other than 210 degrees on the water temp gauge. The cooler reduces oil temps about 20 degrees or so, but the combination helps to stabilize the engine temp reducing the up and down temperature spikes, especially with A/C. An engine can live without an oil cooler, but everything in total helps, even if just a little bit, towards longevity.
Spike
Spike
Dep
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Florida
GM does install an oil cooler on a Corvette 
http://www.corvettemuseum.com/specs/2006/LS7.shtml
Fairly reliable site.
The LS7 has a dry-sump oiling system designed to keep the engine properly lubricated during the high cornering loads the Corvette Z06 is capable of producing. An engine compartment-mounted 8-quart reservoir delivers oil to the engine oil pump under the demanding conditions of cornering loads in excess of 1 g.
Oil circulates through the engine and down to the oil pan, where it is sent back to the reservoir via a scavenge pump. The large-capacity reservoir, combined with a high-efficiency air-to-oil cooler, provides necessary engine oil cooling under the demands of the engine's power output. With the dry-sump system, oil is added to the engine via the reservoir tank - which includes the oil level dipstick.
Oil circulates through the engine and down to the oil pan, where it is sent back to the reservoir via a scavenge pump. The large-capacity reservoir, combined with a high-efficiency air-to-oil cooler, provides necessary engine oil cooling under the demands of the engine's power output. With the dry-sump system, oil is added to the engine via the reservoir tank - which includes the oil level dipstick.
Fairly reliable site.
Can't wait to hear this next one.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I don't think it's wise to base your decision for or against an oil cooler on German designs. Those folks in Germany have been "overbuilding" vehicles for a very long time. But they also have VERY different driving situations (Autobahn), as someone else noted. Most American cars driven IN America DON'T have oil coolers. That pretty much negates the few from Germany that do.
Dep
Dep
Last edited by 63mako; Mar 4, 2007 at 08:27 PM.