Auxiliary coolers, who needs them?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Auxiliary coolers, who needs them?
That other thread got me thinking,
30 years ago i thought some ac cobra kit cars looked so mean with the russel plumbed coolers in the grill, remember gumball rally or Hollywood knights ?
They sure look cool at the biffy burger on cruise night.
Im thinking i might install an oil cooler but then like the ghost of ob1 telling luke, "use the force" my dads words eched in my head, "do you need it?"
I know there are many real reasons that have zero to do with "looks" that some c3 owners might actually need extra coolers be it trans, engine oil or ?
So tell me when does a c3 used mostly or only for the street really "need" the extra cooling ?
30 years ago i thought some ac cobra kit cars looked so mean with the russel plumbed coolers in the grill, remember gumball rally or Hollywood knights ?
They sure look cool at the biffy burger on cruise night.
Im thinking i might install an oil cooler but then like the ghost of ob1 telling luke, "use the force" my dads words eched in my head, "do you need it?"
I know there are many real reasons that have zero to do with "looks" that some c3 owners might actually need extra coolers be it trans, engine oil or ?
So tell me when does a c3 used mostly or only for the street really "need" the extra cooling ?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
Performance boat guys watch oil temp climb over about 5 to 15 minute period when running hard. 15 minutes at 4500 rpm nearly full throttle. Try that on the street. How many cops have you collected in the rear view by then? Your car already has a more than adequate oil cooler. The oil pan hanging down in the wind stream under the car.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Im not in a boat or running 4500 much at all,
Soon ill have a stick so trans cooling is moot but i included it,
Heck, some cars have power steering coolers
Soon ill have a stick so trans cooling is moot but i included it,
Heck, some cars have power steering coolers
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 121
From: Sulphur LA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
I think each is different but, bore a GM BB block .060" over with more stroke and a solid cam and push it to around 700 HP. Thats what got me there, especially on the street in 90* plus heat. Three different radiators and three different fan setups which produced little to no control over either the water temps nor the oil temps.
Add a rather large engine oil cooler and see the temp issues go away, may not work for everyone but for me it was the key to keeping things cool.
Neal
Add a rather large engine oil cooler and see the temp issues go away, may not work for everyone but for me it was the key to keeping things cool.
Neal
Last edited by chevymans 77; Jun 23, 2018 at 10:34 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Had a fuel cooler on the return line-Power steering cooler- trans cooler-AND an oil cooler. Oh- and a heatsink set up on the ECU with cooling fans!!!
I am currently just running a fuel cooler
HOWEVER- when I do get the thing on the road- I will watch the oil temp gauge I replaced the clock with.
I'm running a drysump with 9+ quarts of oil- and can easily add a cooler as my oil filter housing is already set up for it( temp switched)
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 145
Likes: 22
From: San Francisco CA
If you want to know-get an oil temp gauge. I had a car with one-oil temp was not an issue under normal circumstances. However, at sustained high rpm for instance-banging through the gears up to or near redline at full throttle heated it up fast. This would occur on empty two lane highways in the mountains and hills in California and Oregon. Without a gauge I would say you don't need one unless you are driving hard, high rpm for sustained periods of time. That is my experience.
