Add On Oil Cooler
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 3
From: Richmond Va
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Add On Oil Cooler
I have an 86 L98. Oil got to 288 running a HPDE at CMP. I use Mobil 1 5-30. Is there a bolt on oil cooler available? Would it hurt the engine to run a heavier oil? Say 15-50? Coolant got to 233. Thanks in advance
Bob
Bob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Originally Posted by Kanmer
I have an 86 L98. Oil got to 288 running a HPDE at CMP. I use Mobil 1 5-30. Is there a bolt on oil cooler available? Would it hurt the engine to run a heavier oil? Say 15-50? Coolant got to 233. Thanks in advance
Bob
Bob
You can see it by jacking up the car and looking in the area of the oil filter. If there's an adapter between the block and oil filter with two hoses running from it (one to the block and the other crosses under the oil pan to the passenger side of the engine) you've got one.
My opinion is that 288F running Mobil One isn't a problem because Mobil One can handler temperatures higher than that without beginning to break down.
You didn't mention what the pressure and RPM were when the temps are at 288F; those could be a factor in your oil weight selection.
There are several aftermarket oil coolers available. I'm running a Derale cooler which has a built in fan which I mounted behind the front license plate.
BTW, I run Valvoline VR1 Racing Oil, 20w-50 but I'm not running tight factory bearing clearances.
Hope this helps.
Jake
Jake
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 1
From: Bowie MD
Yes there is a bolt on oil cooler. TPIS is one seller of such a system. It goes between your block and your oil filter. It is 2 inches long. Do you have 2 inches to extend your oil filter down? Then the lines run to a small a radiator that you attach to either the front of your radiator or anywhere it will be safe from road debris. I have a stock oil cooler that is different. In the stock one antifreeze comes from the radiator and supposedly cools the oil in the same location above the oil filter. If the oil is colder, it heats it up also. 
I think I have an extra Chevy SB oil cooler in the boxes in the garage somewhere. I will look for it. The only thing that would be missing is the hoses. So look at the unit that TPIS sells. Also look in front of your radiator and clean out all the Fall leaves that are clogging the radiator. The front of your car is like a street vacumn cleaner. That is what caused my inital higher temps and caused my first radiator to expand the plastic side caps.
I think I have an extra Chevy SB oil cooler in the boxes in the garage somewhere. I will look for it. The only thing that would be missing is the hoses. So look at the unit that TPIS sells. Also look in front of your radiator and clean out all the Fall leaves that are clogging the radiator. The front of your car is like a street vacumn cleaner. That is what caused my inital higher temps and caused my first radiator to expand the plastic side caps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 1
From: Stanfield NC
I run a built 88 with a 383 and was with you at Kershaw that same weekend. (ButtUgly). I took a little different approach when I put my car together and deleted the AC, thereby freeing up some room in the radiator compartment. The stock AC condenser is 17 fins per inch and I utilize a ZR1 oil cooler available from Fluidyne that has 10 fins per inch. This allows more air through to the radiator and still cools the oil very well. I run my car consistantly to 6000+ RPM and my oil never got over 240 degrees. My water temp stays right at 180-185 with a stock radiator.
Conventional wisdom says Mobil 1 is good to 300 degrees, but I spun a bearing on my stock L98 when the oil got that hot. I can't be sure it was all the oil temp fault, but it sure had to be a contributing factor. The stock oil cooler, if yours is so equipped, is more of an oil heater than an oil cooler.
Conventional wisdom says Mobil 1 is good to 300 degrees, but I spun a bearing on my stock L98 when the oil got that hot. I can't be sure it was all the oil temp fault, but it sure had to be a contributing factor. The stock oil cooler, if yours is so equipped, is more of an oil heater than an oil cooler.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 322
Likes: 1
From: Los Gatos, CA
another option - heat exchanger
I used an Aeroquip water to oil heat exchanger routed through the radiator line. Heats up the oil to op temp like the stock z51 cooler, but has much more capacity for cooling. 288 doesn't sound too bad, but was that the hottest day you will ever see yourself running on the track?
Good luck
Good luck
