Does oil cooler really do anything?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Troy Ohio
Does oil cooler really do anything?
I see on my 88 I have the oil cooler between the filter and the block,(at least thats what I think it is). It has a antifreeze line in and out. Does this really do anything in terms of cooling the oil?
Large Impressive Member
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In your a climate, assuming you drive it at least some in cooler weather, one of it's biggest benefits is that a water cooled oil cooler will help bring your oil up to operating temp sooner. Even in warmer weather oil takes a lot longer to get to it's normal operating temp than does the coolant. When your oil warms up faster it minimizes the engine wear, most of which occurs from cold starts and running at less than optimal temps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: MD
My 84 had a factory oil cooler. The hoses cracked so I bypassed them since I couldn't find replacements. The oil ran more than 25 degrees hotter on a long highway drive. I intend to put a new oil cooler into my car when I reinstall the engine.
Race Director
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Originally Posted by JLeatherman
My 84 had a factory oil cooler. The hoses cracked so I bypassed them since I couldn't find replacements. The oil ran more than 25 degrees hotter on a long highway drive. I intend to put a new oil cooler into my car when I reinstall the engine.
Similar increased oil temps on my 87 when I eliminated it. I promptly reinstalled it and they dropped.
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Just so you know,GM dropped the Oil cooler in 92 when the LT1's came out,main reason was they used Mobil One oil,and the breakdown temps were much higher than dino oil.I dont know if the LT1's reversed cooling system made it more diffucult to put one on there anyways,but GM said it was dropped due to synthetic oil.
If youre running Mobil one already,the oil cooler removed shouldnt hurt anything or cause problems.Even if you see a bit higher temps,the better oil wont breakdown like the dino stuff.
However,it cant hurt,speeds up cold weather oil temps and does reduce the oil temps somewhat which may prolong the oils life too.I saw maybe a 10 degree increase/change when I bypassed my oil filter once before on the Vette for a short time,when I owned it.However,I didnt race the car or put it to the test,so cant claim the higher temps others may have seen.
If youre running Mobil one already,the oil cooler removed shouldnt hurt anything or cause problems.Even if you see a bit higher temps,the better oil wont breakdown like the dino stuff.
However,it cant hurt,speeds up cold weather oil temps and does reduce the oil temps somewhat which may prolong the oils life too.I saw maybe a 10 degree increase/change when I bypassed my oil filter once before on the Vette for a short time,when I owned it.However,I didnt race the car or put it to the test,so cant claim the higher temps others may have seen.
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From: SPRUCE GROVE ALBERTA
I think this was more of an item when temps get high to help reduce oil temps and prolong engine life... read a couple of articles about it and they all say to keep it... I cleaned mine throughly when I rebuilt my 90 - L98. The mechanic that did the machine work on the block said they would not guarantee the engine if I did not have one. They should know best
Team Owner
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From: Athens AL
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Generally they run 10-15F hotter without the cooler in place, in summer.
In winter, it has the opposite effect to help heat up the oil, since the coolant gets up to temp faster than oil.
In winter, it has the opposite effect to help heat up the oil, since the coolant gets up to temp faster than oil.
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Originally Posted by golfpro77
I think this was more of an item when temps get high to help reduce oil temps and prolong engine life... read a couple of articles about it and they all say to keep it... I cleaned mine throughly when I rebuilt my 90 - L98. The mechanic that did the machine work on the block said they would not guarantee the engine if I did not have one. They should know best
Whoever told you that is so full of themselves.Its still a small block chevy...add ons dont make a guarantee of machine work!
Just thought it was nuts to hear that line of BS.
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From: SPRUCE GROVE ALBERTA
I had them diassemble the L98 and put it together as a short block ... they offered a warranty on the assembled short block IF the oil cooler remained on the engine... I know it has nothing to do with machine work ... it does have something to do with the engine warranty as he was offering a complete engine warranty even though I completed the assembly and installed the engine. I believe he used the service bulletin info to require the oil cooler. I think he was just covering his ***. As it was installed from the factory as the option he wanted it installed after the rebuild...I would do the same call it BS if you want but it makes sense if you actually think about it.
Anyway I kept it on after cleaning w/o problems, again not all L98 came with the option but heavy duty cooling I believe was the option which included a larger rad & the oil cooler.
Anyway I kept it on after cleaning w/o problems, again not all L98 came with the option but heavy duty cooling I believe was the option which included a larger rad & the oil cooler.
Last edited by golfpro77; Oct 14, 2006 at 11:44 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Australia
Originally Posted by JLeatherman
The oil ran more than 25 degrees hotter on a long highway drive.
With local summer temps 85+, oil temp was very close to coolant temp with cooler installed.
Consistantly 25+ higher with cooler disconnected.
Has been reported here previously that cooler can trap particles which are hard to remove completely, care needed when installing on new engines as may dislodge and enter system
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From: Norfolk Virgiinia
Originally Posted by Bill's86Coupe
Just so you know,GM dropped the Oil cooler in 92 when the LT1's came out,main reason was they used Mobil One oil,and the breakdown temps were much higher than dino oil.I dont know if the LT1's reversed cooling system made it more diffucult to put one on there anyways,but GM said it was dropped due to synthetic oil.
Safety Car
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From: VA
Originally Posted by Zepher
My 95 LT1 had a factory oil cooler on it. It was the oil to air style with a small radiator at the front of the car.
If you're talking about a Y-body, you're wrong it was not a factory cooler.
Advanced
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From: Norfolk Virgiinia
Originally Posted by Vis Croceus
Assuming you're talking about an F-body - well, duh, this is a vette forum.
If you're talking about a Y-body, you're wrong it was not a factory cooler.
If you're talking about a Y-body, you're wrong it was not a factory cooler.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: VA
Originally Posted by Zepher
Actually, it was a 9C1 B-Body LT1 (police package) that I had put into my 86 Trans Am, but his statement sounds like no LT1's at all came with them.
In that context his statement sounds like no C4 LT1s came with them, which is correct.
Also in that context your followup sounds like you have a C4 LT1 with a factory oil cooler, and that's false information.
BTW, you might want to do a little research on that factory oil cooler. If it's the same as the factory F-body LT1 cooler, those guys remove them because quite a few engine failures have been attributed to them.