Hey guys I am wondering about an Oil cooler for my car. I have never driven it at sustained high RPMS, but I feel the results would not really be good. Normal driving my oil temps stay low, usually around 200. I try to do some spirited driving every day to get the temps up above 212 so any condensation will boil off. What suprises me is how fast this happens. If I go WOT for a few short burst my oil temps will exceed 212 in no time, while the coolant temp stays between 170-180. With the coolant at this temp the oil temp will drop very quickly when I return back to normal driving, but I just have a feeling that if I ever had to sustain high RPMS for any length of time, such as a top speed run my oil temp would get out of control quick.

What experience do you have with oil coolers. I'm looking for something that could possibly fit in front of the A/C or between the radiator and A/C. I'm not worried about increased oil capacity, It could go up several quarts and I wouldn't mind at all. The other question I have is what happens when it comes to draining the oil? If you drain everything out of the pan you will basically still have a good amount of dirty oil in the cooler, how do you overcome this?

One day I may decide to see how fast I can drive across Montana, the last thing I want to worry about is oil temperature.


[Modified by Nathan Plemons, 9:13 PM 2/15/2002]

 

I got mine from Doug Rippie. It is an Earl's cooler. I just bought the cooler and the sandwich adapter from Rippie. The sandwich adapter is what bolts to the block between the block and your oil filter. Moroso makes a very nice one of these also. Then I went to a shop that makes hydraulic lines for heavy equipment and trucks. They made me the lines using Goodyear hose rated to 300psi. They have this cool machine that crimps on the ends at about 1500 psi. Very nice setup. I just had to do some cutting on the shroud to get the lines through to that area in front of the radiator. My oil now never goes over 220. Most driving around I can't get it over about 175. I have only seen 220 at an autocross on a hot day or lapping on a road coarse. As far as changing the oil. You are right. There will always be some oil trapped in the cooler. Oh well. I change my oil about every 1000 miles so I don't think it's a problem. Others have used that braided steel stuff with -an aeroquip fittings. Yuck. I hate that stuff. Very difficult for a dummie like me to fab up and such. These lines were not very expensive to have custom made to my measurements. And they were easy as heck to put in. Good Luck.

 

86, is that still the vertical radiator?

 

Nathan,

Talk to Peter at DRM. I went with their radiator with integral oil cooler set up. There is a pic on their site of a C5 version, mine is very similar. It wasn't cheap but at the same time it is a very nice piece. Had no trouble running the braided lines. I have a pic of it setting on the bench wating to be installed that I could e-mail to you(Photo point sucks). Hope this helps,




[Modified by Jeff M, 1:21 AM 2/16/2002]

 

Jeff,

I would really like to see that pic if you could post it. I'm thinking of going with that radiator. DRM quoted me $950. It's ALOT of money, but it makes for a much cleaner install. Besides, that's what your going to pay if you buy a new radiator + an external oil cooler. :yesnod:

 

Yes, the '86 has the radiator standing straight up tall at attention. Hahaha. That seems like a good unit the DRM has too. Whatever Peter says I would go by. Tell him I said so too, hahahaha. And tell him you heard he is looking much older lately. That'll get him goin'.