engine oil cooler
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,497
Likes: 3,999
From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Re: engine oil cooler
So how hot is too hot for the oil? My last track day I was seeing oil temps in the 275 range, and this was short shifting at about 4500-5000rpm. Another gentleman running his LT4 saw temps hit 305 before backing off, but he was running it to redline for the first 7-8 minutes of the session. Should I go ahead and start thinking about an oil cooler, or should I just stick with a good synthetic oil and change it regularly (no more than 2 track events between changes)?
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
Re: engine oil cooler (EvanLT1)
Evan,
You're asking the question of the hour. Maybe I'll surf some oil company websites and see what I can find out.
I am due for an oil change, though, and am pertty certain I'll be switching to synthetic oil.
[Modified by JohnEVette, 11:49 AM 5/10/2002]
You're asking the question of the hour. Maybe I'll surf some oil company websites and see what I can find out.
I am due for an oil change, though, and am pertty certain I'll be switching to synthetic oil.
[Modified by JohnEVette, 11:49 AM 5/10/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,497
Likes: 3,999
From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Re: engine oil cooler
I just got a reply back from an email I sent to Amsoil, and it looks like they are saying their Series 2000 20W50 would be ok without the oil cooler. I specified specifically the oil temps and conditions to them, so they had all the info for the recommendation.
Here's the link on the 20W50: http://www.amsoil.com/products/tro.html
They also have a 0W30 that looks much better than even Mobil1: http://www.amsoil.com/products/tso.html
As another point, my 95 LT1 Firebird that I ran at a lot more track events, and ran much harder (5900rpm redline), looked absolutely perfect at 90k miles when I had the heads off. I used Mobil1 exclusively in it, and although it didn't have a digital oil temp readout, I'm guessing the temps were are least as high as the vette if not higher.
I'm thinking I will give the Amsoil a try, it actually has much better specs than even Mobil1 or any other synthetic oil I've seen. I've actually used it on other cars in the past, the only bad part is you can't pick it up a the local auto parts store.
Here's the link on the 20W50: http://www.amsoil.com/products/tro.html
They also have a 0W30 that looks much better than even Mobil1: http://www.amsoil.com/products/tso.html
As another point, my 95 LT1 Firebird that I ran at a lot more track events, and ran much harder (5900rpm redline), looked absolutely perfect at 90k miles when I had the heads off. I used Mobil1 exclusively in it, and although it didn't have a digital oil temp readout, I'm guessing the temps were are least as high as the vette if not higher.
I'm thinking I will give the Amsoil a try, it actually has much better specs than even Mobil1 or any other synthetic oil I've seen. I've actually used it on other cars in the past, the only bad part is you can't pick it up a the local auto parts store.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,861
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Re: engine oil cooler (EvanLT1)
I emailed forum member MarkBychowski how he hooked up his Earl oilcooler with the cats in place Here's how.
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Brian Cunningham [mailto:briancunningham@go.com]
>Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 2:01 PM
>To: markbych@ameritech.net
>Subject: oil cooler on an LT4
>
>Hey Mark,
>How's it going?
>
>How did you get the cooler install with the cats right next to it.
>Did you get a regular adapter to fit?
From: ""<markbych@ameritech.net>
To: "Brian Cunningham"<briancunningham@go.com>
Date: Tue May 21 20:12:08 PDT 2002
Subject: Re: oil cooler on an LT4
>Hi Brian,
>
>The adaptor I used was a special offset sandwich
>adaptor from DRM. I'm sure others sell it too.
>It's a bit tight with the cats installed, but it fits.
>
>Later!
>
>From: Brian Cunningham [mailto:briancunningham@go.com]
>Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 2:01 PM
>To: markbych@ameritech.net
>Subject: oil cooler on an LT4
>
>Hey Mark,
>How's it going?
>
>How did you get the cooler install with the cats right next to it.
>Did you get a regular adapter to fit?
From: ""<markbych@ameritech.net>
To: "Brian Cunningham"<briancunningham@go.com>
Date: Tue May 21 20:12:08 PDT 2002
Subject: Re: oil cooler on an LT4
>Hi Brian,
>
>The adaptor I used was a special offset sandwich
>adaptor from DRM. I'm sure others sell it too.
>It's a bit tight with the cats installed, but it fits.
>
>Later!
>
