Oil Cooler
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 115
From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Ok checked your signature and you are supercharged at high HP, so assuming you utilize that power frequently an oil cooler may be warranted. A lot of threads on that subject, what type, size, location, etc. I currently use a Derale stacked plate 19 row cooler (the cooler is actually made by Setrab) with an Improved Racing adapter with a 180 degree integral thermostat.
Last edited by alxltd1; Aug 4, 2017 at 12:02 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 115
From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
"As I have said hundreds of times... the LS/X engines have a sweet spot.... 190 to 200 coolant and 200/210 oil... keeping the coolant in the sweet spot helps to keep the oil where it should be... too cold of oil is not what you want...too cold decreases flow , lubricity, internal integrity and causes power loss.
knowing the right numbers is key.... hotter oil produces more power... too hot causes thermal breakdown and shear..too hot is 280.
if you can keep both the coolant and the oil in the sweet spot, the car runs right.
Take it or leave it....
Bill aka ET"
So I think you are fine without a cooler unless you envision more track time and expect to bump up against the 280 number. Hope this helps.
It the cooler brings you down to the 200/210 range, wouldn't hurt. The Lingenfelter kit would be fine I imagine.
Last edited by alxltd1; Aug 4, 2017 at 03:27 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,137
Likes: 2,984
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
OK, first giving all the credit to ET, who was in fact an engineer on the design of the C5 the following is his quote:
"As I have said hundreds of times... the LS/X engines have a sweet spot.... 190 to 200 coolant and 200/210 oil... keeping the coolant in the sweet spot helps to keep the oil where it should be... too cold of oil is not what you want...too cold decreases flow , lubricity, internal integrity and causes power loss.
knowing the right numbers is key.... hotter oil produces more power... too hot causes thermal breakdown and shear..too hot is 280.
if you can keep both the coolant and the oil in the sweet spot, the car runs right.
Take it or leave it....
Bill aka ET"
So I think you are fine without a cooler unless you envision more track time and expect to bump up against the 280 number. Hope this helps.
It the cooler brings you down to the 200/210 range, wouldn't hurt. The Lingenfelter kit would be fine I imagine.
"As I have said hundreds of times... the LS/X engines have a sweet spot.... 190 to 200 coolant and 200/210 oil... keeping the coolant in the sweet spot helps to keep the oil where it should be... too cold of oil is not what you want...too cold decreases flow , lubricity, internal integrity and causes power loss.
knowing the right numbers is key.... hotter oil produces more power... too hot causes thermal breakdown and shear..too hot is 280.
if you can keep both the coolant and the oil in the sweet spot, the car runs right.
Take it or leave it....
Bill aka ET"
So I think you are fine without a cooler unless you envision more track time and expect to bump up against the 280 number. Hope this helps.
It the cooler brings you down to the 200/210 range, wouldn't hurt. The Lingenfelter kit would be fine I imagine.
When I had my 98, with a SC 383, I would start freakin' at 220 and panic at 240. Yes, I know the fans don't even kick on til 226 but 280? Hell, the temp gauge only goes to 260 and it's in a red zone before that.
280?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,728
Likes: 142
From: Iowa
I wouldn't bother with an oil cooler on the street, you'll never need it.
280 oil temp, the car doesnt have an oil temp gauge. You have to monitor it through the DLC. You're thinking coolant.
280 oil temp, the car doesnt have an oil temp gauge. You have to monitor it through the DLC. You're thinking coolant.
Last edited by Quickshift_C5; Aug 4, 2017 at 04:52 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 115
From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I was hitting 250 (oil temp) on track days in summer in South Florida, as well as boiling power steering fluid, so added coolers for both.
Last edited by alxltd1; Aug 4, 2017 at 05:06 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,137
Likes: 2,984
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 177
From: Houston, Texas FEAR THE BONES
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
To clean the radiator, remove the intake and the radiator support plastic cover. Now you can see the top of the AC condenser and the radiator underneath it. In between the 2 is where all the road debris accumulates. Some people use compressor air to blow out the debris, while others drain the radiator coolant and actually remove the entire radiator from the car for a thorough cleaning. I removed my radiator a few months ago to clean it, and I removed a ton of dirt, leaves, plastic bags and other debris. Dropped my temps a good 20 degrees under normal street driving with the AC on. Best thing is, this costs $0 and will likely fix your temp issues.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 115
From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Before adding additional coolers, first try to clean off the radiator and AC condenser. You will be surprised at how much trash accumulates on the top side of the radiator, where you cannot see it. Since the C5 is a bottom breather, it essentially vacuums up road debris with more efficiency that your household Hoover.
To clean the radiator, remove the intake and the radiator support plastic cover. Now you can see the top of the AC condenser and the radiator underneath it. In between the 2 is where all the road debris accumulates. Some people use compressor air to blow out the debris, while others drain the radiator coolant and actually remove the entire radiator from the car for a thorough cleaning. I removed my radiator a few months ago to clean it, and I removed a ton of dirt, leaves, plastic bags and other debris. Dropped my temps a good 20 degrees under normal street driving with the AC on. Best thing is, this costs $0 and will likely fix your temp issues.
To clean the radiator, remove the intake and the radiator support plastic cover. Now you can see the top of the AC condenser and the radiator underneath it. In between the 2 is where all the road debris accumulates. Some people use compressor air to blow out the debris, while others drain the radiator coolant and actually remove the entire radiator from the car for a thorough cleaning. I removed my radiator a few months ago to clean it, and I removed a ton of dirt, leaves, plastic bags and other debris. Dropped my temps a good 20 degrees under normal street driving with the AC on. Best thing is, this costs $0 and will likely fix your temp issues.
Last edited by alxltd1; Aug 7, 2017 at 03:08 PM.
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
I just installed a novi 1500 kit and a lingenfelter oil cooler, the discharge hose for the head unit goes right were the oil cooler mounts, I had to modify the lingenfelter mount and move it to the other side of the crossmember. hope this helps.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 622
Likes: 48
From: Nederland Texas
All my tempts stay below 210, even at the drag strip. Except the tranny on hot days got up to 215... but now I have a 12x12x1.75 cooler for it soo hopefully its good. For OP, get a small or mid sized B&M, mount it on the ac condenser. I believe you have to have a special connection that goes from the oil filter area to the cooler (I think that how it is don't quote me lol) But I'd start there and try to keep all temps below 210. just my 2 cents
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 375
From: Central Florida
This is a trans cooler mounted under driver headlight, (B&M fan powered) you could do the same for oil I would guess. Lowered my trans temps way down.
My oil goes to built in radiator cooler.
Last edited by Forcedvert; Aug 8, 2017 at 12:48 AM.