Dewitts Radiator - oil cooler question....
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 848
Likes: 2
From: Hockessin Delaware
Dewitts Radiator - oil cooler question....
I have a Maggie going in soon and I hear the intercooler will add some heat to the engine.
I was planing on going with a Dewitts radiator but should I also do the built in oil cooler or go with an independent kit like the one LPE sells if I have a problem later on?? Thanks
I was planing on going with a Dewitts radiator but should I also do the built in oil cooler or go with an independent kit like the one LPE sells if I have a problem later on?? Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 793
Likes: 2
From: Milwaukee & Long Beach WI & CA
I have the DeWitts with the built in engine oil cooler and I like it. One advantage of having the oil cooler built into the radiator is that you don't have to worry about the oil not getting up to operating temp.
With external coolers, the oil can get over cooled with street driving in cooler temps and never get up to operating temp. Of course, you can just cover over the external cooler, or put in a thermostat.
Since the DeWitts oil cooler is in the same housing as the radiator the coolant heats up the oil. The potential down side is the the oil doesn't get as cool as an external cooler. But I've found it gets the job done on my basically stock ls1. I've run it hard for 30 minute sessions at Spring Mountain Raceway in Nevada with 80+ degree heat and oil temps never went over 250. Before the cooler I would short shift and sometimes back off part of a lap with the temps hitting 280 and rising.
With external coolers, the oil can get over cooled with street driving in cooler temps and never get up to operating temp. Of course, you can just cover over the external cooler, or put in a thermostat.
Since the DeWitts oil cooler is in the same housing as the radiator the coolant heats up the oil. The potential down side is the the oil doesn't get as cool as an external cooler. But I've found it gets the job done on my basically stock ls1. I've run it hard for 30 minute sessions at Spring Mountain Raceway in Nevada with 80+ degree heat and oil temps never went over 250. Before the cooler I would short shift and sometimes back off part of a lap with the temps hitting 280 and rising.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,593
Likes: 631
From: Brighton
I have the DeWitts with the built in engine oil cooler and I like it. One advantage of having the oil cooler built into the radiator is that you don't have to worry about the oil not getting up to operating temp.
With external coolers, the oil can get over cooled with street driving in cooler temps and never get up to operating temp. Of course, you can just cover over the external cooler, or put in a thermostat.
Since the DeWitts oil cooler is in the same housing as the radiator the coolant heats up the oil. The potential down side is the the oil doesn't get as cool as an external cooler. But I've found it gets the job done on my basically stock ls1. I've run it hard for 30 minute sessions at Spring Mountain Raceway in Nevada with 80+ degree heat and oil temps never went over 250. Before the cooler I would short shift and sometimes back off part of a lap with the temps hitting 280 and rising.
With external coolers, the oil can get over cooled with street driving in cooler temps and never get up to operating temp. Of course, you can just cover over the external cooler, or put in a thermostat.
Since the DeWitts oil cooler is in the same housing as the radiator the coolant heats up the oil. The potential down side is the the oil doesn't get as cool as an external cooler. But I've found it gets the job done on my basically stock ls1. I've run it hard for 30 minute sessions at Spring Mountain Raceway in Nevada with 80+ degree heat and oil temps never went over 250. Before the cooler I would short shift and sometimes back off part of a lap with the temps hitting 280 and rising.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I have gone over the DeWitts at Carlisle. Very very nice piece. If you don't know if you need the cooler, you could always get the radiator with the cooler and just leave the plugs in it until such time you determine you want to hook it up. That was the route I was thinking in the future.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
I'm running a Dewitts w/ the left side EOC (enclosed oil cooler). Heats up to operating temp even in the middle of the winter w/ my vented hood. And at VIR in 95+ heat it never got over 276 oil temp w/ my pounding on the car. In general the oil stayed around 260 on track.
My oil cooler is on the left side which is the hot side of the radiator, but it required less braided stainless line.
My oil cooler is on the left side which is the hot side of the radiator, but it required less braided stainless line.
