Oil Cooler
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles California
Oil Cooler
Any recommendations for a C5 oil cooler and a shop in So California that can help with the install? This thing bakes the oil on the track..can't believe GM released it this way, especially with Z51 package.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 398
From: Raleigh Suburbs
Ah, yes, well,
I do not have any clue whatsoever in regards to what they utilize for this...
However, for that have you thought about a dual-core Radiator (Coolant AND Engine Oil), one substantially versatile solution.
I do not have any clue whatsoever in regards to what they utilize for this...
However, for that have you thought about a dual-core Radiator (Coolant AND Engine Oil), one substantially versatile solution.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 398
From: Raleigh Suburbs
I'm not exactly sure we can't just utilize for engine oil - even at a fraction of the surface area of an entire Radiator, the engine oil cooling section would have additional Fins when compared to a stand-alone engine oil cooling solution.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
My 2001 Z51 A4 has a DeWitts radiator with both transmission and engine oil coolers, 180 degree Improved Racing oil thermostat which bolts onto the oil pan in place of the oil pan cover which allows engine oil to go to the radiator cooler when over 180 degrees, SS braided oil lines from the thermostat to the radiator cooler and back.
I used 1/2 inch heater hose to mock the route and length of the SS braided oil cooler hoses, then ordered the SS braided hoses and fittings from Improved Racing. I strongly recommend AGAINST using OEM C5 Z06 hoses because of the difficulty installing them.
Put NEW air dams on the car, your old ones may be deflecting and reducing engine cooling which translates to oil temperature also.
My engine is stock, if yours is producing a lot more power, a fan cooled heat exchanger might be needed in addition or instead of the radiator cooler. The DeWitts radiator has superior cooling ability which helps all around.
Since mine is an A4, I also run a B&M finned aluminum pan on the transmission and have a transmission fluid cooler in front of the condenser plumbed after the DeWitts.
I rarely see engine oil temperatures over 250, same with the transmission fluid. 220 on a cold day.
I used 1/2 inch heater hose to mock the route and length of the SS braided oil cooler hoses, then ordered the SS braided hoses and fittings from Improved Racing. I strongly recommend AGAINST using OEM C5 Z06 hoses because of the difficulty installing them.
Put NEW air dams on the car, your old ones may be deflecting and reducing engine cooling which translates to oil temperature also.
My engine is stock, if yours is producing a lot more power, a fan cooled heat exchanger might be needed in addition or instead of the radiator cooler. The DeWitts radiator has superior cooling ability which helps all around.
Since mine is an A4, I also run a B&M finned aluminum pan on the transmission and have a transmission fluid cooler in front of the condenser plumbed after the DeWitts.
I rarely see engine oil temperatures over 250, same with the transmission fluid. 220 on a cold day.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 398
From: Raleigh Suburbs
I've heard good things about DeWitts, as well as A&A...
Really interesting. What sort of solution(s) do they utilize which keep engine oil temperature so low, while on track?
Really interesting. What sort of solution(s) do they utilize which keep engine oil temperature so low, while on track?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 398
From: Raleigh Suburbs
Because that's damn good 
Anywho that design obviously works. Without a cooler, I used to watch my oil temps slowly crawl up specifically upon any spirited driving.
We need a solution that on one hand works hard fast and on the other hand can handle repeated kinds of TRack temps.
Anywho that design obviously works. Without a cooler, I used to watch my oil temps slowly crawl up specifically upon any spirited driving.
We need a solution that on one hand works hard fast and on the other hand can handle repeated kinds of TRack temps.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 315
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
American Heritage Performance in Harbor City, CA (310) 326-2399
Warren/Spot 28 in Arcadia, CA (626) 447-0219
Do give us a review if you use a shop.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,976
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
Doug Rippie Motorsports makes a great setup. I have a cooler in my radiator from the prior owner. A friend has the DRM setup, if I did it again I'd go DRM's route of keeping them separate, the coolant doesn't heat up the oil and if you damage a motor (send metal though it) you can replace the cooler rather than having to get everything cleaned.
If you want a thermostat for the oil cooler you can using Improved's adapter block and then the lines, bracket and cooler from Doug Rippie. DRM's setup uses -10 lines so if you go the Improved adapter route you will need to specify to Improved.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ler-combo.html
If you want a thermostat for the oil cooler you can using Improved's adapter block and then the lines, bracket and cooler from Doug Rippie. DRM's setup uses -10 lines so if you go the Improved adapter route you will need to specify to Improved.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ler-combo.html
Last edited by 93Polo; Sep 3, 2019 at 09:32 AM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 1,259
From: Harbor City California
We do alot of C5 oil cooler installs along with many many C5 track builds!
Shoot me an email with some details and I can get you a price quote.
Hp@americanheritageperformance.com
or
310-326-2399
Also here are our yelp.com reviews:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/american-he...ce-harbor-city
Our Facebook has some great pics on it of our shop and our work if you wanted to see:
https://www.facebook.com/americanheritageperformance/
https://www.americanheritageperformance.com/
Shoot me an email with some details and I can get you a price quote.
Hp@americanheritageperformance.com
or
310-326-2399
Also here are our yelp.com reviews:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/american-he...ce-harbor-city
Our Facebook has some great pics on it of our shop and our work if you wanted to see:
https://www.facebook.com/americanheritageperformance/
https://www.americanheritageperformance.com/
Last edited by American Heritage; Sep 3, 2019 at 02:01 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 375
From: San Jose, CA
I went with a full kit from Improved. Well, not exactly a kit since they have not yet released their C5 kit, but a full setup from them. BMRS lines, MHX-245, thermostat, plus mounts and stuff. Also their oil pan baffles.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 359
Likes: 25
From: San Antonio TX
I did an improved racing cooler with their thermostat. Made my own lines and did all of the install myself. So far, I havent seen above 250f oil temps on a stock power Z06 at 95-100F ambient temps in Texas.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 398
From: Raleigh Suburbs
Has anyone not done LG's solution with the Diff-Driven dual cooling, and because leaving the main Radiator alone seems like a failsafe option, just add a stand-alone fin of your choosing, and you have separate stand-alone heat exchangers for Fluids.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,976
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
As mentioned above I like the stand alone oil cooler but I would still replace the factory radiator not so much for cooling capacity but safety. The factory radiator has plastic end takes which if they fail a crack would dump fluid under the car. Yes an aluminum radiator can fail but it is more likely to have a pinhole leak rather than a massive fluid dump.
Last edited by 93Polo; Sep 4, 2019 at 09:28 AM.