Adding an Oil Cooler to my healthy 4, What should I consider? Options

[Joseph Mills]

Now that my engine is back together with higher compression I need to consider some additional cooling.

In 80-90 degrees ambient temps, at 3800rpm highway, it runs 200-210-215. So next summer in mid to high 90's, it's going to need some help.

I really don't want to install a cooler up front. But are there any alternatives? Rear fender well? Rear trunk with cutout? Engine bay?

Any specifics or brand models would be most helpful. Pics?

[dmenche914]

The temp might be a bit on the high side. I have found that the temp gages (not so much a sender issue) can vary a good amount. So before going to the trouble of adding a cooler, go ahead and confirm your temp reading if you haven't already. Also see if some thing else might be done to correct the temp problem, some time you may not need an extra cooler if something else can be fixed/adjusted

If you can buy borrow or what ever a nice digital thermal couple, with a long enough sensor wire, then stick it down the dip stick hole. Digital thermal couples are usually very accurate. Or calibrate your s with boiling water.

Also see if timing, or mixture cannot be adjusted to lower oil temp. A lean mixture, or over advance will cause overheat for example.

Check that there is no mechanical problems with the car, like dragging brakes, slipping clutch that can cause over heat.

Be sure all the sealing rubber is in place, and all sheet metal. Missing spark plug hole seals, the seal around the oil press. sender, the seal around the enginebay, etc... all are critical for cool air entering the fan, or prevent leaking of precious cooling air. You must have the warm up flaps installed, even if you do not have the warm up bellows thermostat, they are needed to direct the air even in the "warmed up" position, so without them, your cooling air does not get where it should.

If it is indeed too hot, , and every thing is good, then you must have a powerful motor (lucky you!!!) that really requires more cooling than the stock cooler can provide.

Use one of the oil filter "sandwhich" inlet/outlet adaptors. Keep use of sharp right angle fittings to a minimun . Cooler locations are limited. Do not put it inside the engine bay, as it will dump heat into the cooling fan. It must be in a good air flow to be effective, and an electric fan can be useful. It should be protected from debries. A thermostat is needed to allow oil to obtain a good temp, too cold an oil is also not good. If cooler is in front of car, copper pipe is great to run in the rockers, just braze on a threaded fitting on each end so accept a hose , or just clamp a hose over the ends. The copper pipes a tough, and can add too the cooling.

If you have too hot oil, a check of the head temps is a essential, if the heads are getting too hot, cooling the oil more will not help them much if any, they will still be over heated. Overheated heads crack and drop seats early, so be sure this is not happening.

Good luck on the oil problem. I hope it is simple, so you do not have to add a cooler, Usually the type IV motor can stand a pretty good increase in performance without the need for an external cooler. If you have a really big motor, then you will require one.

Please let the list know the motor details, this will help us know if you truely need an extrenal cooler or not.

What is the compression set too? Stroke, bore? Cam, valves, injection/carbaration system?, and anything else.