Oil Cooler - Is it necessary?

Chaplin · #1 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 12:13 PM

Putting aside for a moment that oil coolers look cool and are "accurate", are they necessary for street applications?
I am considering not using one because I have heard that for street driving, an oil cooler can actually keep the oil too cool. Also, I am concerned that rocks and other road debris might puncture the cooler and the oil would leak out without me noticing the oil pressure gauge dropping to 0.

Keep in mind that I will be running a 428. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

petek · #2 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 12:35 PM

From what I understand: not required.

But an oil cooler certainly looks proper in the Cobra's snout so:

- use a cooler with lines but don't hook the lines up to anything

or

- use a cooler and an oil thermostat. Best of all worlds. Oil cooler is available if the oil temperature goes up high enough to require the cooler.

Back in Black · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 12:35 PM

#1) If you use the car only locally, and it does not overheat, you don't need it

#2) if you plan on touring or other activities that may get you into hot(ter) conditions, then install one with an oil temp thermostat...this allows flow only above a certain oil temp. be sure to drain the oil in the cooler and lines when doing an oil change.

BiB

ERA-FIA · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 01:04 PM

Chaplin,

Probably not, each engine seems to run differently heat wise. My car has been on the road all through July in the hotest weather and it hasen't seen 220 deg. oil temp. The oil cooler in my car has not been hooked-up and will be for looks only. My former car an era 427 SO with healthy cam and compression is now owned by a good friend. We installed the latest era radiator last year and then had to install an oil thermostat in order to keep temp up in cooler weather.

Joe

Dennis Tapp · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 01:18 PM

For street use the thermostat is the only way to go. I did not want to hook up a thermostat. I had a cooler in my car and could never get the oil past 150 degrees. I removed the cooler and installed a couple of driving lights. May not be original but sure looks good. The car is a street rod anyway.

SuperHart · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 01:40 PM

You can purchase an oil cooler adapter with built in thermostat from B.A.T. in Florida, http://www.batinc.net/main.htm . They have sandwich types to fit Ford motors complete with 1/2 NPT female threads . I run one on my 351W and it seems to work quite well. It restricts oil flow through the cooler unless the oil temp exceeds 180*. Just gotta have an oil cooler to look "correct".

Dan Stryffeler · #7 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 02:26 PM

Last summer, w/o a cooler, I was running about 230 degrees on the highway. The temperature probe was inserted via a spacer in the line to the remote oil filter.

Installed a cooler over the winter and rerouted the probe to the back of the oil pan (a baffled Canton). The oil typically runs about 160 degrees at highway speed. I blocked off the cooler with duct tape and ran it again - no change in temp, (which IMPLIES that a thermostat might not make any difference).

I'm not sure if I'm comparing apples to apples since I changed the location of the temp. probe. Go figure....

With the baffled pan, maybe I'm taking the temp from a 'dead' spot?

Dan

Chaplin · #8 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 02:39 PM

As always, thanks for the responses.
So, I guess the options are install but don't hook it up or hook it up with a thermostat.

For those of you that have them installed but not hooked up, what do you do with the lines when they return into the engine compartment?

Thanks,
Mike

Back in Black · #9 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 02:45 PM

My oil cooler will be out of sight down next to the tranny somewhere. I suspect this will reduce it's cooling effect a bit, which will not be a bad thing. It also should offer more protection against rocks and such.

I will know exactly where the mount is when I take delivery.

Mr.Fixit · #10 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 05:01 PM

Oil coolers are pretty tough. They are a heck of alot tougher than the radiator, as they operate at 10 times the pressure. If you are afraid that you won't notice the oil pressure gauge going to zero, you will still hear the motor ticking like a sewing machine. As for the necessity of the oil cooler, it depends heavily on a myriad of factors which vary car to car. If you like driving around in second gear at 4000 rpm all day, your motor has excessive thrust issues, you actually race it some, it does in fact make 600 hp, these are the kinds of factors which will determine the necessity of such.

Put an oil temp gauge on it and find out if your car needs one is the best advice.

If you want one just for looks, call around and try to get a "used and dirty" one. After a motor lets go, the oil cooler is junk as you will never get all the debris out that the oiling system depsited in the cooler. Acouple of other issue relating to oil temp: high volume oil pumps can add a good amount of heat to the oil in some situations. The motor will only flow so much oil, the pump moves more oil than necessary which is how pressure is developed. After enough pressure is generated, the bypass in the pump opens allowing the excess oil flow to get blown back into the oil pan. This secondary path of oil flow can add considerable heat to the oil which takes this path. Excess oil pump capabiblity over what the motor needs costs hp, adds load to the timing chain and dist gear, and can heat the oil up some. Depends on the motor's clearances and how quickly the oil gets slung off the crank. Pushing your motor oil through a cooler will drop the pressure some, assuming all else is constant.

Jack21 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 06:45 PM

My $.02. For where you live (N. Joisey), your stated driving (hpstreet), engine (428FE) would put a Canton baffled road race pan, and windage tray and leave it go at that. Spend your money on a power clutch for inching along in 0 - 5 MPH bumper-to-bumper traffic.

But if you envision a time when you'll be rumbling along at 90+ through Arizona or Nevada, use the oil cooler with the thermostat.

Chaplin · #12 (**permalink**) 08-01-2002, 08:49 PM

Jack-
Traffic in Joisey? Whatch talkin' 'bout? We don't need no stinkin' traffic?

You raise a good point, but would you do as others have suggested and install an oil cooler for asthetics but not hook it up?

Mike

JAM1775 · #13 (**permalink**) 08-02-2002, 08:18 AM

I have an oil cooler with braided lines looped together where you cannot see. I have seen others tuck the lines just behind the radiator. Do we need the oil coolers if we are not running high speed track races for long distances ? For street driving and occasional track use I do not believe I need one. For appearance it is there. I also wonder if the additional 4 feet of oil coolant line with no other mods can effect some engine oil pressures at critical times.

Roscoe · #14 (**permalink**) 08-02-2002, 09:12 AM

After having my car on the road for over a year, driving Joisey roads, and attending an open track event, I can say that the oil cooler is needed more for driving in traffic.

My oil temp at the track did not really get over 180; enough to open the thermostat on the cooler. However, in Joisey traffic on these hot summer days of 90+, my oil (and water) has gone over the 180 mark.

As far as pressure: I start up with 70-75 lbs and run, while driving and with the engine hot, around 50. I also have two remote oil filters and an Accusump pre oiler.

Roscoe

Brad Pfeifer · #15 (**permalink**) 08-06-2002, 04:03 PM

Chaplin, et al,

Mark Dove at Snakebite in Ohio has recommended against using the oil coolers, at least on the SPF cars. Evidently they have encountered some flow restrictions. Temperature is probably less of a concern than adequate flow on street cars.

I left the hoses connected to the oil cooler for asthetics, and closed the system by joining the two connectors with a union and tucking the lines into the nose. It can be recooneted easily if needed.

Brad

fl1946 · #16 (**permalink**) 08-06-2002, 04:55 PM

ln:Kln

Jack21 · #17 (**permalink**) 08-06-2002, 05:03 PM

For aesthetics? Guess if you're going the whole S/C route and want to keep with the originality, then put the oil cooler in. But if you're going to go to the trouble of installing it, hook it up with the thermostat so it works, and is practical for street use.

I didn't go the whole original S/C route and left the oil cooler off. 9 quarts of 10W30 synthetic keeps it cool enough.

Mr.Fixit · #18 (**permalink**) 08-07-2002, 09:57 AM

Sinced we're talking oil temp here, one common misconception is that an increased oil capacity will result in lowered oil temp. This is wrong, it just increases the amount of time necessary for the oil to: heat up to operating temp, and cool down after you shut the motor off.

Roscoe · #19 (**permalink**) 08-07-2002, 01:58 PM

Brad,
Flow restrictions have nothing to do with the make of the car. It is a plumbing problem or an engine problem.
Roscoe

Brad Pfeifer · #20 (**permalink**) 08-07-2002, 02:36 PM

Roscoe,

That is understood. I am relating the recommendation I received from Mark Dove that they have noticed flow restrictions through the oil coolers. Mark is probably not going to speak for any other manufacturer other than SPF.

Your right, it doesn't matter who makes the car. If you are thinking about using an oil cooler, and the associated plumbing, you should be aware that problems have been reported.

Brad