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Should I Fit The Biggest Oil Cooler I Can?

Shaun

By Shaun,
in Engines & Forced Induction

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Shaun Mentor

Shaun

Posted
Posted

Hi,

I bought an Earls 13 row (wide type) oil cooler core for my R32 gtst with built, single turboed RB26 in it. After making some modifications to the intercooler piping, i can now fit a 16 or 19 row core in the drivers side inner guard.

My question is; although ill probably do minimal track/drag strip work, should i fit the biggest possible cooler i can in there? I suspect the answer is yes, but just thought id ask first.

Oh, im not using a thermostat either. The dimensions for the 13 row are (W)225x(T)50x(H)100mm. The 16 row is 25mm higher, and the 19 row is 25mm higher again.

Thanks for any help,

Shaun.

Simon-S14 Grand Master

Simon-S14

Posted
Posted

is it a street car as well? If so, with a larger core, you'd be wise to fit a thermostat inline.

It would pay to fit a larger core, you dont have to go too crazy, bu something bigger then you have now, aided with ducting would be great

JammerLammy Apprentice

JammerLammy

Posted
Posted

I've talked to a few people about this as well, and surprisingly, bigger is not always better and where you place the cooler is important too.

I believe any size would decrease oil temps, but also make sure you mount it "BEHIND" the radiator.

You gotta keep in mind, you want your oil above 100 degrees, and if you are driving it day-to-day on the road, with a large oil cooler, mounted right at the front, the oil will be cooled with air in the 20-30 degree range, possibly making the oil too cold to do it's work.

Just to give you an idea, I'm driving a R33 turbo, no cooler at all, and it would see the mountains (Mt nebo) and QLD raceway at least once a month. with no overheating probs what so ever. But keep in mind I will be running some upgrades very soon, so will seriously consider an oil cooler upgrade soonish.

sorry for the long post.

Beer Baron Grand Master

Beer Baron

Posted
Posted

run the bigger cooler. and don't run it anywhere near the radiator. far better to have it housed in either side duct. thermostat is a good idea, but if you don't want to add one just monitor temps and if you find it wont get up to temp then just use a piece of perspex of aluminium sheet and cover part of the core during colder weather. on the street you don't really want temps over 100C for a skyline. 80-90 is fine running temp.

Shaun Mentor

Shaun

Posted
  • Author
Posted
run the bigger cooler. and don't run it anywhere near the radiator. far better to have it housed in either side duct. thermostat is a good idea, but if you don't want to add one just monitor temps and if you find it wont get up to temp then just use a piece of perspex of aluminium sheet and cover part of the core during colder weather. on the street you don't really want temps over 100C for a skyline. 80-90 is fine running temp.

I think youre a wise man Beer Barron. Thats exactly what i was thinking of doing in cooler weather. The GTR engine uses the heat in the water to heat up the oil on cold start doesnt it? For this reason, it was recommended i dont run a thermostat.

Anyway, ill get the bigger one.

Shaun.

Beer Baron Grand Master

Beer Baron

Posted
Posted

yeah, there is a heat exchanger in the oil filter mount assembly that puts heat from the coolant into the oil to help bring it up to 80C. go big, on hot days and track days you will need it. when you don't, just use the little alloy shield to block airflow to all or part of the core. :)

Simon-S14 Grand Master

Simon-S14

Posted
Posted
I have never had too cold oil anywhere in Australia, so I have never ever considered a thermostat.

Cheers

Gary

you dont live in the adelaide hills... some nights it gets wayyy chilly, great turbo weather but my oil temps struggled to get over 60 degrees, i covered the core with cardboard and they went up to 90... til i decided to fit a thermostat. couldnt be stuffed with cardboard

Sydneykid Grand Master

Sydneykid

Posted
Posted
you dont live in the adelaide hills... some nights it gets wayyy chilly, great turbo weather but my oil temps struggled to get over 60 degrees, i covered the core with cardboard and they went up to 90... til i decided to fit a thermostat. couldnt be stuffed with cardboard

Mt Kosciusku, minus 5 degrees often, every winter, every year for 10 years, all sorts of cars, all with oil coolers. Never needed a thermostat in any of them. How about a rally car on Mt. Canobolas in winter, now that's cold.

Regardless, 60 degrees is not a problem. Plus I assume that you are measuring the temperature post oil cooler, so the "operating" oil temp is more like 80 degrees anyway.

Cheers

Gary

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