Oil cooler questions

["Turbo-T"]

2 questions...

1. Why do people remove the oil cooler? I read on vortexbuicks (IIRC) that it is supposed to help control knock (our enemy) by reducing the temp on the underside of the piston caused by the temp of the oil splashing onto the piston underside. Yet I read here people claim it doesn't make any major difference in oil temp w/o it.

2. What is a fair price for the oil cooler adapter + both of the cooler lines?

Thanks in advance.

 

[turbofrank]

1. My opinon on oil cooler 25 years ago our cars ran hotter. 25 yrs later we have alum rad,alky,water wetter,larger ic,the list goes on . No need to worry about cool oil.
2. do the search

 

[ikle]

I removed mine because I was told you don't need it if you run synthetic motor oil.

 

["Turbo-T"]

Ok. I figure cooler oil might be beneficial to the engine.

 

[groumoutis]

I removed mine before I put on the Alky and I was running 18lbs of boost and didn't get any knock. Of coarse I removed it and installed an f-body aluminum radiator.

 

[aminga]

People remove them because they trap debris and there's no way to clean them out. On a rebuild they would introduce this stuff back into the oil

 

[williamsGN]

Ok. I figure cooler oil might be beneficial to the engine.

It is......if you loose a motor then you want to take it out of the loop. I replaced mine with a B&M external when I toasted the main bearings. GM didn't spend the money to put them in there originally for no reason. I run 160 all day until I start beating on it or have the air running a lot. Then the temps go up, I would rather have cool oil running through my engine and especially the turbo ($1300). An external set up cost me about $150, so why not for peace of mind, sure doesn't hurt and allows a bit more oil in the system.

 

[Mark E.]

It is......if you loose a motor then you want to take it out of the loop. I replaced mine with a B&M external when I toasted the main bearings. GM didn't spend the money to put them in there originally for no reason. I run 160 all day until I start beating on it or have the air running a lot. Then the temps go up, I would rather have cool oil running through my engine and especially the turbo ($1300). An external set up cost me about $150, so why not for peace of mind, sure doesn't hurt and allows a bit more oil in the system.

160 oil temp or water temp? My oil temp never saw 210 with the cooler and never has seen 220 without. Still not up to the oil temp my machinist wanted to see. My cooling system is very good and that helps. I have noticed oil temp tracks coolant temp pretty closely. I do not believe the cooler is necesary.

Mark E.

 

[williamsGN]

You say oil temp tracks coolant closely and your machinist wants to see over 220 oil temp. That would be one hot running car.

I appreciate you oil temp input on readings though, proves to me a cooler helps with a 10 degree difference.. I'll take it.

From vortexbuicks-etc.com

"Most engineers seem to think that oil should be at least 180 degs in order to burn off condensation and allow the additives to properly clean. On the other hand, oil temperatures that rise much above 200 degs begin to contribute to thermal breakdown which shortens the life of the oil and its effectiveness as a lubricant. How high is safe? I would guess that the curve steepens greatly at 215-220 degs when it comes to oil life.

 

[ryan319]

I have an adapter and oem lines that I'll sell you for $40. Sound fair?

 

[longball]

"Oil manufacturers specifications usually give a nominal 212degree fahrenheit reference(100 degree C) viscosity as well as 104 degree F (40 degree C), and these two ratings determine what SAE grade is determined" from Richard Clark's ZDDPlus website. Tech Brief #13. http://www.zddplus.com/TechBrief13 - Oil Viscosity.pdf

I always took this (and other info) to mean that oil performs best 'hot' - around 212 degrees......wouldn't be first time I've been mistaken...if I am.....

 

[~JM~]

The oil needs to reach above 212 degrees to burn off any water/condensation that has accumulated. Probably don't want it to get much hotter for longevity, I can no longer recall how hot, too hot is.

~JM~

 

[longball]

That's right. The oil needs to be a little hotter than most people suspect. Just had new engine built by respected engine builder. He removed the engine oil cooler......

 

[~JM~]

It sounds like many coolers are bypassed due to contamination & fear of not being able to flush it clean. Another issue is radiators being replaced without internal coolers.

I would run an aftermarket thermostatically controlled oil cooler if I didn't already have one in the radiator. The OEM engineers felt that additional oil cooling was beneficial or that cooler wouldn't be there.

~JM~

 

[longball]

That's true about engine oil coolers being bypassed due to contamination and fear of not being able to flush it clean. I would think if it was needed my builder would have replaced it with a new one.
Darn good question though. I will ask for a little more detail about why next time I talk to him. OEM engineers usually have a good reason to do what they do. 25 years later oil is SO much better
at handling and dissapating heat than it used to be. I think now there is a better understanding about oil and why it needs to be hotter than most people realize.

 

[williamsGN]

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/threads/oil-cooler.330246/#post-2606351

These guys have been around and know their stuff, so I'll stick with them. Lots of vendors willing to replace your shit when you blow it up... so go for it

 

[longball]

[quote="williamsGN, Lots of vendors willing to replace your shit when you blow it up... so go for it[/quote]

Sometimes I think I am keeping them in business all by myself!

 

[williamsGN]

haha, so are many others....

I'm just trying to keep people on the road, hell I've only been into these cars for 19 years now.. what do I know