Oil cooler

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Ok guys, I think I need an oil cooler. I have the F body rad, with external trans oil cooler. If I decide to run an external oil cooler, where would I run it? And, could I just run the trans oil thru the radiator, and use the external oil cooler for the engine oil?
What say you?
If you have an external engine and trans oil cooler, post pics if you can, so that I can see how you have yours rigged.

 

[Mark E.]

Run both trans coolers. Oil cooler is not needed imho. Also my oil temp gauge confirmed.

I tried running only external trans cooler and it did not cut it.

Mark E.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

I have an external trans cooler with a Lonnie Diers trans. That's not good enough? For my engine oil, I fear it's getting thin too fast. I may need to cool it a bit.

 

[turbo nasty]

I removed my engine oil cooler simply because when I was breaking in my new engine I didnt want the shavings and moly going through it.
I ran with out it for a few thousand miles and after extended highway runs, beating on it, etc oil psi would drop and oil was breaking down from getting too hot.
Put a large external air to oil cooler on and psi stays up and recovers after a pounding/runs.

I dont care what whoever says a oil cooler is needed for a turbo car that gets driven alot..highway runs, followed by traffic followed by more racing , etc.
Synthetic, dino, snake oil or whatever its needed

 

[Mark E.]

Interesting. My oil temp gauge only showed 20 degree temp rise max without cooler. Temps were still no where near too high. In fact my machinist wanted to see them higher. Never saw 230 degrees in the pan. Car has never been babied. I put the hurt to it every chance I get.

 

[Shawn N]

Not having any issues either w/o a oil cooler and I drive 50 miles to work daily in 100+ temps.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Yea, your car doesn't run like mine either. Mines rebuilt, and makes funny noises, like it has 300,000 miles on it. Sounds fine when started with fresh oil. It quickly ruins it's own oil though

 

[klmnla]

I have an F body radiator also. I ran the trans fluid through the radiator and an external cooler. I added a B&M oil cooler with aeroquip hose and fititngs. There is a writeup somewhere on this forum on the radiator installation with the coolers.

 

[Shawn N]

Yea, your car doesn't run like mine either. Mines rebuilt, and makes funny noises, like it has 300,000 miles on it. Sounds fine when started with fresh oil. It quickly ruins it's own oil though

Mine is rebuilt also with 240K

 

[Mark E.]

Yea, your car doesn't run like mine either. Mines rebuilt, and makes funny noises, like it has 300,000 miles on it. Sounds fine when started with fresh oil. It quickly ruins it's own oil though

Does not sound like having an oil cooler or not had anything to do with that. If the coolant temps are under control, the oil temp should also be under control. Not many vehicles came with oil coolers. Probably something else going on and adding an oil cooler may not help. How have your coolant temps been?

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

My coolant temps are actually awesome. 170 range while driving in 80 degree weather.

 

[Mark E.]

My coolant temps are actually awesome. 170 range while driving in 80 degree weather.

I've always felt oil temps stay fine when coolant temps are under control. Oil is always splashing around inside the block which is cooled by the coolant flowing through the block, providing oil cooling. I hope that kind of makes sense.

If something is heating your oil enough to break it down and harm it, something else must be going on. But without an oil temp gauge, there is not enough data. imho.

All for the sake of discussion. I make no claims of knowing all. Just trying to keep learning.

 

[robzombie]

I dont care what whoever says a oil cooler is needed for a turbo car that gets driven alot..highway runs, followed by traffic followed by more racing , etc.
Synthetic, dino, snake oil or whatever its needed

X2

I have seen my oil pressure drop by as much as 10 lbs. on hot days with ac on while pounding on it in stop and go traffic, and that is with a factory rad oil cooler setup.
When my coolant temps gets to 190* which is only in the above scenario I notice that my oil pressure goes from 20 lbs. to 15 lbs. at idle in gear.

So if you live in a warm climate and drive your car like I do, about 100 miles a day, then I would say an oil cooler can only be beneficial to the longevity of the engine.

If you drive year round like I do then putting in a 180*/190* T-stat will keep your oil warm enough and also running a lighter viscosity oil will help in cold climates.

 

[V6sleeper]

No oil cooler for 8 years and no issues....

 

[hiboom]

GM thought there was a need for one ? ?

 

[we4Mateo]

GM thought there was a need for one ? ?

The stock oil cooler works like the trans cooler, it preheats the fluid so the car gets up to operating specs quicker. GM also didn't run synthetic oil nor did they run 160* thermostats. The "GM used it" argument doesn't work if you changed oil type, which is no longer factory available, or changed your thermostat. I don't run a cooler so that my oil does in fact get hot enough to burn off the contaminants and water.

My oil pressure goes down too when it's real hot; that's how I know it's getting hot enough. With a cooler and low temp stat, I'd be changing my oil every 1,000 miles and that's too often for my preference and driving habits. I never feel that beating on them hot with a/c is ever a good idea, but to each their own. I'm more worries about something electrical not keeping up under high power situations when the car is overly hot from stop and go hot driving with a/c.

 

[hiboom]

The GM arguments work's for me, thanks anyway

 

[we4Mateo]

The GM arguments work's for me, thanks anyway

What's your car run and how many miles per year do you drive? I'm not trying to be disrespectful, I'm just curious for knowledge sake. TY!

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Haven't run an oil cooler for years, no issues. Trans, only run a B&M trans cooler with fan, trans temp never goes above 180.


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[robzombie]

The "GM used it" argument doesn't work if you changed oil type, which is no longer factory available, or changed your thermostat. I don't run a cooler so that my oil does in fact get hot enough to burn off the contaminants and water.

I respectfully disagree with you on a couple points.

Why even bring up oil type?? It all benefits from running at a consistent temperature and most people with flat tappets use an additive with their oil.

It does matter if you have an oil cooler as it keeps the oil from getting to hot/thin at high temps as well as keeping the oil warm [ideal operating temp] like all coolers in the rad do.
It will help warm the oil by getting it to at least coolant temp, but will also bring it back down faster after running hard and putting a lot of heat into the oils of both the trans and motor.

The point of any cooler is to maintain a more consistent temperature throughout the operating cycle, and bring them down after beating the shit out of it with the AC on in 100* weather like I do here in south cackalacky.

I'm not sure if GM used it on the turbo cars to specifically keep the turbo from coking the oil due to the added heat produced by the turbo but I will run it as long as I continue to drive my car daily.

Only in a race car would I not run one as oil temps would never be an issue at the DRAG STRIP.

RZ