25 replies to this topic

[Speedymad]

I am debating on whether to add an oil cooler.  I maintain great oil pressure but have no means of measuring temps.

 

Tried to fit a 10 row with thermostat years ago and just never got it to fit nicely so binned it.

 

The car is just used as a weekend toy, 1310, SW10 cam, twin HS4's, Swiftune head, 3.76 diff so does get revved and it does get abused.

 

Would you run an oil cooler? I understand benefits of running one but are they really needed on road cars?

 

I like the look of the MED race kit, expensive but looks as though it would fit very nicely.

 

Many thanks.

Edited by Speedymad, 08 June 2023 - 05:35 PM.

[PoolGuy]

Have a read of this https://www.calverst...ature-critical/

[imack]

I've always run a 13 row oil cooler on my 1380. I don't have an oil stat and don't have a oil temp gauge so I've no idea of oil temps.
My cars also a weekend warrior toy for traffic free blasts down the lanes and rarely gets used in cold winter months.
If I used it much in cold conditions I'd probably block or partially block airflow through the oil cooler.

[Spider]

If you were to measure the Oil Temps, you'll find it more or less follows the coolant temp.

 

For a road car, I can't imagine a situation where you would need one.

 

Fitting one and cooling the Oil to the point of not letting it get over 80⁰ C is not a good idea. There's many combustion by-products, including a lot of moisture, that end up in the Oil and it's only when the Oil gets to a running temperature that these start to evaporate out of the Oil and are drawn off by the Crankcase Breather set up.

[Speedymad]

Have a read of this https://www.calverst...ature-critical/

thanks for that, interesting read and leaves me on the fence.  It used as a weekend warrior car so maybe a small 10 row cooler could be beneficial.  However, an oil temp gauge probably better to monitor temps before fitting one.   
 

it highlights my worries about oil not getting hot enough and why I’ve been hesitant in fitting one.  

[absx2]

I binned mine 20 odd years ago for exactly the reasons Spider said.

I had condensation in my rocker cover that disappeared after removing the oil cooler and I know of a few situations where people were chasing head gasket issues that turned out to be nothing more than breather problems and cold oil 

[Speedymad]

If you were to measure the Oil Temps, you'll find it more or less follows the coolant temp.

 

For a road car, I can't imagine a situation where you would need one.

 

Fitting one and cooling the Oil to the point of not letting it get over 80⁰ C is not a good idea. There's many combustion by-products, including a lot of moisture, that end up in the Oil and it's only when the Oil gets to a running temperature that these start to evaporate out of the Oil and are drawn off by the Crankcase Breather set up.

thanks Spider.  I’ve been hesitant in fitting one for those reasons, I’m worried about the oil not getting up to temps.  
 

Perhaps an oil temp first and if it’s getting too hot then add a small 10 roe cooler 

[Earwax]

I am with the DON'T ADD ONE group for road use.  

 

Apart from the negatives given above, the only positive for a road situation is increasing the volume of oil circulating. (probable that the connecting hoses add as much volume as the cooler itself.)

 

If you wanted to fit a gauge, I prefer a mechanical type pressure gauge, as that way the effect of temp and oil condition will be seen. 

[Speedymad]

I binned mine 20 odd years ago for exactly the reasons Spider said.

I had condensation in my rocker cover that disappeared after removing the oil cooler and I know of a few situations where people were chasing head gasket issues that turned out to be nothing more than breather problems and cold oil 

 

 

I am with the DON'T ADD ONE group for road use.  

 

Apart from the negatives given above, the only positive for a road situation is increasing the volume of oil circulating. (probable that the connecting hoses add as much volume as the cooler itself.)

 

If you wanted to fit a gauge, I prefer a mechanical type pressure gauge, as that way the effect of temp and oil condition will be seen. 

many thanks for your replies.  
 

Think that’s a no to fitting one 

[Spider]

Might be a bit hard to find however the Metro Turbo used a Oil-to-Water Heat Exchange, it was built in to the Oil Filter Head. If you have concerns regarding Oil Temps, this might offer the best of both worlds.

[Steam]

Might be a bit hard to find however the Metro Turbo used a Oil-to-Water Heat Exchange, it was built in to the Oil Filter Head. If you have concerns regarding Oil Temps, this might offer the best of both worlds.

Many moons ago in another life I had a Metro engine with the oil cooler on the filter housing. Made absolutely no difference whether the water hoses were connected or not. This was in the UK.

[whistler]

Might be a bit hard to find however the Metro Turbo used a Oil-to-Water Heat Exchange, it was built in to the Oil Filter Head. If you have concerns regarding Oil Temps, this might offer the best of both worlds.

I have a spare one of those. They were also fitted to some Metro Vans. I don't think they'll fit a Mini as the extra length of the filter and cooler unit looks like they'll foul the subframe.

I used to run an oil cooler on a high revving 997 rally engine 50 years ago but would blank it off for road use as the oil was overcooled and sludge formed in the rocker cover.

[Steam]

Might be a bit hard to find however the Metro Turbo used a Oil-to-Water Heat Exchange, it was built in to the Oil Filter Head. If you have concerns regarding Oil Temps, this might offer the best of both worlds.

I have a spare one of those. They were also fitted to some Metro Vans. I don't think they'll fit a Mini as the extra length of the filter and cooler unit looks like they'll foul the subframe.
I used to run an oil cooler on a high revving 997 rally engine 50 years ago but would blank it off for road use as the oil was overcooled and sludge formed in the rocker cover.

The one I had was an A+ metro engine in a mini subframe and it fitted fine. Whether an A series mini engine is located farther forward I cannot remember.

[Java_Green]

 

 

Might be a bit hard to find however the Metro Turbo used a Oil-to-Water Heat Exchange, it was built in to the Oil Filter Head. If you have concerns regarding Oil Temps, this might offer the best of both worlds.

I have a spare one of those. They were also fitted to some Metro Vans. I don't think they'll fit a Mini as the extra length of the filter and cooler unit looks like they'll foul the subframe.
I used to run an oil cooler on a high revving 997 rally engine 50 years ago but would blank it off for road use as the oil was overcooled and sludge formed in the rocker cover.

The one I had was an A+ metro engine in a mini subframe and it fitted fine. Whether an A series mini engine is located farther forward I cannot remember.

 

I took a Oil_2_Water Heat Exchanger from a PSA engine from approximately 2012ish (scrapyard) and have modified it due to threads. With this the filter fouled the subframe. Out of outer reasons I have done an intermediate adapter translating the filter housing right in car and to resolve the fauling I angled the filter housing mating surface ~10 deg.

[Spider]

Sorry, I made a small error here. These heat exchangers were fitted to the MG Metro and the Vanden Plas models.

This is the animal;-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Might be a bit hard to find however the Metro Turbo used a Oil-to-Water Heat Exchange, it was built in to the Oil Filter Head. If you have concerns regarding Oil Temps, this might offer the best of both worlds.

I have a spare one of those. They were also fitted to some Metro Vans. I don't think they'll fit a Mini as the extra length of the filter and cooler unit looks like they'll foul the subframe.
I used to run an oil cooler on a high revving 997 rally engine 50 years ago but would blank it off for road use as the oil was overcooled and sludge formed in the rocker cover.

The one I had was an A+ metro engine in a mini subframe and it fitted fine. Whether an A series mini engine is located farther forward I cannot remember.

 

I took a Oil_2_Water Heat Exchanger from a PSA engine from approximately 2012ish (scrapyard) and have modified it due to threads. With this the filter fouled the subframe. Out of outer reasons I have done an intermediate adapter translating the filter housing right in car and to resolve the fauling I angled the filter housing mating surface ~10 deg.

 

 

 

Steam - I'll say up front, I've had no experience with these however, given that the Oil and Coolant temps pretty much follow each other without any auxiliary coolers, then what you've found makes sense to me.

The 1100 Sprite and Midgets I think had and adaptor that moved the Oil Filter Assembly up about an inch or so. It's a bolt on fitting that will fit any manual A Series engine. I have one in the draw, if I remember, I'll snap off a photo. It wouldn't be difficult to make one.