I'm considering installing an oil cooler, as I suspect my oil temps are seriously high, given the turbo and the fact that the car runs pretty hot on the track. (For that, I'm considering upgrading to the Mugen radiator -- any feedback on it would be appreciated, as well.)

The problem is that I've no place to put it: the nose is stuffed with the intercooler. My faux brake ducts are being used to actually duct the front brakes.

I was thinking of installing it flat behind the radiator with air scoops under the car to direct air upward and through the cooler, but it's been suggested to me that I consider, instead, a liquid oil cooler that uses the hot water returning from the block to the radiator to cool the oil first before being cooled itself by the radiator.

Has anyone heard of these things? Anyone have any direct experience with them? Thoughts/feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
CB


__________________
C. Bender
2001 S2K Silver/Black
AEM EMS, Fuel Pressure Regulator, and Wideband O2 Sensor; RC Engineering 550 Injectors; Turbonetics TO4B 60:1 Ball Bearing Turbo; Tial 46mm Wastegate and 50mm Blowoff Valve; GReddy EGT and Boost Warning Gauges; Upgraded Intake Fuel Pump; Oil Filter Relocation Kit with Stainless Steel Lines; Speedcraft Front Mounted Intercooler, Mandrel Bent Tubing, 3" Down Pipe, and 3" Stainless Exhaust; A'PEXi N1 Mufflers; Clutchmaster Stage 3 Clutch; Toda Lightweight Flywheel; Mugen Radiator Cap, Thermostat, and Fan Switch; Upgraded Oil Bolts; Spoon X-Brace; HeCash Brake Ducting; Competch Stainless Steel Brake Lines; WorkMeister S2R 18" Wheels; Lucid's Front and Rear Speakers; 2002 Stereo Head Unit; Rick's Front Badge; JDM Clear Side Markers; Muz Shift Knob; Uber Cool Nurburgring Decal

 

Yes, I have. What you basically are describing is the way many OEM's do oil coolers in their cars. On my Corrado VR6, there was an oil/coolant exchanger and one of the best mods you could do was to take it out and install a genuine air/oil cooler.

In short, the best course of action is to install a dedicated oil cooler. The other method just adds stress to you cooling system, which even the Mugen radiator may not compensate for.

P.S. there may be other high capacity radiators on the market that are cheaper and as effective as the Mugen unit. J's Racing and others offer them as well.

 

Contact C&R Radiators. They can make you an oversize radiator with oil cooler built into it. Real Time Racing uses these on there ITRs and RSXs. I believe it is a one off piece, but the price wasn't too bad when I talked with them about one. Here is a link to the circle track version to give you an idea.

http://www.crracing.com/products/circletrack/

Chris B
'02 GWP

 

Cbender, you have the speedcraft kit right? You might not have enough space behind the radiator to put an oil cooler if you have an oversized radiator. I have a Koyo and it pushed my fans back 1.5-2 inches. It was enought to make me have to modify my fan shrouds to accomidate the relocated oil filter. Depending on the size of the oil cooler you might be able to get it between the I/C and the A/C condensor.

 

what are your oil temps? Do you have an oil temp guage?

 

maybe you need to get a vented hood and maybe a bigger mouth in the front to get more air in to help lower temps

 

Take out the welder and get creative. You can put the the oil cooler in several places, the most obvious is behind the radiator, attached to the cross brace below where the stock intake sits. Another place to put it is behind the wheel, inside the fender. I would run an air cooler rather than a water cooler, as you'd ethier tax your cooling system, or you'd have to run an extra water pump and heat exchanger.

Also, if you remove your A/C condenser you can put the cooler between the intercooler and the radiator.

Chris

 

I was speaking with YellowStreak this weekend and in his NA race S2000 they are seeing oil temps of 300F with sustained track use. Since we are Turbo'd it is reasonable to expect our temperatures to higher.

 

I too was seeing temps upwards of 280 to 290 on my SC'd track car. I placed an air-oil cooler behind the radiator and it brought the temps down but not by much, 10* maybe 15* at the most. I've since moved it to in front of the radiator and now my oil temps are down to 230 to 240.

Those C&R units look like the ticket. If i had known of those before i would have gone that route.

 

Thanks, all, for the helpful feedback.

A couple of comments/constraints. First, I really don't want to replace the nosecone or hood. I've already slid way too far down the bling-bling slope. Second, I appreciate -- and wish to keep the a/c -- so I'm reluctant to yank the compressor. Third, Vapors, I don't have an oil temp. gauge, but I think GilbertG's comment and Dave's data confirm that I'm almost certainly pushing very high temps.

I like the C&R idea -- if the radiator's big enough (assuming I can get one to fit), then it seems capable of resolving both problems in one go. Besides, I'd assume that any heat removed from the oil would also, at least to some degree, represent heat that's NOT being added to the coolant via the block, so the physics of combing the two units seems not so bad. Or maybe I'm missing something.

I appreciate the suggestions/advice. EMC, let's talk further about your radiator. I'll PM you my contact info. I'm now local (somewhat) to you.

Best,
CB