I did a search and didn't seem to come up with much.... has anyone had any exprience with external engine oil cooler? Any comments about it's usefulness? I am away that we haev a coolant-oil-heat exchanger type of deal... but am thinking an external cooler would be benificial as well.

comments welcomed.

thanks,
-Shing

 

Fwiw, the older 911 Porsches had "trombone" type oil coolers in front of the right wheel. I replaced one on a Porsche I owned with a finned cooler, but the car didn't seem to run cooler with all the smog detuning at the time. It seems as though an external cooler was necessary, though.

The info on oil temp by the one who put gauges in the radio door was interesting. Since the oil took 5-6 mi. to warm up, but did get pretty hot, perhaps an external cooler with regulated flow would be nice.

 

Any thoughts on something custom like this?

http://hybrid.honda-perf.org/tech/oilcooler/index.html

Adrian did mention on there that on track day the oil temp was still below 210.

-Shing

 

i'd like to see that for the tranny oil.

 

We DO have an oil cooler- it IS of the sandwich type. I'm not sure if all Hondas have them, but the Prelude has for at least the last 10 years.

How effective is it? I don't know. How critical is it? I don't know. I do know that I've raced Hondas for a while now and haven't had any trouble with any premature failures involving the oil system. I've seen people put coolers on with no noticeable gains. At this point, my personal opinion is that they would only be warranted on a track-only car. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, please be sure to educate me if you flame

I've read some concerns about cooling oil too much- that if you use an oversize cooler, that you will have cooled the oil too much and promote the production of sludge or deposits in the engine. I'll try to look this up and post back some real "facts."

 

you'll have better results with a larger capacity oil pan than an oil cooler. Remember the extra lines and cooler will add to more piping the oil will need to flow and will alter oil pressures. Not necessary for street driving weekend tracking cars.

 

Without proper instrumentation it is difficult to tell that we have a real need. Since we have the small cooler and a good capacity finned pan it is not an obvious problem. The oil needs to be about 190F - 260F. I guess if temps are going over 300F we might have a need.. any indication this is the case?

 

I suspect that I probably don't get near 260 most of the time. If upto 260 is with in operating range, than I don't think I'd need one....

thanks,
-Shing