oil cooler suggestions

[valleyman]

I've never added an oil cooler to any vehicle I've owned other than VWs in the 1970s, large parts of which I am unable to remember. For the Marauder, anyone have any suggestions? Brands to use/stay away from? Tube&fin or stacked plate? Cooler core size? Remote mount the filter as long as I'm doing the plumbing? Do those sandwich adapters develop leaks? My car is N/A but in our summer heat is running around 195 degrees on the oil temp guage and I'd like to pull that temp down a little. Any suggestions or am I all wet on this?

[SergntMac]

I've never added an oil cooler to any vehicle I've owned other than VWs in the 1970s, large parts of which I am unable to remember. For the Marauder, anyone have any suggestions? Brands to use/stay away from? Tube&fin or stacked plate? Cooler core size? Remote mount the filter as long as I'm doing the plumbing? Do those sandwich adapters develop leaks? My car is N/A but in our summer heat is running around 195 degrees on the oil temp guage and I'd like to pull that temp down a little. Any suggestions or am I all wet on this?
All wet? Naaah. Necessary?...(shrug) haven't heard that either. I do know that controlling overall temps is good, so, cooling the engine oil can't hurt, but I cannot suggest any "bang for the buck" benefit, other than peace of mind. That's worth something, so, yeah, look into it.

FordNut just finished installing the FMC oil cooler kit from the CVPI, nice looking install too. E-mail him, or, mouse around a moment, it's right here, somewhere. I just read something on this earlier today.

[Donny Carlson]

All wet? Naaah. Necessary?...(shrug) haven't heard that either. I do know that controlling overall temps is good, so, cooling the engine oil can't hurt, but I cannot suggest any "bang for the buck" benefit, other than peace of mind. That's worth something, so, yeah, look into it.

FordNut just finished installing the FMC oil cooler kit from the CVPI, nice looking install too. E-mail him, or, mouse around a moment, it's right here, somewhere. I just read something on this earlier today.
I have to agree with Mac here, it's worth it for peace of mind, and certainly anything that helps the engine run cooler ain't bad.

I've seen FordNut's installation, which is very nice. I presume that it's warranteed, too, since its a Ford cooler, installed by a Ford dealer. I gather you will do the install yourself?

I saw this on a CVPI on the lift about a month ago. I would guess you could see what it looks like by peeking under the front of a CVPI near you (though I think you should ask permission first, so as not to unduly worry the constabulary as to your intentions), or going to a Ford dealer that is servicing one.

I am close to doing this to my car, too. The sticking point is the cost of admission, which more than five benjamins for parts, plus the install labor.
I'm thinking of having my pan tapped for an oil temp sender at the same time.
Still mulling this over.

BTW, 195 degrees for oil on hot days... I have a digital water temp gauge, and typically on a hot day in traffic, my water temp stays around 210 degrees. Now that the heat has broken, my temps are sitting at 200/199.

[valleyman]

[

I saw this on a CVPI on the lift about a month ago. I would guess you could see what it looks like by peeking under the front of a CVPI near you (though I think you should ask permission first, so as not to unduly worry the constabulary as to your intentions), or going to a Ford dealer that is servicing one.

I too was interested in the CVPI setup until I ran into the $500+ price tag. I think I will add some type of cooler for the peace of mind -- whether I need it or not, if it makes me sleep better it's worth it, right? You guys know what temp is the minimum for the oil to do all of its intended functions?

[SergntMac]

You guys know what temp is the minimum for the oil to do all of its intended functions?
Well, now you're asking for an opinion, and that may produce disagreement. However, IMHO, if your engine oil is within 10-15 degrees of your coolant temp, I'd say you're okay.

The 4.6 DOHC in our MMs is 90 aluminum construction, heads, block, pistons, and so on are all aluminum, and heat transfer occurs rapidly. Very rapidly. Moreover, the lubrication system is intended to be part of the overall cooling process, so, as long as the overall engine temp is stable and within reasonable specs, i.e. 190 to 210 degrees, you're doing good.

I'm going to take this to an extreme, just to make a point. Imagine your engine coolant running a steady 170 degrees, and your engine oil temp at 210 degrees. Both are present and working side by side to cool the engine, and working in some very tight spaces. To have the inside wall of a cooling jacket treated to 170 degrees, and the outside wall splashed with 210...Well, something would eventually fail, and most likely that would be flexible gaskets and seals first, because they would not withstand the constant flex of the aluminum jacket.

This is where leaks get their start. In fact, some members here have already detected oil seeping into the #8 spark plug valley (driver's side, closest to the firewall). IMHO, this occurs because the valve cover gasket in that area is affected by three temp ranges. In this case, the oil circulating here has the lower temp, because there is no fresh coolant circulating. It's present, but "baking in place." Third, the circulation of outside air on the head is likewise poor, and the more city driving undertaken (vs. highway driving) contributes to a build up of heat that has been measured at more that 40 degrees warmer than the rest of the engine. If you have headers installed, temps could grow even higher, because any cold air from underneath the car, filters through the headers.

Over time, I am sure this contributes to the valve cover gasket leaking, and oil seeping into the spark plug valley. Again, this is only IMHO, my .02c, but I have taken steps to address this on my MM, and I have no oil seepage anywhere. Take it for what it's worth...

BTW, Dennis Reinhart has a fix for the coolant circulation issue, inexpensive too. You would probably be better off exploring this mod before an external engine oil cooler. The only reason the oil cooler was added to the CV/PI, was because of their excessive idle times. Call Dennis at 904.276.5003.

[Logan]

Let me step up here. If you are running a Naturally aspirated motor, anywhere in the US, you probably don't need an oil cooler. Your oil temps will rarely go above 200 degrees.

The reason I put a oil cooler on my car is for a few reasons.

1) I live in Texas. It's hot here.

2) I run a supercharger and it's hot here.

3) The combination of 1 & 2 meant oil temps up near 230 degree's, which meant detonation. Not good.

Since installing my oil cooler, my temps now are in the 185-200 range at all times and the detonation issues have pretty much disappeared.

So, If you're supercharged & live in the south, I would strongly suggest you get an oil cooler or at least monitor your temps. The folks up north don't see the 100+ degree daily heat we do down here and their cars runs quite a bit cooler.

The one thing no one mentioned that has a huge impact on oil temps is how hot it is where ya live... ;)

[Brutus]

I would suggest that the oil is at least hot enough that it will evaporate any condensed water. However you dont want it so hot that it starts to break down the oil.

[Logan]

A range of 180-200 is optimal IMO.

[valleyman]

You've given me much to chew on boys, thanks. Sarge, I already have the cross flow coolant mod from Reinhart in place, but I never thought of the difference between water temp and oil temp: thanks for enlightening me. Logan, we are not quite as hot as some parts of Texas but there's a reason "Fresno" is Spanish for "How in the hell do I get out of here?" (Just kidding folks) The main reason I was thinking of an oil cooler in the first place is the ambient temperature around here from May-September. It just spooks me to think this car is made with a cooling system that isn't any different from the ones that get sold in Minnesota. It sounds like as long as I stay N/A I"m just fine.

[Logan]

If it concerns you in the slightest, just install a oil temp gauge... More gauges are always fun. :)

[Amsoil_Dealer]

. It just spooks me to think this car is made with a cooling system that isn't any different from the ones that get sold in Minnesota.

That's what thermostats are for. In Fresno, yours probably opens more often than in Minnesota but the basic temperature range of the engine is the same in either climate. The cooling systems on these cars are quite good and you really have little to worry about on a gently driven, N.A., street car.

All of Logan's points are spot on and his advice is sound. Adding an oil temp gauge would be a cool (no pun intended) addition.


Don

[schuvwj]

I have an Autometer oil temp. gauge installed on my n/a MM and I have never seen it get above 190 deg. F. in IL. On cool days, (70 deg. F.), the oil does not exceed 160 deg. F.

My temp. sending unit is located next to the oil pressure sending unit.

Where do the rest of you have your oil temp. sending units installed?

[Logan]

That's exactly where mine is Bill, in the spare plug right next to the pressure sender...

On a 100+ degree day here, my engine would hover around 210 and if I got into the boost at all, it'd instantly spike to 230 and stay there. Since the oil cooler I put together, even on 100+ degree days, I never go above 200...

[Sactown]

You've given me much to chew on boys, thanks. Sarge, I already have the cross flow coolant mod from Reinhart in place, but I never thought of the difference between water temp and oil temp: thanks for enlightening me. Logan, we are not quite as hot as some parts of Texas but there's a reason "Fresno" is Spanish for "How in the hell do I get out of here?" (Just kidding folks) The main reason I was thinking of an oil cooler in the first place is the ambient temperature around here from May-September. It just spooks me to think this car is made with a cooling system that isn't any different from the ones that get sold in Minnesota. It sounds like as long as I stay N/A I"m just fine.
Yea, people don't realize how dang hot it gets here in the central valley of CA. I was driving through Redding last week at around 7:30 pm...105 degrees...in the shade, and that's not the worst I've seen there. Pulled into Sac aroud 9:30 and it was still over 90. Please keep us posted regarding your oil cooling adventures, I'd like to do the same in the near future.

[schuvwj]

That's exactly where mine is Bill, in the spare plug right next to the pressure sender...

On a 100+ degree day here, my engine would hover around 210 and if I got into the boost at all, it'd instantly spike to 230 and stay there. Since the oil cooler I put together, even on 100+ degree days, I never go above 200...


Thanks Logan!

[MitchB]

The only reason the oil cooler was added to the CV/PI, was because of their excessive idle times

Let's be clear on this: oil temperature is a function of engine RPM and load. At idle, your engine oil temp will be at it's minimum. The oil cooler was added to the PI to control oil temp during high speed operation.

Mitch

[valleyman]

My oil temp guage sender is installed right next to the pressure sender also. So far the highest spike I've seen is about 210.

[schuvwj]

My oil temp guage sender is installed right next to the pressure sender also. So far the highest spike I've seen is about 210.

Thanks valleyman, I was starting to wonder if the location I sellected for the oil sending unit was too far from the heat source and giving me low readings.

I am glad to hear you and Logan are using the same sending unit locations.

Thanks again for your help!