Inline Oil Coolers

[isuzu110]

I'm thinking of trying to bring my radiator temps down when towing uphill on summer days. Given the 300 Tdi radiator has a shared oil cooler, I was thinking of an engine oil cooler upstream of the OEM oil cooler to help.

Are these style of inline oil coolers suitable for 300 Tdi engine oil pressures ? Are they effective ?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/323.jpg

Thoughts ?

[slug_burner]

That cooler should handle the oil pressure produced by the engine oil pump which should be no more than 80 psi at best. I don't know what the pressure relief is set at but I'd say that it would allow 60 psi so 80 is allowing a bit of a fudge factor. The efficacy of the cooler will be dependant on the airflow over it as the cooler requires air to take the heat away from the cooler's fins. Left to natural convection I doubt the cooler would make much difference however with a suitable amount of airflow the heat exchage to the air would improve. In order words the cooler will do if you can place it somewhere where there is good airflow.

[bigcarle]

thanks isuzu110
i have been wondering the same thing about this for a short while now. but just running an auto transmission cooler or some such thing just behind the grille (if there is any room:D;))
looking forward to further ideas and comment on this subject

[TonyC]

I had always assumed that the oil cooler in the radiator was about keeping the oil temp stable not just cool.
Is there a risk of over cooling if the system doesn't have a thermostat in it?

Tony

[isuzu110]

I live in SE Qld so am not too worried about the oil being too cool. I plan to still run the oil through the existing oil cooler post the inline air one. My aim is to reduce overall oil and water temperatures. Yes, somewhere the inline cooler gets plenty of airflow.

[jakeslouw]

I took my oil cooler off my Nissan TD engine due to sludge. I was even told by a Nissan factory mechanic that Nissan South Africa discontinued use of the coolers : the core blocks up and then the oil pump simply bypasses it via the pressure release valve.

OK, granted that is with nice African 500PPM+ sulfur diesel, but anybody running "iffy" fuel or SVO should take note. I think depending on the design of the oil circuit you could suffer oil starvation.

Just a heads up: if you want to run a cooler, make sure the internal passages are nice and BIG. And I recommend you remove, clean and flush every 50,000kms or so.

[bigcarle]

I live in SE Qld so am not too worried about the oil being too cool

same here

[bigcarle]

how would a rangie tube type cooler go?

[p38arover]

The P38A uses an air cooled radiator. It might be adaptable.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/173.jpg

http://www.roversnorth.com/store/images/Product/medium/RND537.JPG

An RRC cooler may be cheaper and available from a wrecker.

[isuzu110]

Thanks for all the ideas guys...

Yes, I've thought of a RR cooler, an RX7 cooler (as suggested by JustinC elsewhere) and a Jeep Cherokee cooler. They are probably more efficient at transferring heat.

I was attracted to the inline style as they seem more robust and cheaper (and less efficient). Remember, I'm not contemplating bypassing/eliminating the existing cooler, just taking some heat out before it gets there.

[klappers]

I would have thought that a larger air cooled radiator would have been the go. The problem, like you said, with the inline cooler is that altough it is simple, you are going to have trouble with heat sink... I am tempted to bypass the radiator all together and go air cooled with something like the RX7 cooler. These are huge and there are plenty around. The other benefit with this system is that the radiator get back to what it does best and just cool the coolant. Constant oil temps shouldnt be to much of an issue due to the thermostat in the oil system. But having not done this conversion I cant offer any real data...

[TonyC]

Constant oil temps shouldnt be to much of an issue due to the thermostat in the oil system.

Is there a thermostat? Not saying there isn't, I just don't know, for that mater I don't know if over cooling the oil matters.

Tony

[George130]

Are you talking trans oil or engine oil?

Both have an optimal temp. Over and it's bad for the oil under shouldn't matter to much in Australian temps unless you are in the snow fields even then I wouldn't think it to bad, especially if you have a oil to coolant unit in the system to warm the oil when needed.

I have been thinking of replacing my transmission lines for some of those inlines oil coolers, thinking that coupled with the oil to coolant unit in the system it might also suck a little extra out of the whole system.

But I already have a monster transmission cooler and as stated the oil to coolant unit to.

[scott oz]

I had a brand new old RR porcupine type cooler so I cut the "loop" end of the metail pipe cooling pipee on the TD5 and ran an out line to the Porcupine cooler and back to the return line.

The porcupine cooler fitted nicely under the intercooler and cleared the radiator. Seems to work well.

[clubagreenie]

One question on the first cooler listed. How does it mount? Also what are the end fittings? If they are JIC/AN (37deg taper/unf thread) and it's fitted on hose then if the hose is clamped the cooler will be swinging of the hoses, but will effect the connections less. If mounted on hard lines will be better supported but will leak at the connections.

I'd hit ebay and look for a good setrab cooler or go to the wreckers and find a saab with a cooler on it (made by setrab) they will have moubting tabs. Also the bar/plate design over the tube fin as pictured is far better for heat dissipation.