thinking about an aftermarket oil cooler

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Originally Posted by jezz

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... so no one has ever fitted a better oil cooler ??

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Jezz

A couple of comments and no I don't have a Disco - but a Range Rover classic. As the radiator, air conditioner condensor and transmission oil coolers sit in the same air flow, the heating of one will reduce the efficiency of the other.

On a hot day and at low speeds, like beach and sand driving the air flow through the front of the car is relatively low, when compared to highway travel. The result is that the air is both hotter to start with and passes through the system slower so the cooling efficiency of each component is lower. On a hot day the a/c condenser gets very hot and this hot air then has to pass through the engine radiator.

I don't believe that the Disco has an external oil cooler. (or does it?) It was certainly not a component of the RR classics.

My RRc has a 12" long X 3" high X 2" wide engine oil cooler and I found that with a 4 ton trailer on behind the vehicle was too much for the auto going up Mount Victoria near Lithgow. The engine oil temp was also quite high at the same time. I have now acquired one of the Discovery (radiator style) transmission coolers that I am about to swap for the smaller sized engine oil cooler and on the advice of Ward from Graeme Coopers plan to fit an after-market "towing package" transmission cooler.

I was also toying with the idea of an engine oil cooler yes yes I know if the cooling is working OK there should be no need .....etc etc
Anyhow you tell my RRC that pulling through powder sand on a 40+day; anyhow I'm not going there ;)

What I wanted to know was :

Has anyone fitted an engine oil cooler to a RRC, (fan assisted type) and where did they put it?

Is there any difference in using an engine cooler or a transmission cooler for the engine oil?

I have seen braided hoses on oil coolers are these vital? I would have thought it was fairly low pressure?

Would there be a maximum distance recommended from the engine?

Would there be a maximum height above or depth below the engine you would want to keep within?

Before you do these things, I suggest that you fit a guage and see what the oil temperature really is.

If you are concerned about engine longevity, I suggest that you use a good semi synthetic or full synthetic oil eg Shell helix ultra or if you like a 50, Mobil 1. they can take much higher temps than cheapo oils.

My RRC 93 has never moved on the temp gauge including low range air con on in 48C.

If you fit a cooler make sure you put a thermostat in the circuit or the oil will be overcooled most of the time, and you will get problems with water condensing in the breathers.

You mentioned using a Falcon thermo (electric??) fan. Most people will agree that a correctly operating viscous fan with shroud will pass much more air than electric fans. It is generally stated that a viscous fan will use say 8BHP. This in amp terms is at least 400,vs the electric with at the most 30amps. This is only an issue towing or on the sand etc.

If you look at the UK ads for Kenlowe, they claim to save 10% fuel when a viscous is only needed in desert conditions etc etc. Nuff said if even the electric fan makers concede that viscous is better.

So if you are worried about overheating, fix and refit your viscous and use good oil and you should not need coolers. Transmission coolers are another matter, although again some nice new Transmax Z will be a good insurance policy for the ZF. I use it.
Regards Philip A

Regards Philip A

I second the suggestion of replacing the viscous fan unit.

Under high load/low speed the engine is very reliant on the fans ability to draw air over the radiator etc. A viscous coupling that is not locking up sufficiently is going to make the cooling system struggle. In hot conditions you should be able to hear the engine fan whir quite loudly at higher revs. As the engine cools down again it will be less obvious at higher revs. On my V8's I can hear the fan start to engage as I drive up a long steep hill flat out in 30C weather. As I come over the top the noise drops off and then dissapears.

One of my older v8 Rangies - has a stuffed coupling - ie it never really engages. It tends to get warm in traffic and low speed work. The A/c radiator fans help stop it overheating. But the solution will be a new coupling - well it would be if I could get one.