Oil Cooler /Heat exchanger?

Pennzoil motor oil
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expat

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I did not get any response in General automotive, So I thought this may be a more appropriate Forum.

I have an oil temperature gauge fitted to the oil pan of my car. Typically on a moderate run the oil temp will get to 170F after about 20 mins at highway speed. On a cool day, or short run, I may get to 150F. If I really push it, in the summer, I'll get to 220f (and Idle oil pressure will drop to below 15psi)
I have noticed that many VW cars have a small Oil to Coolant heat exchanger between the engine block and the oil filter canister. This to me seems like a good idea!
What are your thoughts? I think I could easily fit one to my engine, to aid quicker warm up, and cool a little if the oil temps gets too high.
 
My Nissan Frontier also has one of these and it does help the oil warm faster and also helps keep it cool when under load or cruising at speed. Nice idea, in my opinion.
 
I would only worry about the 220f temp if you were running some cheap mineral oil.

What brand of motor oil are you using, and what is the weight of the oil.

Are you using conventional oil, Group III Synthetic Oil, or a full synthetic oil.
 
Hi,
expat - The heat exchanger as fitted to many Euro cars does aid stabilising the coolant/oil realtionship - warming the oil faster!

Most Euro Manufacturers design their cooling and lubrication systems to live in a band from around 90-110C. Many believe that the "normal" bulk oil temp should be around 90-95C, reaching this as quickly as possible

Your max temp is ceratinly nothing to worry about as it is
 
I'm running 15w40 in an old British Sports car (Factory spec was 20w-50) I normally run Dino because of my normally short OCI's. My main concern is to warm the oil more quickly, because on a normal commute to work, my oil temps may never reach optimal.
Some extra margin at the high temp end would just be re-assuring.
 
Doug Hillary said:
Hi,
expat - MGB or..................? It helps for us to know [/quote

Spitfire 1500, re-built with King (Tri-metal) Bearings, Hot Cam, 9.5-1 compression etc. BHP has been raised about 25% over U.K. stock @ 6500 rpm (but I limit it to 6K, This engine has a 3 bearing crank) Overdrive brings the revs down to about 4k at 80mph, which is just over peak torque.
Click to expand...
 
Hi,
expat - I know the Sptfire very well. Used to drive one a lot in Scandinavia in the 1960s - great fun car! Can bite you in the "be...d" too if you don't how to handle them!!

Getting the lubricant up to temp quickly is great for durability/driveability. IMO you are using the appropriate viscosity. In the '60s we used 10w30
 
Doug, The later, 1970's cars had a 1500cc engine, this was the old 1300 with a LONGER STROKE, that tends to load the bearings.
The reason that the engine was made over square was that that engine block started life in the 50's as just over 800cc, it was bored to the max and the only way to get more cc was to lengthen the stroke :-( I would not feel comfortable with a 10w30 in a 1500, outside a very cool climate.
But Triumph did improve the handling (after 10 years of production!)
 
Originally Posted By: Boomer
My Nissan Frontier also has one of these and it does help the oil warm faster and also helps keep it cool when under load or cruising at speed. Nice idea, in my opinion.


I've been trying to find a picture of the Nissan cooler, but no luck.
what does it look like? Was it stock?
 
Hi,
expat - Yes it was the Mk 3 I played with a lot. The GT6 rear end certainly "tamed" the later versions

Scandinavia imported a lot of the Mk3 as I recall and the Mk 4 versions too I think. They then became "outpriced"
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: expat
Originally Posted By: Boomer
My Nissan Frontier also has one of these and it does help the oil warm faster and also helps keep it cool when under load or cruising at speed. Nice idea, in my opinion.


I've been trying to find a picture of the Nissan cooler, but no luck.
what does it look like? Was it stock?


Wix says that you take a 3/4-16 thread filter with a 2.8/2.4 gasket.

Any Ford oil:coolant heat exchanger should work. If your filter stud is a nipple (removable) than most VW/Audi coolers will work as well.

I don't know the orientation of your filter for clearance.

They come in all shapes and sizes. Here are two of the extreme oddballs.

 
My 1991 Honda Accord (automatic) had an oil/coolant cooler, and so did my 2001 Subaru Outback H6 as well as my wife's 2000 Beetle. Don't know if that helps you at all in trying to find one that fits your car. What kind of car is it anyway?
 
Expat, yes the Frontier heat exchanger is stock and is mounted at the oil filter in the front of the engine. It is cylindrical with coolant hoses going and coming. Filter mounts to the exchanger.
 
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