S-10 oil cooler delete...sump oil temp

[bob555]

On another forum, I've been seeing a lot of reccomendationst to remove the oil cooler entirely on 4.3 S-10's. Those that have done this beleive that the cooler is totally unnecessary because the full sized trucks with 4.3 don't have one. Also, a number of people claim that they have placed a temp sending unit at the bottom of the oil sump and seen 230 degrees F with the cooler removed...and that this is the oil temp system wide. To quote:

"[I did reseach, and] found that conventional oil works best at around 230-240. its not getting that hot with that type of cooler on it, it stays at your coolant temp = 200 and under. and it doesn't start to go bad until 260+ for a period of time. synthetic is even more durable. i have a autometer gauge in the bottom of the oil pan, it reads 230ish. so, i have done a good thing for my engines."


I always thought that the temp at the bottom of the sump is a good bit cooler than in the passages and galleries of the engine. I personally am uncomfortable with pulling an oil cooler that comes from the factory. I also wonder if the s-10's have less airflow by the sump than the full sized trucks. What do you guys think?

 

[terryr]

Oil coolers cost a lot. Factories don't put them in without a reason.
The cooler the oil the longer it lasts. Why do people take them out? Are they evil?

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by terryr:
Oil coolers cost a lot. Factories don't put them in without a reason.
The cooler the oil the longer it lasts. Why do people take them out? Are they evil?

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No. just stupid.

Why throw away something a rational knowledgable person would pay extra for?

Over 230F is not good for conventional oil. 230F to 250F is not a crisis, but not good.

 

[bob555]

I know (or rather, I believe that) that the cooler is a good idea too guys, but I was hoping that you guys could save me with some facts...like the difference between sump temp and actual in the galleries temp.

Or, why GM did it...I know from the discussion about GM switching Corvettes to M1 that there are people here with connections to GM engineering.

Also, as far as I know, there is no advantage to oil being hotter than colder other than reduced vicosity? That is, 20w50 conventional at 230 sump/ ?250? engine would be the same viscosity as 5W40 at a lower temp...exactly how much lower, I don't know???

BTW, people pull the cooler because the oil lines often drip, and occasionally (I've never seen, but people claim) blow off. My personalsuggestion is to switch to AN fittings and braided line.

 

[Gary Allan]

Most sources that I've heard feel that 180 is a minmum temp for oil ...and most agree that the higher the temp ..the shorter its life. I would imagine that the 180 figure is for moisture dissaption ..but that would be dependant on the engines run duration. That is, it would dissapate the moisture at 100, 120, 150 (etc.) ..but would require more time ..more than may be practical for most operations.

quote:

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Also, as far as I know, there is no advantage to oil being hotter than colder other than reduced vicosity? That is, 20w50 conventional at 230 sump/ ?250? engine would be the same viscosity as 5W40 at a lower temp...exactly how much lower, I don't know???

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You're right I believe. The 100C. visc is just an arbitray point in temp range. That is, if compared by viscosity alone, varied temps would allow different oils to be at the same viscosity.

I'm sure others have opposing points of view ...but

 

[JTK]

quote:

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Originally posted by bob555:
...BTW, people pull the cooler because the oil lines often drip, and occasionally (I've never seen, but people claim) blow off. My personalsuggestion is to switch to AN fittings and braided line.

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They sure do. A buddy of mine has a '95 S-10 4x4. He just happened to catch it while he sitting at a stop light & glanced at his gauges. The low oil pressure light went on, he pulled over & shut her down to find the rubber line had seperated. No damage, but this could have been nasty.
G/luck
Joel