Sump capacity VS oil life/OCI

[ProfPS]

I wish I could shut off my oil cooler for the winter. It takes a heck of a long time to warm up for an '07 Rav4 V6 using dino (Hav SM 5w30). Do you think I could install a shut off valve on the input line to the cooler without damaging anything? It is a factory installed unit.

 

[virginoil]

I looked at longer drain OCI’s in my GM Holden Commodore V6 3800, ie Buick V6 3800 in US, and I decided against it.

Holden went to longer drains in 2004, extending the OCI’s from 6 months to 9 months or 10000km to 15000km and the sump size was increased from 4.8L to 5.6L.

The new Global GM Holden V6 3600 HFV6 engine, which is also used in GM cars world wide, has had the sump capacity increased to 6.5L and the OCI's have been increased to 12 months or 15000 km.

Both V6 engines ie the old 3800 and the new 3600 are recommended by Holden to use the 10w30 grade for normal use.

Based on these observations I was reluctant to extend OCI's beyond 6 months or 10000 km as my sump capacity is only 4.3L in my 1995 model. You can see the sump capacity has gone from 4.3L (1995) to 6.5L (2006) ie approx. 50% increase.

This indicates to me there is a correlation between OCI and sump capacity, in the absence of running regular used oil analysis to check the performance of the oil, in engines that were not designed by the OEM for longer OCI's.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: ProfPS
I wish I could shut off my oil cooler for the winter. It takes a heck of a long time to warm up for an '07 Rav4 V6 using dino (Hav SM 5w30). Do you think I could install a shut off valve on the input line to the cooler without damaging anything? It is a factory installed unit.


Are you sure it's not a trans cooler? I googled RAV4 V6 oil cooler and I get no references for any year. Plenty of transmission oil coolers.

I would have thought that they would have used a laminar (sandwich oil:coolant) oil cooler anyway. That would delay your engine warm up marginally, but stabilize your oil temp rather quickly ..about 9miles/9 minutes.

Othwise, to the OP, I agree with those who say "it depends". In a highway situation ..of enough distance where oil temp gets to its normalized temp (somewhere around 200F), sure.

 

[3putter]

I know this much. My wife's LuCerne with the Northstar V8 has a 7.5 quart sump capacity. The GM OLM consistently has been putting the car on an 11,000 mile OCI. Her previous Park Ave with a 5 quart capacity was on a 7500 mile OCI per the Oil Life Monitor. Identical driving conditions.