oil cooler water or air?

[SuperV8]

I can't find space for an oil cooler in my 4.6Rv8 supercharged Dax Rush. Idearly an air oil cooler should go infront of the rad but my intercooler takes up over half the rad and i'm not very comfortable with covering the whole surface of my rad. I have space behind the rad but the cooler would be less efficient (don't know how much?) Just thought about using a water cooler oil cooler, position isn't critical but if my cooling system is already stretched then I don't see how it could also cool the oil as well?

I don't even know if I need an oil cooler?

So my options:
Fit air oil cooler infront of rad and cover nearly all the rad
Fit air oil cooler behind the rad and have it less efficient
Fit water oil cooler, maybe find the coolant system can't cope

I think first option is to block of inlet and outlet of the serp timing cover. I need to run the engine in anyway and keep an eye on the oil temps.

Any thoughts/ opinions welcome.

Tom.

[topcatcustom]

How about fitting it underneath the front of the car- nearly flat to the ground but 10degrees up at the front edge. Oil cooler won't need as much flow as your rad, some oil coolers are absolutely tiny but still help. Probably best to run it as is and measure the oil temp before fitting as it may be completely unnecessary, only take a sandwich plate and 2 pipes to retro fit too!

[kiwicar]

Sounds like you have all the reasons spelled out for a water/oil cooler, although less efficient than an air/oil jobbie when you have a flow of cool air they better than an air/oil cooler fed with hot air, they speed up the warming up of the oil slightly and solve a load of packaging issues. When you mount the thing if it has a flat base (some types do) try and fit it to a nice big ally pannel like the engine bulkhead with a good dollop of silicone heat transfer compound as this will help the cooling a bit. You will obviously put more stress on the water cooling system however some internal ducting to feed seperate cool air feeds to the various radiators mey help, the duct area where the air comes into a rad should be only about 60% of the area of the rad because of the radiator's restriction to flow, with the opening tapering out to the radiator. So splitting the front opening up with ducts that feed the radiators seperatly would inprove the efficiency of both.
Best regards
Mike

[Ian Anderson]

How about 2 small oil coolers fitted wither side of the nose cone between the suspension a arms

Then ducted in like mini F1 sidepods

They will then not hinder your marginal airflow to the radiator and will get max cooling air to cool the oil

Don't forget to fit a thermostat take of valve or you will be forcing cold oil through the coolers - oil should only flow through the coolers once engine is up to temp

IAn

[katanaman]

Its actually common practice to mount the oil cooler behind the radiator on light aircraft. Oil heats up quicker and the warmer air also stops the oil from over cooling resulting in more even temps. That said the water/oil cooler has the same benefits and is often easier to package. It isnt the ultimate way to cool oil but unless you feel your going to need to dump a lot of heat from the oil then its a good solution.

[SuperV8]

Thanks for all your comments.

I've found some M20x1.5 bungs so for now i'm going to plug the in let/outlet on the gems timing cover and get it running/ run in.

I'll keep an eye on oil temps. If needed i think i will either go oil cooler mounted flat behind rad with scoop underneath do direct air flow (although ground clearence may be an issue) or water cooled (expensive) so would make my own and may have to improve my coolant system.

The oil coolers at the side is a good idea although space is very limited, may be my third option.

Thanks,
Tom.

[katanaman]

just out of curiosity what are peoples thoughts on the OEM type water oil cooler like you get on Fords, the type that goes between the filter and housing? I have never done anything with them so wondered if they were crap, ok or indifferent. Would certainly be a cheap option if they were any good at all.

[unstable load]

The 123 series Merc had a cooler that bolted to the side of the main radiator for the auto boxes. Maybe you could get one at a breakers and slightly narrow your cooling rad to accomodate the oi one? If I recall, it's about 4 inches wide.