[FC] Oil Cooler

[J R Read_HML]

I've never had an oil temp gauge, but have driven a few Vairs (my truck has 
a Spyder dash) with head temp.  Head temp typically is in the range of 250 
to 350 (on ALL Vairs that I've driven having that gauge) and generally stays 
between 275 and 300 (this is shrouds on) at highway speeds.  It would seem 
that oil temp would be something a bit less - but I don't know just where it 
should be.  It would probably approach head temp - but just take a bit 
longer to get there.

Where in the system are you measuring the oil temp?  Are you possibly 
picking up a false reading by being too close to something that is VERY hot? 
Or, try a different sending unit and/or gauge (only change out one at a time 
and check results) to see if your current setup is just inherently reading 
on the high side.

Gauges and sending units are not all the same.  Get used to what is normal 
for your vehicle and be comfortable with it.  The gauge is there for you to 
notice something out of the ordinary happening.  The number that the needle 
comes to rest on is only SOMEWHAT significant because it probably is not 
precise, anyway.

You did not answer about a 12 plate (OR folded fin) cooler.  That MAY be all 
you need to do.  That, and use synthetic oil which can tolerate higher temps 
than dino juice.  Give it a try.  It would be the quickest, easiest, and 
probably least expensive thing to do.  Someone else on the list can give you 
the #s about how hot dino juice can get VS synthetic.  I've seen them posted 
in the past on VV but did not pay all that much attention since I go to 
synthetic as soon as a fresh engine quits using.

You also did not say which engine.  Obviously a 140 will run hotter than an 
80.  So that is a factor as well.

Attachments (if any) are scanned with anti-virus software.

Later, JR

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greenbrier Goon" <greenbriergoon at yahoo.com>
To: "The Corvanatics list" <corvanatics at corvair.org>
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 10:06 PM
Subject: Re: [FC] Oil Cooler


> Well, I should give a little background.
>
> Back when my van still had the Powerglide, It had a big Mazda RX7 oil 
> cooler mounted ahead of the transmission.  I put it there because the 
> engine consistantly ran high oil temperatures. My gauge only reads up to 
> 250F and it would easily peg the guage.  If I removed the lower shrouds, 
> it would read about 225 aroud town and 240 on the highway.  The Mazda 
> cooler brought it down to 180 to 200 around town and on the freeway.  I 
> had that cooler on there for 7 years.
>
> When I converted it to a four speed I discovered that the Mazda cooler was 
> in the way of the shift linkage.  I removed it and installed an 
> un-modified alternator adaptor and things were near stock at that point.
>
> Now the oil temp started climbing again.  Without the shrouds I am seeing 
> about 220F around town.  I have not driven it on the freeway yet.
>
> That is why I have installed a remote oil cooler.  I have not driven it 
> around yet, but I expect to see lower oil temps as a result.
>
> The new remote cooler did not require any holes to be drilled or cut 
> (unlike the RX7 cooler...still need to plug those holes).  I am using an 
> A/C car 90 degree adaptor, a spin-on filter adaptor on that, a "sandwich" 
> adaptor on that and then the filter spins onto the end.  The oil cooler is 
> mounted on bracket I made that fits where the old Powerglide cooler used 
> to be; next to the battery.
>
> I also removed the left side rear panel and removed the sound deadening 
> material that had come loose and blocked a few of the air inlets.
>
> One thing I have noticed over the years is that the oil temperature does 
> not seem to be affected by the amount of load the van is carrying.  I have 
> had 8 heavy people in there and it stays the same as it does when it is 
> just me.
>
> I had rebuilt the engine in my Greenbrier myself and used all of the best 
> parts available at the time.  Having owned several air-cooled Volkswagens 
> over the years, I am very familiar with air-cooled engines.  I currently 
> have a 2110cc engine in my Bug that consistantly runs an oil temp of 190 
> to 200F with a stock VW "doghouse" oil cooler.
>
>
> Charles
>
>
> J R Read_HML <hmlinc at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Maybe I missed something. Why do you feel like you need it in the first
> place? Doing a lot of towing? Carrying heavy loads all the time? What
> engine? 80hp? 110?
>
> Would a 12 plate or folded fin NOT be sufficient?
>
> Attachments (if any) are scanned with anti-virus software.
>
> Later, JR
>