Locating an oil cooler

Starting to get to the point where I have to start buying parts to reassemble my Classic 900. Sometime in the past the original stock oilcooler (which is located under the car) was smashed and an aftermarket one was plumbed in and wiretied through the aircon condenser.

I already tossed it. It was small and I hate coolers that use those stupid push through the radiator/condenser mounts. They always eventually pull through.

My question is.. I am adding a Front mount to the car.. so I am losing the front of the lower half of the radiator to the intercooler, so I was trying to figure out how high I can mount an oilcooler. I am worried about flowback leaving the car with a dry start as the cooler refills.. I was thinking of putting it in the original position of the sidemount I removed and putting in some aluminum ducting or in front of the radiator above the intercooler.

Ideas?

Putting it back below the car is not an option.. the car is getting lowered and I do not like the idea of a cooler sitting 5 or 6 inches above the road

With a proper thermostatic control, shouldn't the oil cooler and associated plumbing be a non issue at start up?

Most oil coolers are mounted higher up than the oil pump, I had no idea it was a problem...

RX-7's use some really quality oil coolers. Find one at a salvage yard from a series 4-5 (86-91) car and you should be good to go.

I have always heard that it is unwise to use a used oil cooler.

Is this truth or old mechanics tales?

I retrofitted a used Volvo oil cooler into my VW. I was able to mount it in front of the radiator with no issues though. I've always heard that an oil cooler placed anywhere, even without airflow, is an improvement over none.

I actually have at least three laying around and I beleive they are all Setrag. Only problem is finding the appropriate line fittings (wierd sizes).

BBsGarage wrote: I have always heard that it is unwise to use a used oil cooler. Is this truth or old mechanics tales?

Well the second the car is fired up at the factory it is now a used oil cooler so I don't buy it.

I have used many used oil coolers and have not had any issues so far.

Chris

Clearly there is only one right way

ditchdigger wrote: Clearly there is only one right way

Nice, its a combo oil cooler/tow hook. GENIUS!!!!!

although I wouldnt mind owning that car.

That is and RX-7 oil cooler by the way.

The Exo X uses a side-mount oil cooler. There don't seem to be any oil flow problems, however, it does get hot because of the turbo. MotoIQ added a V-mount and a second oil cooler to their Evo. (check page 3):

http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_articles/id/2108/project-evo-x-keeping-the-engine-oil-and-sst-tranny-cool.aspx

The filter/cooler line boss on c900 Turbos includes a t-stat that is closed until ~175-185* (can't recall exact temp).

0.02: I know you said you don't want to put a stock cooler back on due to lowering the car but both of my cars are lowered and I've yet to have issues after a dozen-plus years of c900 ownership. (I guess knowing the coolers are out there keeps you from speeding into parking lot curb stops.) Yes, you do see bent cooler housings in junkyards. They seem to tolerate hitting snow backs well (friend's TSD car has had some offs, usually me driving, without damage to cooler.) That said, if I were to mount an FMIC and I wanted a big oil cooler, I'd put it in the stock IC's place.

Snow-proof oil cooler:

If you don't want the cooler to drain, put the hose fittings on the top.

The reason you might not want to use a previously enjoyed oil cooler is due to the mysteries that could lurk inside. If someone frags an engine and the cooler is pre-filter, it'll have cooties in it. They're pretty tough to flush out. So it's probably a good rule to follow if you're conservative and you're putting the cooler on a race car.

BAT has all the Setrab fittings you need.

ok.. sidemount is it.. right where the stock IC goes.

I am sorry if this has been covered but if you plumb in the cooler after the filter won't the drain back valve in the filter prevent a dry start?

that I don't know. The saab has an oilcooler stock, but mine was smashed by a previous owner, bypassed, and then a aftermarket one was installed infront of the condensor. The stock one is very low, lower than the engine, but the aftermarket one was behind the grill.

I just wanted to check my options

You want it post-filter if possible, as that protects the cooler in the case of metallic oil contamination.