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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: 01 on August 11, 2013, 07:04:04 pm

Title: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: 01 on August 11, 2013, 07:04:04 pm
looking to move to an external oil cooler, my car didnt even come with the standard water/oil cooler and now that its boosted it runs quite hot.


I'm looking to find a sandwich plate adapter that doesn't cost a ton, im not too worried about it being thermostatic as i only drive this car in the summer months.

what plate would you recommend? my main concern is oil leaks, i dont really want to deal with that.
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: 8v-of-fury on August 11, 2013, 07:57:34 pm
There is no added issue of oil leaks, only one extra o-ring and 4 hose connections.. that with quality clamps will be ok.

There are kits out there with everything needed to install, summit has them for a great price !: )
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: ORCoaster on August 11, 2013, 10:38:21 pm
Use Summit as a starting point for what is needed. Then look on Ebay for the same only cheaper.  I did a secondary Oil filter, the toilet paper kind and had the sandwich plate come with it.  No leaks after I put new power steering hose on it and did a good job of securing the hoses on the fittiings. 

Lots to choose from out there. 
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: 01 on August 11, 2013, 10:48:21 pm
anyone know the thread size and whatnot..
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: 8v-of-fury on August 11, 2013, 10:55:11 pm
3/4 - 16
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: libbydiesel on August 11, 2013, 11:45:46 pm
The time from cold start to the time that your engine reaches normal operating temperature is when ALL the wear and tear happens on your engine.  Even if you only drive in the summer it is still a good idea to have a thermostatic control.  It's not like there is a downside. 
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: mystery3 on August 12, 2013, 12:48:33 am
Get a whole setup from a volvo in the junkyard. Many models, most turbos, 80', 90's and newer. They come complete with thermostatic sandwich plates, setrab coolers often oversized.
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: Gizmoman on August 12, 2013, 08:11:12 am
. . . and now that its boosted it runs quite hot.

Nothing wrong with adding an oil cooler, but an intercooler (air or water) will do more for cooling it down if it's "boosted".  It will also add some power because the air charge will have more "air" in it ;D. Hopefully you have an EGT sensor and are watching your temps with that instead of the "too late" water temp gauge. A dropped pre-cup is not a pretty thing as several here can tell you.
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: 01 on August 13, 2013, 01:00:50 am
no room for an intercooler sadly, im trying to work around that issue...

the BAE turbo setup i have doesnt really provide room for such things.
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: Blocksmith on August 13, 2013, 02:05:48 am
Hopefully you have an EGT sensor and are watching your temps with that instead of the "too late" water temp gauge. A dropped pre-cup is not a pretty thing as several here can tell you.


If he's running enough fuel to drop an insert then he passed the 'desperately need an intercooler' mark a while back. Not that I'm AT ALL paranoid about that happening on my engine, though; yeah right.  ::)


Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: burn_your_money on August 13, 2013, 09:46:50 am
The time from cold start to the time that your engine reaches normal operating temperature is when ALL the wear and tear happens on your engine.  Even if you only drive in the summer it is still a good idea to have a thermostatic control.  It's not like there is a downside. 

Solid advice. I'd even consider going far enough to run the stock unit and then the external oil cooler too if I really cared about the engine.
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: 8v-of-fury on August 13, 2013, 10:47:29 am
Tyler if you went that far i think a remote filter would be necessary as it would be way too big to fit under both sandwiches.

Remote filters look B.A anyhow haha.
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: ORCoaster on August 13, 2013, 02:40:29 pm
Frantz and toilet paper.  I'm telling you it has been good for nearly 40 years.
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: wolf_walker on August 17, 2013, 12:00:42 pm
I have a huge Fluidyne mounted into the front bumper, block adapter and remote filter mount came from Summit,
think the thermostat was from aircraft spruce.  Other than plumbing and space there is no downside to
adding more oil to the system capacity, and even a NA run hard will open the t-stat and
use the cooler.  Like WOT for miles and miles and miles loaded going up a steep grade with
a load in the bed at some elevation. :)
It was even better with the turbo motor, I saw overly high oil temps running the 1.6TD hard for years
before the add-on cooler went in.
Got that cooler pretty cheap on ebay, they are money new, and made it fit.
Been in there for over 100K now, changed out the hoses once from age.
Kids always ask if it's an intercooler. :)

https://app.box.com/s/4knlsm836omlo4cckukl (https://app.box.com/s/4knlsm836omlo4cckukl)
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: theman53 on August 17, 2013, 01:55:16 pm
Trans-Dapt Performance Oil Cooler Sandwich Adapters 1313
Perma-Cool Sandwich Oil Adapters 181

I think I bought the 181 for my car, but I cannot remember. I know it did have a t-stat/pressure relief deal in it. It let 10% of the oil flow through it always so your engine didn't get a shot of cold oil when it opened. I also run a big 13x7x3/4 cooler up front. It keeps the temps down to 210f when running hard.

Both of those adapters you could run with your stock cooler if you have room by the rad to still have a filter. Also both are under 50.00 at summit racing.
Title: Re: External Oil Cooler - What One?
Post by: diesel dub on August 17, 2013, 11:39:34 pm
I second the Volvo oil cooler setup. Mine works perfectly. Thermostatic control. Plumb it up nicely with AN fittings and hose. And it wont leak. The cooler and sandwich plate at the yard is cheap! The $ is in the fittings and hose ends. But well worth it IMO.