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oil cooler.... worth the cost/weight?
franky - 1/9/09 at 10:32 AM

Sorting out my zx12r BEC... mainly road use but with trackdays etc too.

Is an oil cooler worth the cost? I've known a few where the oil in a primed system has never moved!

As long as the setup is cooled properly, maybe with water wetter etc I can't see any problems, even with constant track use? Or is it better to be safe and go with the extra £200ish for an oil cooler and other bits needed?

flak monkey - 1/9/09 at 10:33 AM

Unless you are running a turbo or doing a lot of trackdays in the summer then I wouldnt bother.

There is usually enough airflow around the sump etc to keep the oil temps down anyway. My pinto struggled to get oil temps above 100deg without a cooler, even when driven hard.

BenB - 1/9/09 at 10:43 AM

Early ST1100 engines had a nice little oil / water heat exchanger. Only as big as a sandwich plate and does the job (of reassuring me about oil temperatures) nicely

SPYDER - 1/9/09 at 11:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by BenB
Early ST1100 engines had a nice little oil / water heat exchanger. Only as big as a sandwich plate and does the job (of reassuring me about oil temperatures) nicely


Hi there.
The 929 Blade engine in our Phoenix has a similar device.
As does the 3SGE in my Spyder.
Geoff

pewe - 1/9/09 at 01:19 PM

Some time ago asked the local SAAB specialist if my auto 9000 needed a transmission cooler when towing.
Reply was "not normally".
Needless to say 5 days after returning from a Continental towing holiday the box blew up!
Cost £1200 v about £80 for a cooler.

Question is - are you feeling lucky?????

Cheers, Pewe