Oil cooler install - SLR?

[SLR No.77]

Does anyone have any photos of the normal oil cooler install on an SLR/R400? I think that fitment is between the rad and header tank and there's a deflector plate mounted on the top facing forward.

 

Stu.

[mav]

Oil coolers are typically fitted at the bottom. That's where they have been on the installs I've seen, and typically in front of the rad, not behind.

[SLR No.77]

Radtec rad so not enough space low down in front, would need to be at least half way up. Loathed to restrict the airflow through the rad so looking for an alternative solution. My old car had a (Caterham fitment) oil cooler low down behind the horns.

 

Stu.

[Pendennis]

Stu I have put the cooler behind the radiator/in front of rack, done it twice works fine as long as you cut a slot in underside of nose cone. Can provide more information via email if you like

[SLR No.77]

Unfortunately my air intake is occupying the space in front of the rack! I was however thinking about using something like this from Caterham to either force air down to a cooler installed above and behind the rad, or up from below to a cooler installed behind the rack. And before anyone mentions it ..... yes I intend to use a sandwich plate with integral thermostat, probably set at 83ºC!

 

Stu.

[myothercarsa2cv]

Stu, I'm no expert so feel free to ignore me, but wouldn't you be better off having the air intake up high, and the oil cooler down low? Keeps the air way shorter, and the air isn't being heated by the warm air coming through the radiator?

[SLR No.77]

Your correct John that I need cold air for the intake ... of course the image is without the radiator fitted. Here's a shot with the radiator in place I've cleaned the garage floor since then as well

 

Stu.

 

Edited by - sforshaw on 15 Aug 2012 22:42:15

[6speedmanual]

Stu

What oil temperatures are you seeing to warrant needing a cooler?

 

Peter

[SLR No.77]

I'm not yet! Engine freshly built and heading for the track after the next oil change. However having had a couple of different 7s and having tracked them both I know how easy it is to get the oil to 120ºC especially on a warm day, and especially with higher powered engines. This one has 222bhp available if I want to use it

I've used oil cooler and Laminova setups in the past, and although I've found the Laminova to be very good at bringing the temp back down after a good thrashing, it was not as good as an air-oil cooler at keeping it in check in the first place. I'm considering an oil cooler install with a thermostatic sandwich plate to be a belt & braces approach to look after my install taking some worry out of track time. I've never had a temperature issue for road use.

 

Stu.

[Jason Plato]

for the k series, I have found there is no need for an oil cooler with dry sump and integral bellhousing.

 

[SLR No.77]

Dave, running a Laminova or not?

[Jason Plato]

I ran a laminova for a short time. It halved the time for the oil to get up to temp but there were no excess temps for it to deal with.

 

the cooler in the top of the nose was used by R300 duratec race cars only.

 

 

[SLR No.77]

Dave, what kind of temperatures were you seeing on your K without any cooling, ie. no cooler or Laminova?

 

Stu.

[SLR No.77]

.... to add .... an oil cooler install is a pretty low cost modification even with a thermostatic take-off. Therefore are there any reasons not to do it? Peace of mind seems a strong reason to do it and I already have the oil radiator!

 

Stu.

[myothercarsa2cv]

Thanks for the better image Stu, but surely the air coming through the radiator will heat up the ducting for the air intake behind? Would have thought that short and sweet is preferable in this case.

Either way, I thought the Caterham oil coolers fitted in front of the radiator, so would be above the air intake in this case?

[Paul McKenzie]

Quoting sforshaw: 

.... to add .... an oil cooler install is a pretty low cost modification even with a thermostatic take-off. Therefore are there any reasons not to do it? Peace of mind seems a strong reason to do it and I already have the oil radiator!

 

Stu.

 

Stu,

 

Can't you fit it in front of the rad like here

[Jason Plato]

reasons not to do it -

 

no need

weight

loss of half a bar oil pressure

overcooled oil as the thermostat leaks >10% constantly

leaking take off plates

plumbing route rubbing on chassis

no need - added twice so that we don't forget that there is no need .

 

 

[SLR No.77]

Thanks Dave

 

Stu.

[6speedmanual]

And just to add to DJ's "no need" post, apart from it being unlikely to reach such high temps wis the Caterhan d/s, even if it did, 122 deg C is not excessive for a quality synthetic oil changed ad regularly as you are likely to do so.

 

Oh, no need.

 

Peter

[Mark w]

Just to add to what Dave J has said ,

 

My R400 was rolling roaded at 218 bhp ( two steves ) and have never had an issue with high oil temperature on track . I have the large Cat radiator and 82 degree stat and temperatures seem to stay stable .

 

Do you really need ?

[SLR No.77]

Are you lot trying to tell me something

 

Stu.

[Johnty Lyons]

Can't understand your comment about the laminova bringing the temp down after a good thrash but not stopping it getting up there in first place what unearthly way had you it plumbed remember Steve my 240 BHP K had dry sump and laminova and even thrashing it in horrendous temps in new Mexico never had an oil temp problem plus a much quicker oil warm up Now I know I'm old and senile but would some intelligent being explain to me just how in any example an oil cooler is better that a Laminova Providing of course the rad is fit enough to loose all the heat.