Modine oil cooler/heat exchanger

[paul jacobs]

I'm a little concerned because my Cosworth Duratec 2.0l 225bhp engine, fitted with a Modine heat exchanger seems to be running very cool.  The water temperature rarely goes over 80, and under normal running is around 65 -70 even in summer, the oil temperature however rarely even gets to 50 except in traffic when both water and oil temp rise to maybe 85 for water and 65 for oil.

I am considering a couple of options, either change the thermostat, though I don't know what Cosworth fitted as standard, or disconnect the Modine, which intercepts water from the block to the heater.

Before I start messing around does anyone have any ideas on this please?

[7 wonders of the world]

This unit I remember runs with stock crank and water pump pullies and wet sump...?

The modine is ideal for warming the oil quickly but by design will equalise the oil and water temps - which is not ideal as the ideal temp for the oil is higher 

The water pump on the Duratec is very efficient, too much so when you start to wind the rpm up so hence the water temp drop at speed, due to increase flow and possibly pressure too, an under driven crank pulley or oversize water pump pulley will help here.

seperation of the oil and water cooling will enable individual temps to be maintained, ensure you fit a stat in the oil too.

If you have changed to DS this would be placed in the scavenge hose. something like this http://www.mattlewisracing.co.uk/product.php/1835/1190/mocal_remote_oil_cooler_thermostat 

 

[paul jacobs]

I'm not sure about the pulleys, but it does have a dry sump fitted from Cosworth, it's a separate tank, not a bellhousing one.

My thoughts about running higher oil temperature were similar to yours and whilst quicker warm up is good, longer term running, with oil temperature too low isn't.  I'm guessing the oil should be around 80 - 90 when hot, although interestingly my Golf R runs at around 105, but it is turbo'd which might affect it.

[Rob Walker]

Paul I have fitted the oversized water pump pulleys and it made no difference to the overcooling.  I would try fitting the standard thermostat 90C, its quite likely that you have the 82C stat, its only a 30 min job.

 

[paul jacobs]

Thanks for your thoughts both.  Rob, I think you are probably right about the thermostat being an 82 degree one.  Are there any markings I could look for?  I will change the thermostat first, as it is an easier job I fancy, then see what happens to the temperatures after that.