Porsche Brass front oil cooler vs. Aluminum core cooler

[antares]

Does anyone out there have experience on which is better, the heat-sink type brass stock porsche front fender oil cooler used on most european models in the late 78/79 to Mid 84 era 911 and some american cars or the 84-89 fan/aluminum units? I have a chance to purchase an OEM porsche
european brass unit and want to know what's best.
Bruce Anderson states these european units were great as heat sinks. It is heavy however.
Any comments appreciated.

antare
fatnwide

[Randy Webb]

It's value as a _heat sink_ will last only a few moments -- until it warms up from the hot oil. After that it may _exchnage heat_ better than an Al one -- I don't know. BA's comment has always puzzled me, but I've never asked him about what he really meant. I suspect it really may work better (at least a low speeds) or he wouldn't have said that.

If it's a good price buy it and try it. You could then resell it.

[Wayne 962]

The brass cooler does work very well. Here's a list of the most effective factory oil coolers ranked from worst in cooling to best:

- No Oil Cooler
- Trombone Oil Cooler (911SC)
- Early 911S Cooler
- Carrera radiator-type cooler
- European Brass Cooler
- Carrera radiator-type cooler w/fan

The brass cooler is second only to the Carrera setup with the fan...

-Wayne

[Randy Webb]

Wayne is that list a low, traffic type speeds or at high, Hwy type speeds, or race track use....?

I've not had to replace a cooler yet, both cars I bought came with some sort of add-on. But upping from a 2.7 to a hotrodded 3.2L may require a cooler upgrade from the Earls in there now.

BTW, improve the air flow to and thru the cooler. That will help ifyou are having problems.

[antares]

yeah.. the thing weighs i'd guess about 15-lbs and has some 16 3/8-inch(a quess)I.D. tubes. Cost
$ 90.00. Thanks for the imput you guys.
antares
fatnwide

[antares]

yeah, the unit weighs i'd say about 12-15 lbs and has about 16 3/8 ID tubes that are about 12-inch long. The asking price is $ 90.00.
Thanks for the info guys.
antare
fatnwide

[Wayne 962]

Originally posted by Randy Webb
Wayne is that list a low, traffic type speeds or at high, Hwy type speeds, or race track use....?

Just in general...

-Wayne

[Adam]

I drove my Carrera-cooler with fan-equipped 2.7 around town today for at least 2 hrs (rainy weather) and my oil temps never exceeded 80ēC.

Lots of start/stop traffic and the oil cooler fan wasn't required, either.