My experience installing oil cooler scoop

[dpolitzer]

To begin, I think the therapy that I will need as a result of this seemingly small project will exceed the cost of the car.

Anyone who may considering installing the oil cooler scoop may want to consider again...or not depending on if you're a masocist or not....

I started at about 1pm and was finished at about 7pm...now that did include 3 trips to a local hardware store, Kragen, and Sears.

First thing I would suggest is that you have rachet extentions, a very long rachet, various small wrenches, and of course much patience. I went by the instructions posted in the Tech section of this site and it seemed very straighforward from the instructions...what it did not say was just HOW TIGHT the workspace underneath in fact was...now my hands aren't THAT large but both my hands and forearms are pretty shredded right now.

Yes you most certainly need to take the horn out-- but even when it's dangling room is at a minimum. Then there is this bracket with 4 bolts that covers the inside of the light (I used both a long rachet and extensions for the socket but there was a lot of slack in this arrangements so you must really be patient)...this is a complete nightmare to get off...once you do I felt it best to remove it from the car...now this is a big heavy bracket that seemingly has no purpose other than provide extra support should a fender bender occur. Well I loosened the buttom fender and was able to pull the bracket through and remove...I chose not to reinstall it. Now I don't know if other years have this but mine is an 1988.

Once that was removed you have to remove two bolts that undo the parking light. That was a picnic as one of the bolts you basically have to unscrew blindly...I had to get a little wrench up there and blindly feel around to keep unscrewing it. Putting everything together was much easier but honestly I felt like giving up more than a few times.

This is not a technically challenging project but it is incredibly aggravating in that you simply cannot reach bolts with ease and your hands do not fit. I read somewhere that it may just be easier to undo the bumper but wasn't sure how many bolts are involved and where they were so I just did it the way as per the instructions. I hope others had a better time than I did.

Anyway it looks ok, now I just hope it works.

Cheers,

[Kurt B]

yes, working on that side is a major pain...to get access to the nuts is really difficult. End up removing fog lights, turning wheel all the way (to come from behind the bumper).
I have the RUF front bumper on there, and installing that was also a major pain in the butt....
actually, the other side has a washer bottle and can also cause problems with the other signal.
Indeed, everything is always crammed in around every space on these cars.

[dpolitzer]

The upside to it all is that the oil scoop plain works...at least 30-40 degress cooler when I'm moving...recommend to all!

[jorian]

Yo dp,

How about a pic!

[dpolitzer]

ok ok..i feel so loved...last one is my wife and I during a VERY recent shower...I got the car as my sanity away from the soon to be twins. By the way, I also installed a Steve Wong chip and am extremely happy with it!

[Early_S_Man]

Sorry, guys, but that sounds like a rather minor inconvenience ...

... compared to installing a new clutch cable assembly on a 1994 Nissan Sentra! It took two weeks, with major layoffs for blood pressure to settle down, allow cuts and scratches to heal ... and plan new approach strategies to the pedal cluster with my hands, neck and head to recover the broken clevis that just pulled off the end of the old cable, and wedged itself between two pedals ... visit to chiropracter for back/neck problems ... a few days worth of Vioxx ... and my hands and forearms looked like I had stuck them in a cage with an enraged Wolverine! Besides that ... the cable was over $65 -- more than twice what one for my 911 costs!

[jorian]

Congrats on the Carrera AND the twins! You can fit them both in the back. My 2 yr old loves the 911.

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by dpolitzer
The upside to it all is that the oil scoop plain works...at least 30-40 degress cooler when I'm moving...recommend to all!

What oil temps were you running before? 30°-40° sure sounds like an awful lot just from adding a little scoop.

I would speculate it may help a bit, but temp reductions you quote are like adding a front mount cooler or another Carrera cooler in the left fenderwell.

Not saying you're incorrect, but more info as to how you measured these changes would be helpful.

Has anyone else who's installed this "scoop" gotten similar temp reductions?


Ralph

[vash]

sierra nevada! mmmmm.

congrats on the twins! i got the same bracket. i use it for a doorstop now, instead of my trailer hitch. i think removing it, leaves a big hole for the air to slide past without going thru the cooler, but i havent had any issues, and doesnt sound like you are either.

warren, funny story. i had a hell job installing a over the counter tranny cooler on a friend's truck. it was hell! i left the job, once it was in to let him deal with the final hoses. he ended up pinching a rubber hose tight, with the fan shroud, and blew up his tranny. we were not proud.

[dpolitzer]

Horrible Story Warren...I guess I'll shut up now about my hell
Regarding the temperatures...we've been having about 100degree heat where I am (Pleasanton CA) and the car was running on the highway a little higher than the second (yellow) arrow on the image below. Now with the oil scoop the temp is where the actual orange needle is...again very happy with the result.

[ZOA NOM]

Nice '88. The color is almost perfect.

I got dibs when the priorities shift. My wife wants a cab.

[bpatrick]

Funny you mention getting the car as an "escape" - with your wife being pregnant.. Mine's pregnant too (not twins, though), and I justified the car as an "additional" car for when the baby comes...

[dpolitzer]

Hey man what ever works!

Doesn't anybody work around here??? Everyone just kicking back and writing posts...hhhmmm what's my excuse...

[bpatrick]

...3:30 on Friday... no way I'm working... I'm just trying to stay awake

[JMPRO]

depoltizer,
Soryy you had such a hard time with the scoop but glad to see its working well for you.
When I wrote the directions for the scoop i had no idea that that plate behind the lite even existed and to this day I can't find any info on what years have it and what it is. Not all 88's have it , just some. When I wrote the directions I had r&r the prototpes a hundred times so I could do it in my sleep so I had my son do it from my directions to be sure i wasn't making the installation sound to simple.
Your car is very nice.
Good luck with the twins
Jerry
JM PRODUCT DESIGN

[efhughes3]

Your temps seem a bit high to me. I run about where your pointer now is, in Dallas during Summer. Of course, I don't have any A/C load...

[930addict]

My 930 runs about the same as dpolitzer's before the scoop when sitting in traffic. On the freeway on a warm day it stays around 9 o'clock. I'll be adding a front mounted cooler soon.

[dpolitzer]

Wow...i didn't expect a post from the designer himself Again, the product is simple but effective and maybe I just need smaller hands for the install....ok, maybe freakishly smaller hands...
Yeah, I was surprised about the temps too...but with the air cond going and possible 100deg+ temp outside..i truly felt for the engine.
Now I can stop looking at the needle as it now consistantly stays at about 8 o'clock (when moving of course).
The nice thing is that even in traffic when the needle creeps up a bit the temp cools down much faster than before when i begin moving again.

[MOMO3.2]

That is it. I am getting the scoop.

Mike

[PatrickB]

Originally posted by Carrera3.5L
What oil temps were you running before? 30°-40° sure sounds like an awful lot just from adding a little scoop.

I would speculate it may help a bit, but temp reductions you quote are like adding a front mount cooler or another Carrera cooler in the left fenderwell.

Not saying you're incorrect, but more info as to how you measured these changes would be helpful.

Has anyone else who's installed this "scoop" gotten similar temp reductions?


Ralph

YES!! Mine are closer to the 30* side... Increase in airflow makes ALL the difference!!! Just did a canyon run today with outside temps at 90* Drove car very hard for 20 miles, and never saw temps above 200* On the highway yesterday, with outside temps again at 90*, a steady speed of 80mph, with A/C on, never saw above 185*. Prior to the scoop, I would usually see oil temp hitting 215+ under similar conditions! Biggest improvement is at extreme outside temps (110*+) at high speeds (100mph+). Before the scoop, it was already a stretch, and don't even think about turning on the A/C! A/C off 220*, A/C on for 5 minutes (just tried once) and it was creeping towards 250*.... After the scoop, I can safely cruise at 100mph for hours at a time, and never rise above 210* with A/C ON!! I can't recommend it enough! I'm surprised more people don't use the Scoop. I would also recommend switching the oil temp gauge out for a numbered one... ANother forgotten issue - make sure your oil cooler is clean! I just cleaned the outside of the oil cooler, and was able to see another 5* drop in temps... Simple Green, and a trip to the squirty booth (low pressure, high temp soapy water.) Was absolutely amazed at the amount of dirt and road crud that had accumulated in 20 years...