Front oil cooler install?

jester911 · jester911's Garage

I did a search but can't seem to find out. This may seem like a silly question. When installing a front cooler do you remove the existing fender cooler or just plumb to it?

Also I assume if I do leave it that the oil quantity will have to increase.

I got a line on a cheap cooler and since I track the car a bit I could use some help in the summer months.

GeorgeM · GeorgeM's Garage

I plumbed mine in series with the fender cooler. The oil goes to the front first, then the fender, but only because that's just the way it worked out (couldn't get one of the fender fittings off at the time). Works great and never gets hot, even last weekend on the track with 100F OAT.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

You can do it either way, if you leave the stock fender cooler then you will need a smaller front mount, of course the opposite is true too.

The plumbing is a little more complicated if leaving the fender mount in place.

911-32 · 911-32's Garage

Slightly unrelated question and apologies for hijacking, but can you take your stock Carrera cooler and mount it in say an IROC pattern bumper?

Anyone done it?

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by 911-32
Slightly unrelated question and apologies for hijacking, but can you take your stock Carrera cooler and mount it in say an IROC pattern bumper?

Anyone done it?

No

911pcars · 08-04-2006, 10:56 AM

I'm pretty sure any front oil cooler mount location needs add'l room. Either modify the front pan or change the front valence to accommodate the added cooler.

Depending on the engine you're trying to cool, one front-mount cooler may be enough. However, if you already have the fender-mount cooler, just add another in series. It may not matter what cooler the oil sees first, but if the hottest oil is thinner (less viscous) and you have choice, I'd route the oil into the fender cooler first. The slightly cooler, more viscous oil leaving the fender cooler might then flow more slowly through the more efficient front cooler and thus transfer more heat - theoretically of course.

Sherwood

Deschodt · 08-04-2006, 12:01 PM

Besides if you leave your fender cooler on the car, and it has a fan (or you add one), you have a system that works in traffic as well as on the track...

There is no room for a nice fan on a front cooler - so if it's all you got, you better not be caught in traffic jams !

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Thanks guys. I really wanted to leave the fender cooler in place anyway.

What about the oil quantity. Doesn't it increase with the addition of the new cooler?

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

What about the oil quantity. Doesn't it increase with the addition of the new cooler?

Yes, But so what ?

Deschodt · 08-04-2006, 12:35 PM

I think he wants to know by how much and how to figure it out, or if it affects the oil level gauge ;-)

My guess would be you do some math for the pipes lenght and diameter + the new cooler should tell you its capapcity, you add that.. ???

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Thats correct. I just want to get an idea of how much oil to add.
I don't have a problem with the system having more oil.

Chuck Moreland · 08-04-2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Deschodt
I think he wants to know by how much and how to figure it out, or if it affects the oil level gauge ;-)

My guess would be you do some math for the pipes lenght and diameter + the new cooler should tell you its capapcity, you add that.. ???

Maybe overthinking this a bit. The new cooler is going to require about 1 quart extra oil, not a big deal to our 12 quart systems.

Just bring it up to temp, letting the new cooler fill. Then check the oil level and top off as needed.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

As chuck said.

And when you change oil the cooler and lines aren't drained anyway, unless you do a far more thorough than usual job by braking the joints in the lines

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Thanks guys. Kinda common sense stuff that I sorta had figured, but always better to ask the braintrust here before assuming something.

911pcars · 08-04-2006, 01:41 PM

Here's one of those "FWIWs" that takes up valuable space inside my brain.

If the oil inlet/outlets on a cooler are stacked vertically, make the lower opening the inlet and the upper opening the outlet. If oil goes into the top opening, an air bubble might form inside the cooler and will be difficult to purge (i.e. less oil volume inside the cooler). If oil exits from the top connection, air will escape with the oil flow.

Sherwood

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

That's why in home heating systems there are purge valves at all of the rises.

The oil system works at much higher pressure. If hydronic heating systems worked at that pressure they wouldn't need the purge valves either.