Oil cooler location....anyone done this?

Has anyone hung an oil cooler underneath the screen intake on a turbo
whaletail on a N/A car? The model I have, had an aftermarket a/c
radiator/condensor hung there. Since then the a/c has been consigned to
the scrap heap, with some items recycled.

I was considering using the location to attach another remote oil cooler
keeping the stock trombone style in the fender. I like my chin spoiler
the way it is.

In my 914/4 racing days, prior to the 914/6, the common way to plumb in an
external cooler was to use an adapter plate that sat between the oil
filter and engine. The plate bypassed the filter sent oil to the cooler
and then returned it to the filter then back into the engine.

I was thinking of using a cooler fan combo and doing the same bypass and
return trick. I know that the engine is a warm place and that the engine
intake air would be preheated, but it would solve a lot of plumbing and
other problems...

Anyone have any opinions on this?

How hot is your oil running with the stock oil cooling system?

Not the same position, but what are your thoughts on this location?

That is one beautiful looking car!! Is that a 3.0 RSR? As for the cooler location - it wouldn't work on a car with street mufflers on.

Temps have hit 250F in hot autocross days...I will be timetrialing this eason and want the extra cooling...

If you have the trombone cooler in front, and it's almost adequate, then the smart upgrade (in my opinion) would be a Carrera cooler in front, with a fan if you've got room for it. Putting the cooler where the AC condensor was is going to restrict airflow to the main blower (which, admittedly, the condensor did as well), heat up the air that's intended to cool the engine, and also add weight in the rear of the car, where you don't want it. Up front, you wouldn't be doing any expensive experimental plumbing, also.

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

OK....what's wrong with adding a NACA inlet and a fan with the stock trombone?

The problem with putting a fan or airflow on the stock trombone is that it really won't do anything.
The trombone is not an oil cooler, and it, by itself, is not an effective radiator. Its really just a turnaround for the oil. The oil is also not in there very long. Therefore, it has been shown that getting additional air flow to it is not useful in any meaningful way.
I think Jack's solution is the best: A late 80's Carrera cooler with the fan, as a replacement for the stock trombone. Its a tidy factory installation that should solve your problem.

David, is that your car?

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

OK...late Carrera oil cooler with fan...does the duct that Pelican sells (PEL-JM-DUCT)http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/por_911M_oilsys_main.htm
Shown at this link also help?

AND does anyone have a used or NOS Carrera cooler with fan for sale?


[This message has been edited by mikez (edited 02-20-2001).]

If you look and wait, you can get them for about $250, maybe more with the shroud and fan. A lot of places seem to think an oil cooler should cost $900. I don't agree.

David, man is that one clean car! Have you driven it yet?

It looks to me like the oil cooler in the rear of the above (very nice!) car is for the transaxle, not the engine. A multi-tube heat sink type cooler would work well in an application where airflow is not optimal.

Man, the shiney side of my car doesn't look that good.

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944

Here's the link to my article on how to upgrade your trombone cooler to the Carrera one:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_carrera_oil_cooler/911_carrera_oil_cooler.htm

-Wayne

Thanks Wayne. I was poking around other 911s that had trombone coolers. Mine did not look like them. It seems that the 80-83 euro SCs and Turbos had a 28 row/tube brass oil cooler instead of the trombone. This is mentioned in your article.

So, looks like a SPAL fan and the Pelican side light duct for me....

Mike -

I used to have the Porsche 28-row radiator-style cooler, and -- while it's better than the trombone cooler -- it's a far cry from the Carrera one. I'd guess it has less than half the cooling capacity. The Carrera cooler is the smartest way to go, in my opinion.

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

I agree with you...but $400-500 plus for a used unit, plus the hassle of breaking 20 year old oil connections....not fun.

I am going to try the fan and opening up the bimber for more air flow first and see if the temps are within acceptable limits when time trialing and/or autocross. Wayne's article mentioned that the unit that I have now, showed 30F drops over the trombone style.

Will report back to those who are interested....

Thanks.

I too started time trailing with a trombone on my SC. Nearly cooked the beast. Then tried removing the turn signal for more air flow….still to stinkin hot. Then bought a mocal (small) cooler. This made a difference but not enough. Finally bought a used Carrera cooler and fan. With the turn signal removed the motor keeps it's cool. This is on a hot day at Thunder Hill. Don't mess around…learn from our expensive experiments

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81 targa guy

The old E (a '69) had an oil cooler added under the rear lid by a previous owner. Not having driven the car yet in what passes for summer here in Nova Scotia, I can't comment upon the effectiveness of the installation.
The car will not see hard use, but if I see temps out of line there will be a conversion to a forward mount and the surgical removal of an unused battery box.