Oil cooler air flow

mountaineer · 11-28-2008, 07:53 AM

Problem - I can hit 250 degrees oil temp in one DE session in the summer time.

I have been thinking about locating an oil cooler on the front of my SC. I currently have a Mocal in the front fender but its not doing the job. Not really wanting to mess with fiberglass bumpers was wandering about locating the cooler behind the front bumper like a rally SC. Would there be enough air flow behind this tucked bumper to work??

What do the experts think? Thanks for any help.

Mountaineer

Chuck Moreland · 11-28-2008, 10:21 AM

It is not easy to fit a cooler behind the stock valence. There is not adequate space.

Some do this by cutting into the trunk and mounting the cooler inside. Then create an air box to vent the air and seal the trunk. Others modify the valence, moving it forward. This doesn't really stock.

Another choice is a second cooler in the driver side fender. Run them in series.

You didn't say which mocal you have but in general the fender mount mocals are not the best choice. You would likely improve your cooling by using a carrera style cooler. This is about the biggest cooler you will get into the fender.

You could also use finned oil lines. This alone should be good for about 15 degrees.

afterburn 549 · 11-28-2008, 10:56 AM

Vent out the hood

mountaineer · 03:28 AM

Thanks for the reply. I had heard 8" of free space is what is needed behind the cooler for optimum flow (best cooling). Does this sound correct?

Afterburn did you make the hood or buy? Where can you buy one similar to yours?

afterburn 549 · 11-29-2008, 08:28 AM

Chopped a hole in it myself..sprayed it,called wonderfull

911pcars · 11-29-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountaineer

Thanks for the reply. I had heard 8" of free space is what is needed behind the cooler for optimum flow (best cooling). Does this sound correct?

Afterburn did you make the hood or buy? Where can you buy one similar to yours?

Of more importance than the exit path is the inlet path. Without adequate and direct air volume, heat transfer will be minimal regardless of the exit space. My front-mount oil cooler (RS front bumper) is butted up against the bulkhead and the 2.7 does not venture beyond 210 deg. F. Engines larger than this may require either a larger cooler and/or more exit air space. A DP-type front bumper will allow more room for both conditions to exist.

Sherwood

boba · 11-29-2008, 03:31 PM

One common issue with front fender mounted oil cooler is having the correct block off plates around the cooler. These will close off the space between the cooler and the inner and outer fender. This forces the air to flow thru the cooler. Without these block-off plates the air flow will take the path of least resistance and flow around the cooler. This will result in less than optimum cooling.

Bob

afterburn 549 · 11-29-2008, 03:56 PM

A small venture into venturi and Bernali law led me to the little spoiler on top just B4 the hole.
If you look at the race cars Porsche made with a hood slot you will find the same sort of deal.
Some one else did a lot of research on this board awhile back (year?) and found if the exit in the hood was too fwd it tended to re suck ( reintroduce ) some of the air back in at the very front.
I can not prove one thing except looks dam mean and "Hot Rod"

tdatk · 11-29-2008, 09:01 PM

I also run the Mocal cooler and I had seen some temps at the track that had me concerned. I kinda went old skool at it starting with opening up the headlight bucket (which just happens to be directly in front of the cooler) buy first drilling some 2
' round holes and then just cutting out the back 1/2 of the bucket. I then made a mesh guard to fit an old trim ring. I normally pull my headlight at the track and put the mesh cover on. I also boxed in the bottom of the cooler and used expansion foam (yes the **** you get from home depot to seal walls) to seal the upper half. These are the only pics I have today, If you need more let me know.