oil temp still hot after external oil cooler install

[nikramos]

Just had an external oil cooler installed in the fender. Temps are running at 220 after a 15 min drive and letting it idle for 10 minutes to check for any leaks. I have a 77 w/ a 3.2. I checked the front cooler and it is hot. I also had the engine cooler replaced w/ a non leaking used one. Isn't the temp too hot? Thanks for all the responses...

[tmctguer]

few questions:

1). what kind of cooler is it? trombone, late model carrera, mocal, terbatrol?

2). do you have a fan on the cooler?

3). is the fan thermostatically controlled? if so, what is the temp of the thermostat?

4). by what means is air getting to the cooler? vent in front fender? special ducting?

reason i'm asking is i'm about to do the same thing to my '73 and want to LOSE oil temp, not gain.

[nikramos]

I swapped a new carrera cooler to an earl's because my car is a slopenose conversion. It won't fit, I installed the hard lines, no fan but drilled 2 (2 inch) holes through the front valance. I covered it w/ grommets.

[Jack Olsen]

I can't understand your post. Do you now have a Carrera cooler, or an Earl's? If it's an Earl's, how many rows, and what size is it? Where have you put the cooler (I believe they were in the rear passenger fender on factory slantnose models. It would help a lot if you could post a picture of the cooler and your air circulation scheme.

220 isn't too hot for your engine, but it's close. If it's going to get hotter in traffic or on the track, I'd be concerned. The key to making these coolers effective is to have an unobstructed path for air to come in, shrouding and ducting to make sure the incoming air goes through (and not around) the cooler, and then another clear path for the air to go out.

If your temperature problems are at low speeds and/or at idle, then you have a different problem, and need to use a fan of some sort to force air through the cooler.

You might also want to confirm the functionality of the engine-mounted cooler and the state of the cooling fins etc. around your cylinders.

[jkcrewsn]

nikramos,
You say "swapped", do you still have the carrera cooler? I am looking to buy one. If you still have it, I would be interested in talking about price.

[Early_S_Man]

Sitting idling for 10 minutes is NOT a functional test of an external cooler ... although it will tell you what your engine will do waiting in line at the bank!

A good test needs to be more than an hour in duration, and should include a high-speed, high-rpm (say 15 minutes above 5000 rpm) leg, and a log with a description of the course, terrain, speed and rpm levels at 1-2 minute intervals, besides the temp. readings , of course! The 'log' ... to be taken by a passenger, unless you have a dictation cassette recorder with a good remote mic. ... handheld operation of the recorder is NOT suggested!

[Joe Bob]

First off...how are you taking temps? With the in dash gauge? Have you checked the gauge with an external source, like a pyrometer?

Check the gauge, then check the temp of the cooler....if the gauge is good, the cooler may not getting oil...check the cooler temp...if colder, the thermostat may not be opening all the way or not at all...

if the cooler is the same temp, and the thermostat is definitely open....could be slipping belt....

[nikramos]

Jack, I did install the Earl's. It has 36 rows. It is smaller than the Carrera Cooler. I really tried putting in the Carrera cooler especially after reading your previous post(carrera vs. Lemke) but it just does not fit. It was installed underneath the front fender on a 135 degree angle. The dual 2 inch holes I drilled does provide incoming air through the cooler and then exiting through the vents on top of the front wheel arch of these slantnose fenders. Sorry I can not post any picture yet. I thought of putting it on those rear brake vents=(won't fit due to 17 inch forgelines) and even on the rear wing (this was the easiest way as long as I remove the the a/c condenser )but since I bought these expensive hard lines already, I had to put them upfront.
I do not have the Carrera Cooler any longer. The Guy I did an even swap left my house smiling. I just wanted it to get it done. He did give me 2 (1 foot) braided lines that I used. Thank You for the response....

[masraum]

First. If the car sits idling it's going to get hot unless you have a fan, period. The way to tell what's going on besides the probably correct but more extreme measurs suggested above is to drive the car the way you usually do and see if the guage reads higher, lower, or the same. Hopefully it'll read lower or the same.

Second. Make sure the air is going through the cooler. They've said it, but I'll say it again because it makes a big difference. I have an '88 targa with the stock radiator style cooler. I sealed the gap between the cooler and the fender and added a sheet/plate under the cooler to make sure the air didn't just go under the cooler and removed my fog light since I rarely drive in fog anyway. Now my car runs 20-40 degrees cooler than it did and runs the same temp whether it's 90 or 60 outside. It'll still get hot if I'm stuck sitting and idling though. That's why I added a manual fan switch to my stock fan.

[ChrisBennet]

Is the temp sender matched to the guage? 2.7's and 3.2's have a different sender. If you have the sender from your old motor I would install it and see if that fixes things. -Chris

[Marshall Reddin]

Chris is absolutely correct, you must have a temp sender matched to your dash gauge. While you are making swap, if you haven't already, find a simple way of checking the calibration. I dropped the sender into a container of boiling water along with a reliable thermometer and compared the results. Do you have AC? Do you have the condenser mounted in the engine deck lid? Even with the AC off, it will restrict the air flow to the engine.
Marshall

[Marshall Reddin]

I apologize. That last post wasn't entirely complete. The sender must be connected to the wiring and grounded, and ignition switch on, for the temperature of the water bath to register on the dash gauge. Sorry.
Marshall

[nikramos]

i drove the car for 15 freeway miles one way to work today. The temp was at 170. that is 15 deg lower w/out the cooler. I'm happy but need to drive it longer and w/ stop and go traffic to see the results. I'll check the sender and find a fan that will fit. thanks for the replies