83 SC Coupe: Oil Cooler -- Front Passenger side

[83_Silberpfeil]

I took a peak under the wheel well of my 83 SC --- front passenger side. I was able to see a bunch of oil tubes running into/up the well, then down, and back towards rear of car.

I had expected to see an oil cooler (radiator looking apparatus) there, but was disappointed when i didn't.

My question is: Are the front wheel well oil coolers optional items or aftermarket installs?

Question 2: If my car does not have the front oil cooler, then why do the oil lines even need to run up to the front of the car? BTW --- the lines are plain types --- not the "fin-ed" type.

So, where is the oil being cooled then?

Thanks!

[schumicat]

the us sc just had loop oil cooler, called trombone for the shape. the carrera cooler is a common upgrade.

[83_Silberpfeil]

Thanks for the clarification. Indeed the tubes running around does remind me of a trombone.

[Mountainman]

Ya, the trombone cooler is only a "cooler" in the exaggerated sense of the word. This helps explain why Porsche changed over to the Carrera cooler in 1984. Look up info on the Elephant oil cooler, it is an easy install and will take approximately 20 degrees F out of your oil temp. I added a 5" fan on a manual control and it has dramatically helped cool my engine oil. Good Luck - DW

[Gogar]

+1 if you're interested in additional cooling (which most folks are), you can upgrade to the "Carrera" radiator-style cooler, with a fan, which is nice. There is also what's called a "28-row" cooler, that was an option for the SC; you can probably find one in the classifieds here.

And then in addition to that, there's a bunch of nice aftermarket options if you want to go that way.

[JJ 911SC]

Same thing one mine (trombone). Up here it does not get hot that often (never pass the halfway mark on the gauge, so as they say; location, location, location

If you are or not going with a front cooler, you should clean the pipes to/from the thermostat box. Dirt does not dissipate heat very well.

[83_Silberpfeil]

Thanks JJ.
it does look a bit grimy.

How do you suggest cleaning them? What method, what solution, cleaner?

[Joe Bob]

The euro SC and some early Carreras had the brass row row cooler.....essentially a big trombone with a whole lot more passes. There's one on the FS section.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by 83_Silberpfeil

... it does look a bit grimy.

How do you suggest cleaning them? What method, what solution, cleaner?

Well it will probably be a week-end project...

Below is 5 minutes of hot soapy water with a brass brush and 3M green pad. Barely scratch the surface... sort of speak.

My thermostat leaks so the line under the car will cleaned easily but in the wheel well its 27 years of road crap. Some place its 1/8" thick

[Joe Bob]

On cleaning...."Purple Stuff" at the local parts store. It's concentrated and you cut it with water. Spray it on, scrub with a stiff paint brush, rinse, repeat.

The spray bottle with likely melt so wash it out afterward.

[SC-targa]

I thought 83 & early 84 US 911's used the 28 tube cooler like this.

Regards,

Jerry

[Halm]

Originally Posted by SC-targa

I thought 83 & early 84 US 911's used the 28 tube cooler like this.

I had a cooler that that on a different SC. It was nowhere near as effective as the Carrera version I am now using.

[tcar]

JJ 911SC, you didn't show any pics of the cooler...

Is that the radio antenna in the first pic?

[JJ 911SC]

TC

Good eye Hawkeye, that is the antenna sleeve.

As for an "Oil Cooler", Canadian cars were optioned to keep the car warm... So no Cooler, no Trombone just a loop or it lost it during the modification;

Cheers

JJ

[JJ 911SC]

I did not plan to do this... but since I was leaking at the thermostat and could not reach, it was easier to drop the whole thing.

After cleaning it (4 hours) I was able to thighten the nut a half a turn.

[Joe Bob]

You couldn't reach the thermostat or you couldn't get a wrench in there? Mine is right inside the wheel well and is an easy (relatively) access.

At least it's all cleaned up now. The pics isn't real clear, but do I see some crushed lines? Towards the left on the ground?

[James Brown]

Hey jj, while it's out, the thermostat has a couple O rings that are cheap and easy, now, to change.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

You couldn't reach the thermostat or you couldn't get a wrench in there? Mine is right inside the wheel well and is an easy (relatively) access.

At least it's all cleaned up now. The pics isn't real clear, but do I see some crushed lines? Towards the left on the ground?

I could touch it all righ... but could not put any force on the wrench insitu.

Actually it took a lot to get that half turn using a big wrench, 2 hands and a foot.

It kind of look crush a bit but not from a "screw-up" lift.

I tought that the loop was made of rubber but its metal but definitely not copper, probably steel.






QUOTE=James Brown;5846588]Hey jj, while it's out, the thermostat has a couple O rings that are cheap and easy, now, to change.[/QUOTE]

Good timing James... I closed my Gasket and O rings order this morning

But already got another one on the go. If they are under the two slotted covers, I'll go for it.



Cheers

JJ

[Joe Bob]

Believe it or not, I use large crescent wrenches, Vise Grips and/or pipe wrenches to crack them loose. They spin right off...in most cases after that.

Porsche and Park Tools (bicycle) make a thin open ended wrench that works as well. The Porsche tool is spendy, Park less so.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Believe it or not, I use large crescent wrenches, Vise Grips and/or pipe wrenches to crack them loose. They spin right off...in most cases after that.

Porsche and Park Tools (bicycle) make a thin open ended wrench that works as well. The Porsche tool is spendy, Park less so.

I even had a WTB 36mm crowfoot posting with no reply. I did find one here but did not want to fork out $35 for it. Now that I know what it took to get that half turn, I'm quite sure I could have not done it with the crowfoot.

At least now it's clean...