Cool Collar Revisited...

[Wayne 962]

I submit this information from the Manufacturer without comment:

From the Manufacturer: Cool Collar Lab Test Results:
Test Results Laboratory Test
Castrol GTX 10W30 motor oil was heated to a temperature of 220 degrees F. and pumped simultaneously through two identical oil filters. One oil filter had a Cool Collar attached, the other did not. A fan was used to direct seventy degree F. ambient air over both oil filters at a velocity of fifty miles per hour. The oil exiting the filter having the Cool Collar installed indicated a Aheat removal approximately equal to two degrees per minute. Whereas the oil temperature exiting the filter without the Cool Collar showed no change. (Typically an automotive engine passes all the oil through the filter more than once per minute).
Summary: With a constant heat source applied to the oil, the temperature dropped to 202 degrees F (from 220 degrees F.) with five minutes. This translates to a 12% temperature decrease of the heat added to ambient temperature.
Liquid Cooled Automotive Engine (Road Test)
This test was an actual highway test. The car used was a late model Corvette equipped with digital readout oil temperature and coolant temperature gauges. On a 72 degree F. day, at 65 miles per hour, the oil temperature read a constant 221 degrees F. The water temperature was 195 degrees. The corvette was then pulled off the road and a Cool Collar was installed. Testing was then resumed. Within a distance of five miles the Cool Collar was responsible for lowering and maintaining the oil temperature at 203 degrees F.
Summary: Our tests again indicated a 12% approximate reduction above ambient temperature of oil heat. On similar testes, it was found that after installation of the Cool Collar the oil temperature will typically drop near to the level of the engine coolant temperature.
Air Cooled Engine (Road Test)
The test vehicle used was a 1978, 911SC Porsche, equipped with a carrera style oil cooler. The car was driven 65 MPH on a 85 degree day for approximately 35 miles. The car was then stopped and a I.R. thermometer was used to check the temperatures at various points along the oil lines, tank and cooler. In addition, the reading on the dash temperature gauge was noted. An average temperature of 220 degrees was logged.
Testing was then resumed, with the Cool Collar installed on the oil filter, over the same coarse and speed. At the end of the 35 miles the temperatures were then checked again using the infra-red thermometer at the same points as before. The indicated temperature readings showed an average reading of 208 degrees, a reduction of 12 degrees.

Many people have confirmed these results using their in-dash gauges. Has anyone actually done a repeatable test like this?

-Wayne

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

No testing, but I use the same Cool Collar on my SC that I used happily for nine years on the Lycoming flat four of my airplane. It's quite obvious that it's a heat sink.

Stephan

[Doug Zielke]

So Wayne, what's up?
Are those 250 Cool Collars taking up too much space on the shelves at PP?

[5axis]

This should be fun Wayne, do you have a cute sister?

[wckrause]

A fan was used to direct seventy degree F. ambient air over both oil filters at a velocity of fifty miles per hour.

Where do you attach the fan when installing this into a 911?

[Kurt B]

All things being equal, the test asserts a difference. It's funny, people get dogmatic about mechanics as well. I suppose we're all very dogmatic about something that is simple and effective because so many of those things turn out to be hoaxes.

In this particular case, if the test is an accurate, unexaggerated test set that is not suppressing information (like they did the test on different days with different air pressure while the tempurature was constant or whatever), then it asserts that if you drive a 'Vette or even a water cooled car, it will make a difference.

I guess the only problem I'd have with it is the differences between a Vette and a 911. The same test performed on a 911 would be good evidence to me, and I'd like to see it.

But those of you who are dogmatically against the cool collar ought to at least consider what it is about the test data you do not like. What it is about the test you do not like rather than simply dismiss it because you assume, without proof, that it can't actually work.

[Jack Olsen]

We need someone on this board to do a simple, repeatable, and appropriate test for it, I think. It either has a negligible effect on oil/engine temps or a measurable one. I'd like to know.

And on a related note, would any of you engineering types like to offer any opinions/speculation on this item?



Here's a web page on it.

[pwd72s]

I'm with Kurt on this one. If the fins pass off heat, then it stands to reason they are doing some good. A friend had one on his early 911 running a hot little 2.5 MFI short stroke. I touched the fins...can tell you I didn't touch them long. I do think the cool collar passes off more heat than the filter alone. I've never bought one, though. My problem is more often trying to get the oil to get warm enough. You see, the '69-72S models came from the factory with a very efficient oil cooling radiator..then in '73 the factory went cheapskate, made the trombone cooler an option, even on the S models. I guess the factory bean counters thought the '73 models ran cooler to begin with?

[makaio]

I run a Cool-Collar on my oil filter, and it drops the oil temp about 10 degrees.

I still get a kick out of all the jokes though.

[Bill Verburg]

Jack,
The S hose replacement which you posted, unlike the cool coller, has some place to radiate to. At least on the side away from the headers. It is probably better than the cool collar while the vehicle is in motion. When stopped it will absorb radiant heat from the header. This is the primary cause of S hose deterioration. On my car I put an air gap insulator between the S hose and the header to prevent this problem.

The problem with the cool collar is that there is not really any cool place to radiate to, nor is there a strong flow of air across it to promote convective cooling.

[pwd72s]

So Bill, you're saying there is not a lot of air flow under a 911 engine lid, except, of course, where the fan moves it in?

[5axis]

I am going to side with Bill for now. The CC or S tube could help transfer heat if it were to get airflow. The S tube seems like it is in a better location for airflow. I guess the question is how does air flow through the engine compartment? How much circulation, turbulence or stagnation is going on?

BTW am I the only Dexter's lab fan?

david 89 turbo cab

[makaio]

5axis,

I love dexter's Lab.

I guess i need to go buy a IR thermometer and do a test, on the effects of the cool colar.

[Bill Verburg]

pwd72s,
There is a very strong flow, but the velocity and direction are highly variable. The strongest flow is a straight line from the grill opening to the fan, There will be lesser flow from other regions internal to the engine compartment. The rubber gasket and sheet metal between the engine and body is there for a reason. That is to seal off and prevent air flow, other than to the fan from the grill.

[island911]

Originally posted by pwd72s
So Bill, you're saying there is not a lot of air flow under a 911 engine lid, except, of course, where the fan moves it in?

*If* the fan can move 3180 cfm and pulls out thru a 2 ft^2 opening (approx grill area) the air will be moving 18mph.

So all you have to do is run the cruel-caller up to the grill, and it will take heat out of the oil as quickly as 1/3 tested. . . .of course that heat then gets dumped back into the engine; but thats another thread.

[pbs911]

My name is Paul and I am a cool collar user.



Seriously, I got mine from PP about 5 months ago and I have noticed that my oil temps have been lower. For 20-30 bucks, its worth it IMHO.

[wckrause]

Never underestimate the cooling power of thermal conviction.

Can I get an AMEN!!!

[stormcrow]

Well, I don't see why a oil cooler collar wouldn't remove some heat. It acts as a heat sink, and even if there is little air flow over it, there will still be a lower temp reading. This type of device is used on transistors all the time. It helps dissipate heat.

Now, if there is air flow over it, no doubt it will work better. Now, if someone wants to invent a better mouse trap, try this.

As you know, coleman came out with a 12v cooler which would heat or cool depending on which way the current was flowing. The device used if the voltage was applied in one direction would cool, and if the voltage was applied in the other direction it would heat. Now, I see they are using this device on computer chips.

Why not invent a oil cooler using this device. If there was enough surface area i'm sure it would do a great job of cooling the oil.

As far as the oil cooler collar goes, if you buy one and install it, it's going to have some effect and if you could direct air over it, it will have more of an effect on cooling the oil.

Steve

[82SC]

after having some experience in building a rice-rocket computer...overclocking etc...I though of applying the TEC units to the oil filter or any other place the oil flows...

this is the reply:

Dear Mr. Jo,
Thank you for your interest in Melcor Thermoelectrics.

Although your proposal is a good idea, I have come accross similar application in the past and the heat load would simply be too high to make TECs a feasible solution. You could do it, however the power draw of the TECs would simply outweigh the benefits of such cooling.

Regards,
Mohamed M. Abdelrahim
Applications Engineer

so you would have to have a massive power source to move that much heat...also the TEC unit would have to be cooled with a massive heatsink as well...

Back to the cool collar...

if you have 30 bucks kicking around burning a hole in your pocket...why not...as long as there is decent contact between the cooler and filter why wouldn't it work?

even if there is NO air flow...the increased surface area allow more heat to dissapate...and I am assuming the collar has no insulating factors so I am sure it works...as to how much it cools...who knows...

maybe you can make a RUF CTR ish duct in the rear 1/4 panels and plumb air right over the cool collar as well as to the rear brakes...and the intercooler for your turbo...and the engine oil cooler....and to the heating system...and to the S-tube cooler...

[island911]

Stormcrow just gave you a BIG AMEN!!!

Certainly coleman is not driving chip cooling technology.
Thermo-electrics have been around for a long time. They've been used on jetliners for the hot/cold water for 30+ years.