Oil Cooler, External or water cooled?

[mitsu_matt]

Ok I am in the middle of doing a 6bolt swap on my 98 GSX. I have a question as to what oil cooler housing I should use. Do i want to run a external oil cooler? or is there a way to use my 7bolt water cooled housing? I will be running a 2.3 stroker with a Turbonetics T4 .60 trim turbo. What is the exact oil cooler housing I want?

 

[DSM4me44]

Get a watercooled. The 6bolt i ordered was actually made in 89. The 89 to early 90 6 bolts came with air cooled systems. I actually had to go to the dealer and purchase a late 90 watercooler.

 

[mitsu_matt]

So will my 7bolt water cooled piece still fit on the 90 style housing?

 

[DSM4me44]

No, unfortunately. You are gonna have to get a 6 bolt one. The holes don't line up on the 2g ones.

 

[canadiandsm11]

I was under the impression that the air-cooled is a better setup.
a.) Your oil won't get as hot, especially if you're ever prone to overheating problems (which can be made worse by the hot oil heating the already hot coolant)

b.) You won't get the coolant/oil mix that some ppl get after over-tightening their oil filter.
And I think there isnt that bolt in the air cooled oil filter housings that can back out, which can cause your oil filter not to seat properly and slowly back out as well.

And as far as size of an oil cooler I would say it depends on your application. If you're doing something like auto-x vs. drag, your size needs will vary. You won't 'over-cool' your oil since theres a valve in the housing that wont pass oil through the cooler until its a certain temperature. Another advantage is increased oil capacity in the cooler, which can't be a bad thing (to a limit!)

 

[blcknspo0ln]

Here you go

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271069

Canadiandsm is correct about the additional benefits. If you have the $ an external oil cooler will give you the following benefits mentioned above.

When you look at anplumbing, you can choose an earl's cooler like I did, or get an uber awesome setrab cooler.

 

[Defiant]

I was under the impression that the air-cooled is a better setup.
a.) Your oil won't get as hot, especially if you're ever prone to overheating problems (which can be made worse by the hot oil heating the already hot coolant)

Oil and coolant run at near the same temperature in a healthy engine. Having the water as the oil cooler helps maintain a more balanced overall running temperature, and in cold weather helps to keep the oil in its best operating range.

b.) You won't get the coolant/oil mix that some ppl get after over-tightening their oil filter.
And I think there isnt that bolt in the air cooled oil filter housings that can back out, which can cause your oil filter not to seat properly and slowly back out as well.

This part is a true advantage, if you don't do your own oil changes, or are especially careless or ham-handed at doing maintenance. It's still a very rare occurrence to either crush the cooler or lose the filter (despite the fifteen who'll post with horror stories).

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

On all of the external oil cooler threads I've noticed that everyone springs for the expensive oil cooler with npt fittings and braided hoses but what is the problem with using the cheaper oil coolers like this one => B&M SuperCooler Oil Coolers: BMM-70264 - summitracing.com
that cost a WHOLE lot less?

 

[bane3d]

You willing to risk your engine to a hose breaking or popping off? I spent about $60 for my core plus the slight additional cost of fittings and braided hose for peace of mind. (+Adds a little bling)

d

 

[Asimmons90GSX]

I would say go external with braided lines. Think about what your gonna need in the long run. Do more than you have to. Better safe than sorry IMO

 

[Spoolin98]

Here you go

2G External Oil Cooler install - DSM Forums

Canadiandsm is correct about the additional benefits. If you have the $ an external oil cooler will give you the following benefits mentioned above.

When you look at anplumbing, you can choose an earl's cooler like I did, or get an uber awesome setrab cooler.

You beat me to it Tom.

 

[turbosax2]

You beat me to it Tom.

By almost 3 months

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

You willing to risk your engine to a hose breaking or popping off? I spent about $60 for my core plus the slight additional cost of fittings and braided hose for peace of mind. (+Adds a little bling)

d

Well the stock setup has a rubber hose that has never busted and has never come off using just worm gear clamps so I thought I'd ask.
Seemed like it couldn't hurt to get other opinions cause I might have overlooked something major.

Gotta tell ya, I don't care about "bling" just functionality and thats why I had the interest in this unit. I'm tired of spending thousands on a car worth hundreds, so if I can get by for less I will.

 

[bane3d]

Sounds like you already made up your mind. I personally needed an external oil cooler and thought if I'm going to do it, I might as well do it the right way the first time that won't require maintenance again.

d

 

[Spoolin98]

By almost 3 months

def didnt notice that!

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

Sounds like you already made up your mind. I personally needed an external oil cooler and thought if I'm going to do it, I might as well do it the right way the first time that won't require maintenance again.

d

No, haven't made it up yet. Think I'll keep the stocker a bit longer till I do decide. I'm with you on the do it once, do it right though.

 

[Defiant]

Rubber lines on barbed fittings won't come unscrewed. Every automatic-equipped car on the road, and more than 95% of oil-cooled cars left the factory and are still running with rubber lines, and many of those have been doing so for many decades. Same for the fuel injection systems.
Braid-covered, AN-fitted lines are prettier. They don't work any better.

 

[gixrman]

There are several advantages to braided line over rubber lines. Abrassion resistance is the biggest, but if you have the lines run correctly this does'nt matter. braided lines don't swell under heat and pressure like rubber lines can. AN fitting offer a better 360 degree sealing surface that will seal again and again. barbed hose and worm clamp does not and will damage the hose if repeatedly removed. Really it all comes down to $$ and form and function. Is this a race car or a street car? Are you going to be removing the oil cooler periodiclly for service? Or are you like me and hate the look of rubber hose.

 

[red97gsx]

I went with an external B+M engine oil cooler and love it. I got one with pipe thread female fittings and used some earls 90 degree fittings that converted into -6 JIC and used SS lines. I love the setup and it is very functional.

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

Rubber lines on barbed fittings won't come unscrewed. Every automatic-equipped car on the road, and more than 95% of oil-cooled cars left the factory and are still running with rubber lines, and many of those have been doing so for many decades. Same for the fuel injection systems.
Braid-covered, AN-fitted lines are prettier. They don't work any better.

Yeah, thats what my reasoning said too.

There are several advantages to braided line over rubber lines. Abrassion resistance is the biggest, but if you have the lines run correctly this does'nt matter. braided lines don't swell under heat and pressure like rubber lines can. AN fitting offer a better 360 degree sealing surface that will seal again and again. barbed hose and worm clamp does not and will damage the hose if repeatedly removed. Really it all comes down to $$ and form and function. Is this a race car or a street car? Are you going to be removing the oil cooler periodiclly for service? Or are you like me and hate the look of rubber hose.

Well I don't have any sandpaper or Brillo pads anywhere near my hoses so I'm not so much concerned with abrasives.

The rubber may swell a bit under heat and pressure but as long as I'm not relying on that as far as performance losses (like rubber intercooler pipes) it should be no big deal.

I don't see why there would be a need to remove the oil cooler for service seeing that its just a small radiator. Also I don't hate the look of rubber hose either, I don't care if the hose is made of plastic just so long as it does what it is intended to do. My car is a street car that is mildly modified (see profile) but it gets really hot down here in the summers and I want a little extra protection for my cooling system now that I have a fmic.