3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Adding a second oil cooler

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 21, 2022 | 07:22 PM
  #1  
coolrotariesR1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 440
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
Adding a second oil cooler

I currently have a setrab oil cooler and I want to add a second one. Can someone advise on how to go about running the lines? Is a thermostat required?
Thanks
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2022 | 09:03 PM
  #2  
FDAUTO's Avatar
よ*ろ*し*く*
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 692
From: Tampa
A thermostat isn't necessarily required but it is advised. The cooling power of twin 19s without one will give EXTENDED warm up times. Really extended.

To add a second cooler you can reference the scientific diagram below. For ease of install you can use a 10AN union and build off of what you already have instead making a whole new line. If you choose not to use a thermostat then the lines will simply go straight. Keep in mind that there is a TO and FROM with a thermostat. Majority of the time they will be labelled. the FROM and TO are in reference to FROM the cooler and TO the cooler. Front housing is your TO and oil filter is your FROM.


Reply
Old Dec 21, 2022 | 10:32 PM
  #3  
cewrx7r1's Avatar
Eye In The Sky
Tenured Member: 25 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,941
Likes: 133
From: In A Disfunctional World
Remember to block off air flow to the second one for winter.
If not, your oil most likely will run too cold.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2022 | 10:14 AM
  #4  
coolrotariesR1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 440
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
Originally Posted by FDAUTO
A thermostat isn't necessarily required but it is advised. The cooling power of twin 19s without one will give EXTENDED warm up times. Really extended.

To add a second cooler you can reference the scientific diagram below. For ease of install you can use a 10AN union and build off of what you already have instead making a whole new line. If you choose not to use a thermostat then the lines will simply go straight. Keep in mind that there is a TO and FROM with a thermostat. Majority of the time they will be labelled. the FROM and TO are in reference to FROM the cooler and TO the cooler. Front housing is your TO and oil filter is your FROM.

lol I appreciate the scientific drawing... Would just any thermostat work or does it need to be a specific one.

@cewrx7r1 I'm in TX so most likely that won't be necessary but weather is changing so could possibly apply.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2022 | 10:24 AM
  #5  
FDAUTO's Avatar
よ*ろ*し*く*
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 692
From: Tampa
We like the mishimoto. The mocal has given us some stupid issues in the past so moved away from it. The improved racing one is nice but really expensive. Any 10AN 180F thermostat will work but we would advise sticking to name brand "performance" parts. The mishimoto has swappable temperature options if you ever decide to have it open at a cooler temperature for some reason. It's default 180F.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2022 | 10:30 AM
  #6  
Natey's Avatar
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 1,484
From: West Coast
Stock duals from an R1 or R2 work great and fit perfectly. I've had no overheating issues ever with mine, even during track days in the middle of the California desert. Just make sure they're ducted properly.

Cheap, simple, OEM, and unless you're making big power, works just as well as the expensive kits.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2022 | 10:48 AM
  #7  
coolrotariesR1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 440
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
Thanks for the recommendations. Would there be a benifit to add small 300cfm fans behind the coolers to turn on when stopped or in traffic? I was thinking that the Haltech 1500 could switch it on and off based on a certain signal.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2022 | 11:18 AM
  #8  
j9fd3s's Avatar
Moderator
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,835
Likes: 3,233
From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Originally Posted by coolrotariesR1
Thanks for the recommendations. Would there be a benefit to add small 300cfm fans behind the coolers to turn on when stopped or in traffic? I was thinking that the Haltech 1500 could switch it on and off based on a certain signal.
not really. i had an oil temp gauge in my R1 for a while, and oil temp basically tracked with speed, if you're over ~20mph temps were fine. so you could put a fan on, but it wouldn't run very much
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2022 | 11:23 AM
  #9  
coolrotariesR1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 440
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
Originally Posted by j9fd3s
not really. i had an oil temp gauge in my R1 for a while, and oil temp basically tracked with speed, if you're over ~20mph temps were fine. so you could put a fan on, but it wouldn't run very much
Noted.. Makes sense
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2022 | 12:31 PM
  #10  
ZumSpeedRX-7's Avatar
rotary amuse
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 565
From: Massachusetts
Reference pictures from my one off Scrubby McBubbles dual setrab kit with Improved 185* thermostat














Reply
Old Dec 23, 2022 | 10:32 AM
  #11  
mr2peak's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 928
Likes: 1,060
From: Bangkok
I went with the Improved 165* thermostat. It starts to open at 160f, and gives full flow at 181f. OEM opens at 150f, and the Mazda performance recommendations are full flow at 180f. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I also deal with ~90f+ ambient temps so I need some extra cooling capacity
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2022 | 11:02 PM
  #12  
FDAUTO's Avatar
よ*ろ*し*く*
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 692
From: Tampa
Bear in mind those temps are relative to the cooling capability of the coolers themselves. Twin 19 row coolers vs the oem, the 19s will outperform. So having the aftermarket coolers open so cold isn't really necessary considering they will cool better than stock.

The stock twin coolers having full flow so soon may be whats needed for them to work as far as heat dissipation. Not saying they're bad, because they're not, but a taller cooler will work better than a shorter one and shouldn't be treated the same as a shorter one.

Having the twin 19s run full flow at 16xF is way too cool. If you're not monitoring oil temp, you should. Also look into what temperature your weight oil is optimized for. You may be running "cold" oil with the thermostat running so cool.

Even here in Florida in the ***** death heat of summer, twin 19 row 180F thermostated coolers will maintain sub 190F temps. Sitting still or on the highway they work very well.
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2022 | 10:57 AM
  #13  
Carlos Iglesias's Avatar
Corn-to-Noise Converter
Veteran: Navy
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,619
Likes: 502
From: The Elysian Fields (Texas)
FDAUTO's diagram is on the money, and how my setup has been for 20+ years,

For the record, Mazda Competitions recommends Oil Temps:
  • NORMAL: 195-230
  • MAX LIMIT: 250
Personally been running a Mocal A0T2-10 (-10AN inlets/outlets) w. the 180F opening last 20-ish years. Stock front bumper, twin Mocal coolers, Mocal AOT2 Oilstat, and custom cooler ducts, and my oil temp tracks 10-20F above Coolant Temp (170-190F), including up to 100F in Dallas. That said, I don't have much data with ambient temps <50F. Maybe this year.

Last edited by Carlos Iglesias; Dec 24, 2022 at 11:02 AM. Reason: Dumb Assness
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2022 | 09:09 AM
  #14  
Billj747's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 439
Likes: 337
From: SoCal
A guy who runs 6s in the 1/4 in a rotary said you can't damage a rotary with low oil temperatures (140*F). With his decades of experience and that everyone tends to run thick 20W50 weight oils, and since only the e-shaft with wide bearings is lubricated, it kind of makes sense... I have not read or seen any bearing damage from oil being too cool.
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2022 | 10:02 AM
  #15  
DaleClark's Avatar
RX-7 Bad Ass
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (56)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,622
Likes: 2,725
From: Pensacola, FL
Issues I see with very low oil temps -

- Oil is thicker and the engine uses more power to overcome the thick oil so there is a bit of a loss in horsepower
- Cool oil temps will also mean lower water temps quite possibly since rotaries do so much cooling with oil. If the car runs cooler than standard operating temp you will still be in startup enrichment so the car will be burning a LOT more fuel.

Dale
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2022 | 10:26 AM
  #16  
j9fd3s's Avatar
Moderator
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,835
Likes: 3,233
From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
issue #3 is that the thermal pellet in the E shaft opens at 65c...
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2022 | 10:37 AM
  #17  
mr2peak's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 928
Likes: 1,060
From: Bangkok
Not an issue as long as your oil thermostat opens after 149, right? Or, replace the pellet with a plug
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2022 | 11:12 AM
  #18  
Billj747's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 439
Likes: 337
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by DaleClark
Issues I see with very low oil temps -

- Oil is thicker and the engine uses more power to overcome the thick oil so there is a bit of a loss in horsepower
- Cool oil temps will also mean lower water temps quite possibly since rotaries do so much cooling with oil. If the car runs cooler than standard operating temp you will still be in startup enrichment so the car will be burning a LOT more fuel.

Dale
-uses more power, probably insignificant compared to the issues with oil temps being too high.

-maybe slightly longer warmup periods but I doubt running big coolers and a 140*F thermostat would really cause any issues with the water temps, especially if you have a thermostat in your coolant system. I don't think anyone ever complains about issues with rotaries running too cold.
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2022 | 04:09 PM
  #19  
silverTRD's Avatar
Time or Money, Pick one
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (40)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 169
From: Torrance, ca.
I have an oil temp gauge and with the mocal it would be tough to get the car up to oil temp unless I start beating on it. I live in a populated area so this isn’t ideal. Cruising around and seeing oil temps at 100f was concerning. Covering the passenger oil cooler raised temps some.

I swapped to an Improved racing Tstat and get 160 cruising and 185-190 when having fun. 210 when flogging it.

I have 25 row coolers unducted. I do have FEED ducts ready to go in if my car starts to get warm as I track my car and push it harder.
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2022 | 05:42 PM
  #20  
Billj747's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 439
Likes: 337
From: SoCal
For the street you definitely want at least a 140* thermostat, which is what I'm using.

Where are you measuring your oil temps?
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2022 | 08:02 PM
  #21  
silverTRD's Avatar
Time or Money, Pick one
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (40)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 169
From: Torrance, ca.
I measure mine at the oil filter pedestal.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2023 | 01:40 PM
  #22  
Billj747's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 439
Likes: 337
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by silverTRD
I measure mine at the oil filter pedestal.
So depending on how effective your oil coolers are, your actual oil temps could be 20-40* higher.

You should measure your oil temps in the pan, not post-coolers.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2023 | 01:42 PM
  #23  
Narfle's Avatar
Rx7 Wagon
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 6,978
Likes: 888
From: California
With the dual stock oil coolers, my oil temp measured at the filter pedestal is consistently 140-150*F (this winter, 40-50*F ambient) while cruising on the highway. Is that bad?
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2023 | 01:45 PM
  #24  
Billj747's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 439
Likes: 337
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by Narfle
With the dual stock oil coolers, my oil temp measured at the filter pedestal is consistently 140-150*F while cruising on the highway. Is that bad?
That's the temp of oil going into the engine. What we really need to know is the oil temp the engine is operating at (oil pan). Most numbers on this forum are at the oil pedestal mount which will vary greatly on the size, ducting, and effectiveness of the coolers. None of which actually tells us how hot a given engine is running.
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2023 | 01:49 AM
  #25  
billyboy's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 287
From: sydney
Originally Posted by ZumSpeedRX-7
Reference pictures from my one off Scrubby McBubbles dual setrab kit with Improved 185* thermostat




Appears to be no rubber mounting used there on that kit, or you haven't used them? I'd make a point in ensuring that any heat exchanger is not subject to vibes......always costly ramifications if they crack.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:18 PM.