To those who have done oil cooler upgrades, what did you upgrade with, and what were the results? Im looking at doing track work with a Bridgeported, TA-51 Turbo. How will the stock coolers cope?

 

wat model do u have? most ppl that dont have the r1/r2 usually upgrade to the r1/2 twin oil cooler setup.

 

I recently installed the Rotary Extreme dual 25-row kit. I have a track day on the 28th and will post my review then. I can say that the kit is WAY OVERKILL for street driving. I haven't been able to get my oil temps to budge over 180F yet in street driving.

If you are planning on regularly tracking the car in 90+F weather, I would get either the Crooked Willow or Rotary Extreme oil cooler kits. If you will only occasionally be running events in weather that hot, I would stick with the stock dual coolers and see how your temps are.

Which brings me to my next question, do you have an oil temp gauge?

 

I just read about upgrading the oil cooler on the Rx7 magazine and it said to use the FC oil cooler. Its much bigger than the FD's oil cooler and also very effective and cost saving.

 

I don't see how. But if YOU want to fabricate mounting brackets and figure out how to run the oil lines, go ahead. People sell their R1/R2 dual cooler setup on a regular basis for $400 or less.

 

92 Efini. I have the dual coolers.


I plan on tracking the car at least once a month.
No, I havnt installed a oil temp gauge. The car was completely stock before going in for the build. Was just curious as to how far people have pushed their cars out on the track with stock coolers/upgraded coolers and what their thoughts on the matter.
Ok. I will be keen on seeing your results.

 

This makes me nervous because mine regularly hang around the 210*F range during daily driving (city driving).

 

The "efini" was never issues into the US market. To let you know, you have a regular RX-7 like the rest of us.

My advice to you is to keep your stock dual coolers and get a Temp gauge. The stock duals work well and should suffice for what you want to do.

 

No need to be nervous 180 is a little on the cold side, and being too cold is almost as bad as being to hot , you get excessive wear in those conditions.

 

I bought Crooked Willow Oil coolers. Have yet to install them to see how they are..

 

If you are in anyways mechanically inclined, you can get 2 biggest oil coolers, thermostat, dual oil filter pedistal, mocal thermostat, fittings, and lines for under $1000.

 

Anybody else actually fitted and have results?
I would have thought oil cooler upgrades a common practice!?
Obviously not.

 

A lot of people with touring and base models have upgraded to the dual setup. This is usually not the first coolant mod that people do though because of the costs associated.

I run CWR and have for two years.

 

Agree with you.
During autocross, the car seems to have more power with oil in the 195 to a bit over 210F range.

 

How can rynberg change that? Another thermo that open later or close earlier?

 

Simple. Put the black plastic cover back on over the passenger side oil cooler duct. I will definitely be doing this once summer is over anyway.

Anyway, my temp sensor is at the oil filter and represents the temps AFTER the oil coolers. The actual temp in the engine is hotter than 180F. I also seriously doubt that oil temps of ~180F are going to cause excessive wear, especially when using synthetic oil. In any case, it's a far cry better than running 220F.

Also, as I said in my earlier post, this kit is WAY overkill for the street. I bought the kit to reduce track day temps -- I'm tracking on this Friday, so I'll know how much of an improvement they are then.

 

200-210 is good on power you are correct, seems that is the sweet spot on most.

I also never said 180 degrees would cause excessive wear, I said being too cold would. Just throwing it out there.
If you were having a hard time keeping 180 then I'd worry.

 

Actually, I AM having a hard time keeping it at 180F. The Mocal t-stat that comes with the kit opens at 80C (175F). It's been pretty much sitting there or slightly below. To be perfectly honest, I'd feel better if it was more like 190F all the time.

I think once the temps warm up a bit here, it's going to be fine, but for anyone installing this kit -- don't lose the passenger side inlet cover. I will be reinstalling it this fall to keep the temps a little higher.

 

Anyone know the part number for the passenger side inlet cover? I've never seen one and it gets pretty cold out here in NY..

 

rynberg, what weight of oil are you running?

 

10w30 Mobil 1

 

cover -- FD01-51-3G5
clip -- GJ21-50-049

 

http://www.negative-camber.org/crispyrx7/cwrcoolers.htm
HTH

My track oil temps now sit right around 210-220F IIRC which directly correlates with water temps. Previously 250+F. I have oil temp gauge sender mounted after oil coolers in oil filter pedestal.
Street driving oil temps are maintained at 180F constantly by the oil t-stat. Never higher. I run 10W30 Mobil 1
FWIW
Crispy

 

THANKS CRISPY!

Your street temps make me feel much better! BTW, I actually got the car to hit 185F oil temps this morning getting on the freeway. Of course, they dropped to 175F in about 5-10 seconds after I hit cruising velocity....

 

You will find that, if after driving the car at normal operating temps you come to a full stop, the oil temps will tend to climb a little to about 190-195 simply because the oil-tstat is already open and now the coolers have no airflow to draw the heat away. But as you observed one moving again, even if slowly, the temps drop immediately one airflow is resumed....at least that has been what I have seen.
Crispy