Hi there,

I need some help/advice on whether it is feasible to use my ex-auto transmission oil cooler as the 2nd engine oil cooler.

I'm thinking of first cleaning out the old oil cooler and then reinstalling new braided piping, having both oil coolers in series.

I'm wondering whether the existing engine oil pump will be able to handle the extra load of 2 oil coolers in series.

How 'bout you guys with after-market oil coolers ... did you have to modify or upgrade your oil pumps?

The beauty of this setup would be three fold:
1) cost
2) fit-ability
3) availability of the oil cooler (probably quite common)

Any help, advice, suggestions or ideas will be greatly appreciated.

 

I have the Crooked Willow kit and didn't have to change the oil pump. Two oil coolers is fine, and the R models came like that from the factory.

It is possible that the AT cooler is the same part as the second oil cooler from the R-models. I don't really know one way or the other, but it seems like it is worth a look. Check the part number for those two parts with a dealer and see if they match.

I don't see any problem with re-purposing the AT cooler as an oil cooler as long as you get it cleaned out and can get it plumbed in. It seems applicable since engine oil and transmission fluid are so similar. (Unlike, say, using a radiator as an intercooler or something like that -- air and water are too different and the coolers will have different designs).

-Max

 

It seems to me that the oil coolers are really alike visually. Theoretically they should be similar.

My main concern was whether the exisiting oil pump can handle the extra oil path distance.

Looks like I'll be going ahead with the upgrade.

Thanks for the input.