FD Oil Cooler Upgrade
01-14-13, 03:47 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
FD Oil Cooler Upgrade
For those of you with a single stock FD oil cooler looking to upgrade I'm willing to share my experience. I know there are threads out there about this modification which I read when I was working on my own but I decided to do it my way for a couple of reasons: to save the most money and time while still getting good results.
I installed a single Earl’s 25 row oil cooler with 10AN fittings in the stock location with the stock lines, and stock air duct. I decided not to use a thermostat even though I live in a cold state. I used a couple of straight and 90deg 10AN elbows, with about 1 foot of braided lines total, 10AN couplings with gauge fittings, and a 21mm to 10AN conversion.
I installed an Innovate oil temp/pressure gauge at the oil cooler outlet and an analog inexpensive temp gauge at the crank case. It all totalled about $300.
I use 10-30W synthetic oil all year round. I have not had any issues with the oil temp being too cold in cold days (10F). The oil temp at the crank stays at 160-170 cruising and gets up to 190 driving hard. In the summer all temps are a little higher but all very acceptable. Heat soak has not been an issue during summer.
I experimented with an electric cooling fan at the oil cooler but that did not go as expected. Oil temps were actually higher and out of control. I realized that the fan created a turbulent and multi-directional air flow that actually bounced off of the wheel well back into the oil cooler just recirculating hot air all around.
The oil stays very clean between oil changes (very light amber color) and not dark as before. I understand that it all depends on each other’s preferences but in my experience these are my findings/observations: no need for a thermostat, no need for additional cooling fan, no need for aftermarket oil lines from the engine, no need for dual coolers, no need to break the bank, and most importantly more time to enjoy a beer and spend time with the family.
Hope this inspires and motivates someone out there.
I installed a single Earl’s 25 row oil cooler with 10AN fittings in the stock location with the stock lines, and stock air duct. I decided not to use a thermostat even though I live in a cold state. I used a couple of straight and 90deg 10AN elbows, with about 1 foot of braided lines total, 10AN couplings with gauge fittings, and a 21mm to 10AN conversion.
I installed an Innovate oil temp/pressure gauge at the oil cooler outlet and an analog inexpensive temp gauge at the crank case. It all totalled about $300.
I use 10-30W synthetic oil all year round. I have not had any issues with the oil temp being too cold in cold days (10F). The oil temp at the crank stays at 160-170 cruising and gets up to 190 driving hard. In the summer all temps are a little higher but all very acceptable. Heat soak has not been an issue during summer.
I experimented with an electric cooling fan at the oil cooler but that did not go as expected. Oil temps were actually higher and out of control. I realized that the fan created a turbulent and multi-directional air flow that actually bounced off of the wheel well back into the oil cooler just recirculating hot air all around.
The oil stays very clean between oil changes (very light amber color) and not dark as before. I understand that it all depends on each other’s preferences but in my experience these are my findings/observations: no need for a thermostat, no need for additional cooling fan, no need for aftermarket oil lines from the engine, no need for dual coolers, no need to break the bank, and most importantly more time to enjoy a beer and spend time with the family.
Hope this inspires and motivates someone out there.
Last edited by misterstyx69; 01-18-13 at 01:49 AM. Reason: Broken up to make it readable.
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box-o-aces (05-25-19)
01-18-13, 07:06 AM
#3
...... It all totalled about $300..... in my experience these are my findings/observations: no need for a thermostat, no need for additional cooling fan, no need for aftermarket oil lines from the engine, no need for dual coolers, no need to break the bank, and most importantly more time to enjoy a beer and spend time with the family.
Hope this inspires and motivates someone out there.
Hope this inspires and motivates someone out there.
01-18-13, 01:06 PM
#4
Thanks for the posting. Do you have any pictures to help visualize what you did? I can't argue with your experience, but it sounds like you're a little more comfortable with fabbing than most owners might be. Maybe it's because I can't fab a piece of scratch paper, but IMHO finding a decent stock dual oil cooler set-up, together with the ducts and lines would be the most straight-forward method, and simplist for most owners, especially newer ones. And at about the same price.
I've been looking for one for almost a year . I always end up to late . LOL
01-22-13, 02:00 PM
#5
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Thread Starter
The factory coolers are 9 rows. Just thicker/wider than the after market ones. If you already have dual coolers you don't need to upgrade at all unless you are a serious tracker.
01-22-13, 02:18 PM
#6
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Thread Starter
Thanks for the posting. Do you have any pictures to help visualize what you did? I can't argue with your experience, but it sounds like you're a little more comfortable with fabbing than most owners might be. Maybe it's because I can't fab a piece of scratch paper, but IMHO finding a decent stock dual oil cooler set-up, together with the ducts and lines would be the most straight-forward method, and simplist for most owners, especially newer ones. And at about the same price.
If you find dual oil coolers would be very straight fwd. Attached are some pix with the cooling fan I tried. 
DO NOT recommend the use of cooling fan on your oil cooler unless you are willing to sacrifice your wheel well cover and relocate the windshield wiper liquid tank in order to allow the proper air flow to make it work. Note the pix of the oil temp and press gauges.
