FC Oil Cooler/Radiator Ducting
 

I had a blast at CMP this past weekend, but the oil temps were too high. I've read to duct the oil cooler and radiator, but have not seen any pictures of effective ducting. I'd like to do this to my car, but want to make sure I do it correctly. I've heard to use aluminum, but ABS plastic is also readily available and lightweight.

Does anyone have pictures of their engine cooling duct-work? Is there a preference for material? How are you sealing the duct-work to the oil cooler and radiator?

Thanks
Pete

86 Sport with 89 engine - Megasquirted.
Interior comes out this weekend for 6-point cage install- Woohoo

water temp in these cars is pretty simple, its a function of radiator size, and how well its sealed to the body.

oil temps are different, the oil cooler in the stock setup doesnt get the greatest airflow. ducting more air to the oil cooler really lowers temps. ive seen fans, flaps (think 80s GM, works well!!)and better sealing around the cooler.

it also seems like getting the hot air OUT at some point is important....

My oil cooler setup and ducting.
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showpo...4&postcount=22
I have a big fmic but I still provide the oil cooler with its own dedicated fresh air supply that you ca see below the ic. I also have a vented hood that helps.

I think Crispy had a few pics of his oil cooler setup and ducting for his ITS FC.
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ght=oil+cooler

Actually, now that I searched I found a lot of threads on this.

Thanks guys - I had found Crispy's posts, but they were more toward setting up dual oil coolers. I've found a ton of info that says you have to duct it, but have found very few posts with pictures showing HOW you did it.

Dave - excellent pictures, this is what I'm looking for, Thanks!

There are quite a few threads. Most involve adding a second stock cooler.

Crispy has a more detailed writeup on his second oil cooler installation on his site:

http://www.negative-camber.org/crisp...c/fcpart28.htm

Ducting is definitely a key part - especially on the sides. Make sure that all the air going into the front of the car makes it to a radiator.

My second cooler actually sits behind the front bumber and is ducted via a couple cutouts in the nose. It vents over the top of the radiator, so it uses a completely isolated air path. It is similar to Lemon's E-Prod convertible:

http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/epconv.htm

You may also want to go over to www.improvedtouring.com and do a search for "oil cooler" in the Mazda-specific section of their forum. Specificaly:

http://itforum.improvedtouring.com/f...&hl=oil+cooler


Hope this helps,

-bill

Check out alanb's set up, he seems to think he has his cooling issues fixed.

http://www.pbase.com/speedmonkey/new_cooling_system

Great links Bill - thanks. The ITForums link has an excellent detailed explaination of the duct-work, and also has a great discussion of different cooling methods.

Does that Mazdatrix car have all frontal air going through the two oil coolers? I would think you'd want to divide the incoming air between the radiator and oil cooler?

I have read Crispy's FC build several times, and have to thank him for detailing everything he's gone through, as I have referenced those pages more than I'd care to admit ;)

Aluminum tape, aluminum sheet, aluminum 1" strip, pop rivets, some SS bolts. It works and fixed my cooling issues. I'm going to re-do it when I get a weekend with thicker alumimum and make it easier to remove similar to RX-Heven setup. You'll need a lift when doing the fabrication to make things much easier.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5...coolingpk6.jpg
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4...coolingle3.jpg
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8...coolinghm7.jpg