Has anyone here tried the Competiton Manual specified method of locating the oil cooler?

I've run 5 or 6 different configurations on my Miata, and limited space for that thing always makes it tough. I had the car running plenty cool for Autocross with a really nice Griffin aluminum Scirocco radiator and 2nd gen oil cooler, electric wp and Black Magic fan. The oil cooler was NOT in front of the radiator, though. It was below the radiator and both were at an angle in the car. The fan pulled thru both, and both got 'clean air'. With this setup the car was fine, even for multiple drivers in Autocross. However, it would get hot quickly on a race track and running multiple laps at speed.

SO- I ripped everything out and started over. I'm using a huge Northern radiator that barely fits between the frame rails, same Meziere wp, same Black Magic (3400cfm) fan, and I elected to go with the 1st gen Comp Manual recommendation that the oil cooler be laid flat and shielded from the radiator. I have been working through this and I think it will work great on track, but my concern is that the cooler won't do the job at autocross unless the car is moving, since it no longer has the electric fan pulling through it.

Anyone who's done it knows there is a ton of idling involved w/autocross.......

anybody run this setup and can comment on potential issues?

 

Alan, it looks good, my only concern would be the oil cooler having no protection on the bottom from small rocks. Maybe cover it with hardware cloth? Are you going to have it back together by the 22nd?

 

Darryl- I'm trying to, for sure. I just about have this cooling deal wrapped up but I have a few other things to finsih up on the car. I'll just have to take the car to the event and treat it like a big test day since I cant seem to get any input from anyone who has actually run their coolers in accordance with the Mazda Competition manual.

 

I tried running one oil cooler horizontal on the bottom, with it's own little air duct to direct air to it, exactly like my Mazda factory preparation manual showed. It ran a little too hot for the 300+ hp my road race peripheral port motor produces.

For the last 3 years, I have been running two stock coolers horizontal: one on the bottom, and one on the top. Yes the one on top has room for the air to exit before it hits the underside of the nose/hood. I do not use any special ducting for the two coolers; they are all fed from the main air duct that also feeds the radiator. You must have a good, 100% sealed air duct from the nose air opening to the 3 heat exchangers.

There have been no problems with rocks hitting the bottom cooler; there is no way for them to hit it when I run an air dam and an undertray up front. The oil runs plenty cool - it stays at the 180 deg thermostat setting no matter how hot or how long the road race is.

If probably would get warm, but not too hot for autocross use. My electric fan blows on the radiator only. I only use the electric fan after a road race, on the cool down lap, pit road, and in the paddock. When idling around the paddock the oil temp does not continue to increase.

 

Back in 95 talked to a 1st gen ITA driver who put the cooler in that spot but no duct. Said it ran way too hot w/o the duct.

I think if you were to plumb the oil system into an oil to water heat exchanger that would solve all problems since the oversized radiator would be cooling it too, and you have a radiator fan for idling.

 

This is great info and exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for. Thanks guys--

AB