37 replies to this topic

[rawky]

Where the heck is it on a 1994 Mayfair?!
I'm not too sure I have one, but I think I need one with my highly modified engine....? Can it be fitted?

1380cc Engine By The Way

[nicksuth]

I'm pretty sure that Oil Coolers were not fitted as "Standard" on Mini's, apart from maybe the ERA Turbo?

Best to talk to MiniSpares about the right kit for your 1380, I would advise fitting of an oil thermostat so your not cooling it when it doesn't need cooling?

read this - Clicky

[rawky]

Hi,

Could an alternative be to get some flexible duct piping, and direct air onto the oil filter? That would perhaps provide some cooling.. The reason I suggest is that you used to be able to get finned oil filters to increase cooling so this is obviously a way of cooling the oil itself...

Rawky

[Turbo Phil]

Fitting an oil cooler is pointless unless your engine actually requires one. You need to fit an oil temp gauge to see if you need a cooler. I don't have one fitted on my high power Turbo motor, because the oil doesn't get hot enough to need one. The only time I find the oil reaches anywhere near a high temp is on long motorway journeys where the temperature has time to build up.

[rawky]

Fitting an oil cooler is pointless unless your engine actually requires one. You need to fit an oil temp gauge to see if you need a cooler. I don't have one fitted on my high power Turbo motor, because the oil doesn't get hot enough to need one. The only time I find the oil reaches anywhere near a high temp is on long motorway journeys where the temperature has time to build up.

Well my pressure drops after any sort of spirited driving, so it must be getting a bit hot..
Can you fit an oil temp gauge and a pressure gauge at the same time?

[Turbo Phil]

It's bound to get hotter, but whether it's hot enough to warrant an oil cooler is the question. Oil that's to cool is as bad for engine wear as oil that's to hot.
Yes you can fit both oil pressure & temp as they're fitted in different places.

[bmcecosse]

Pressure dropping was indeed reason enough for BMC to fit oil coolers to the Cooper S range . So my view is YES - you should fit a cooler if you want the engine to survive. Others will say no need with modern oils etc - I would fit one - I always had one on my high power engines. Again my view - don't hassle with a 'stat' - if doing short runs in winter - just tape over the front of the cooler. Buy a kit - get AT LEAST 13 row cooler (10 is useless and 19 may be overkill) and squeeze it in behind the grille!y a kit - get AT LEAST 13 row cooler (10 is useless and 19 may be overkill) and squeeze it in behind the grille!

Edited by bmcecosse, 04 August 2009 - 08:36 PM.

[liirge]

Hold on!
The advice above is not really that great, due to lack of explanation...
Get an Oil Stat there is no point what so ever Cooling oil, as cold oil is just as dangerous as lower (not very low) oil pressure.

[rawky]

Get an Oil Stat there is no point what so ever Cooling oil

But the oil is getting hot, so the point in a stat is?
There's no cooler there atm, I was suggesting some piping to direct air onto the filter to cool it down a tad. People have been doing this with finned oil filter covers for years!

[Turbo Phil]

The point is, that oil which is to cool is not good for an engine. The stat works like the one in your cooling system. Having an oil cooler with a stat will mean no oil will be cooled until it reaches a certain temp {usually 80deg}. This will alow the oil to remain at a constant decent working temp, though most modern oils are fine up to 120deg or so. That's why I don't have a cooler fitted as it's rare for my oil temp to go over 90deg for any length of time & even then it rarely goes past 100 or so. It's just another thing I don't need in an already cramped engine bay.

[liirge]

Get an Oil Stat there is no point what so ever Cooling oil

But the oil is getting hot, so the point in a stat is?
There's no cooler there atm, I was suggesting some piping to direct air onto the filter to cool it down a tad. People have been doing this with finned oil filter covers for years!

If you think like that then..Whats the point in the Thermostat for the cooling system??

[liirge]

The point is, that oil which is to cool is not good for an engine. The stat works like the one in your cooling system. Having an oil cooler with a stat will mean no oil will be cooled until it reaches a certain temp {usually 80deg}. This will alow the oil to remain at a constant decent working temp, though most modern oils are fine up to 120deg or so. That's why I don't have a cooler fitted as it's rare for my oil temp to go over 90deg for any length of time & even then it rarely goes past 100 or so. It's just another thing I don't need in an already cramped engine bay.

Completely agree with this, due to modern oils and how well they perform there really is very little (Aesthetically pleasing is the biggest reason) reason to put an oil Cooler in. I would imagine that you would probably lose a TINY amount of power due to the oil pump having to push more oil around more oilways.

Edited by liirge, 04 August 2009 - 06:36 PM.

[TrialsLife]

I had a 13 row oil cooler fitted on my 1380, mainly used on short journeys.

I binned it.

As has been said, oil preasure will drop as the engine gets hotter. If it is at around 30 psi at idle, that is fine. Around 70psi when your giving it some is also fine.

Don't bother fitting the cooler unless your going to run it with a thermostat, its not worth the hassle. If you do fit it without the thermostat, are you really going to cover it/un cover it depending on the type of journey your doing? You would probabbly like to, but your more than likely not to bother.

[bmcecosse]

For lots of short journeys - I agree - you don't need a cooler - but then , you don't need a 1380 engine either!
For hard driving a 1380 - I would absolutely have an oil cooler (I always did have in the past with decent engines) and the stat will just be unecessary expense - because the oil WILL be hot enough to need cooling!

[Turbo Phil]

I disagree that an oil cooler is essential on a tuned motor. My Turbo motor was producing 184hp last time it was rolling roaded on 16psi & it's run up to 20psi on the road. I don't have an oil cooler & according to the gauge I don't need one.
Fit a temp gauge & if you need an oil cooler fit one.