20 replies to this topic

[A.Millican]

I have a MED 1330 with a SCCR box, the engine produces around 100hp at the wheels. The car will be used mainly for fast road and a few track days, most of the time the car will be getting driven very hard.

Do you think it's necessary to have an oil cooler for the engine? It's just looking at photos of race engined minis non of them seem to have one...thought it may be a little over kill on my car, plus...I don't want the oil running too cool.


Any info much appreciated!

Andrew

[Ibexx]

I'd say most race Mini's do have them. If yours has 100 at the wheels and you drive it like you stole it, I'd say you do need one. I've been running one for years and mine has a bit less power then yours. The only way to be sure is to fit an oil temp gauge though.

[jaydee]

If you have a sump guard fitted and drive around town, so low speed and traffic, you wont have a good air flow to cool oil down, and you'll need an oil cooler.
As above, with 100 bhp, its better to fit an oil temp gauge then a cooler.

[03jkirk]

every1 seems to keep fitting oil coolers but if you look on turbo phils website he talks about how he is runnin well over 150hp on an oil cooled turbo and the oil temp on his car only started to get high on long motorway journeys so unless you are doing hard track driving there will not really be a need for 1 but again it is best to check the oil temp be4 deciding because oil being too cold is nearly as bad as oil being too hot. also it is good to remeber that in the past oil coolers were fitted because the oils needed it but modern oils cope much better with temp than older oils did

Edited by 03jkirk, 17 August 2012 - 09:41 AM.

[Wil_h]

For road use there is really no need for an oil cooler. If you're running on a track then maybe, fit one by all means, but make sure it has a thermostat in otherwise you'll run the oil too cold.

[Shifty]

If you don't need one then its just something else to go wrong!!

[SA MINI]

In most cases I think oil coolers do more harm than good especially the ones with no thermostat control. If its a road car doing normal driving then I. Would highly avoid one. If its a race car running full chat every time you use it then I would get one. Saying that though My friend has a starlet gt turbo race car with a hefty hp, his car runs better without an oil cooler. We found with one it made oil block the breathers ect then the engine would start getting smokey. I think the oil was just staying too thick for the engines liking due to the cooler

[GTRMikie]

I have a 10 row oil cooler fitted to my AC Dodd built 1330 as a precautionary measure, but it does have a Mocal thermostat in the lines.

[Cooperman]

If you run a sump guard or if you have a low final drive ratio, like a 3.76:1 or lower and, as a consequence, cruise at high rpm's for sustained periods, then an oil cooler is a wise addition. In fact with a sump guard it is vital.
It goes without saying really that a top quality 20w50 mineral oil is best, but even then it can get too hot in certain situations.
The ideal is to know your actual oil temperature and if it gets too hot the need for a cooler is evidenced.

[donjarr]

So I was just wondering after reading this what is an ideal oil temp, as in not to hot or cold? And when looking at oil stats there are loads so if you've fitted one what sort was it.

[Italianjoblofty]

I Have an MED 1380 XT Rally engine with all the mods etc running around 100 BHP at the wheels also. I have fitted an oil cooler as it was recomended to me by cooperman. While i have been running my engine in all i have done is place some card in front of it as i wasnt able to rev the engine much, but now that its run in and im able to give it some abuse it really is worth using an oil cooler especially if you using a sump guard and have a close ration G/box. Like everyone above has said make sure you fit a oil temp gauge and you can always place a bit of card/plastic when its not being used as if you stole it :)

Lofty

[A.Millican]

Ok,

Thanks for all of your advice and opinions. I have a mocal thermostat that I can use. It's set at 79 degrees C.

I think what I will do...once I get the car running properly, use the best oil I can get and make sure I know the optimum running temperature of the oil and fit just a standard oil return and oil temp gauge. If it creeps up past the recommended temp I will then use the thermostat with the correct temperature release on it.

Has anyone used a sandwich plate for the oil filter before with a thermostat built in? In my opinion they look much neater.

Any recommendations of oil brands, types and weights?

[R1minimagic]

You didnt say what oil you are using which is quite important!!

[A.Millican]

I'm not sure which oil I am going to use. The engine is not being used at the monent.

Any oil suggestions?

[Cooperman]

Ok,

Thanks for all of your advice and opinions. I have a mocal thermostat that I can use. It's set at 79 degrees C.

I think what I will do...once I get the car running properly, use the best oil I can get and make sure I know the optimum running temperature of the oil and fit just a standard oil return and oil temp gauge. If it creeps up past the recommended temp I will then use the thermostat with the correct temperature release on it.

Has anyone used a sandwich plate for the oil filter before with a thermostat built in? In my opinion they look much neater.

Any recommendations of oil brands, types and weights?

Try Valvoline Racing 20w50. That is one of the best. Also Millers, Penrite or Castrol Classic, all 20w50 are excellent as is the Halfords 20w50.
If the temperature without an oil cooler runs consistently at over about 110 C to 115 C and oil cooler would be a good idea. On my cars I usually run a cooler and in Winter I blank off part or all of the cooler with baking foil.