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Oil cooler size - how do I choose?
Gergely - 10/6/09 at 02:18 PM

Hi,
Is there a scientific way of choosing an oil cooler for size? What size Mocal cooler would I need for a 2005 R1 engine used on track in ambient temperatures of up to 40 degrees celsius.

We have space for a 235x130mm cooler in the nose if fitted under the radiator (no overlap between the two). This would be the 235mm (330 with mounts) cooler with 16 rows.
Is this enough? Or should I go for a larger one and fit the cooler more to the front, overlapping with the radiator??
Can someone help, please?
Thanks,
Gergely


matt_gsxr - 10/6/09 at 03:01 PM

Scientifically. You could get one with similar or larger capacity to the standard bike one.

I guess the empirical answer is big enough to keep the oil at a temperature where it functions properly and not much bigger.

The one you mention sounds pretty standard (to me).

Matt


l0rd - 10/6/09 at 03:07 PM

Just not go for an oversized one.

I heard that due to a large oil cooler, the oil went soapy like it does when you get water in it.


Gergely - 10/6/09 at 04:08 PM

Yes, I wouldn't want to go tto large either, but what is too small and what is too big???
Can anyone advise? Mocal don't answer my emails...


givemethebighammer - 10/6/09 at 05:31 PM

I have the one at the top left in my 2.0L zetec car

http://www.thinkauto.com/images/coolers8.jpg

small but works - oil and water never go over 100 degrees


Davey D - 10/6/09 at 06:50 PM

Personally I would just go for the smallest one they do on a 1000cc bike engine


Guinness - 10/6/09 at 07:09 PM

I don't think that anyone is going to be able to give you a definative answer.

So much is going to be variable, air flow, ambient temps, flow rate of oil through the cooler etc etc.

I have a 10 row 235mm cooler mounted up front. I'm running in the UK, with much lower ambient.

I'd skip the 13 row and go for the next size up, 16 or 19, due to the higher air temps you are running in.

A lot of it is going to be trial and error I'm afraid.

Just thinking out loud, you could go for the largest cooler you can fit in, then if it runs too cool, you can blank it off (rather like you used to see truck rads blanked off in the winter?)

HTH

Mike


Gergely - 11/6/09 at 07:51 AM

OK, thanks guys. I ordered a 16 row unit. It will fit under the radiator. The oil has been cooled by the 100 deg. water up to now, so the 40 deg. air will surely cool it better...
Cheers,
Gergely


Peteff - 11/6/09 at 08:48 AM

You could fit an oil cooler and a thermostat so it only cools when it needs it.


Gergely - 11/6/09 at 10:17 AM

Yes, the take off plate we will use contains a thermostat, so that should not be a problem. Cheers!