I'm going for reliability here, I just fitted the largest ali rad I could put into the nosecone now I want to fit the oil cooler. Should it go in front or behind the coolant radiator?

Anyone got pics they could upload please?

most try to fit in front of the rad if possible to get maximum cold air flow through it but you can fit behind the rad and it will still work efficiantly enough.

HTH

I took mine out completely as i was struggling to find a place for it. When we tested the engine it still took ages to get up to temp (running at 3k without moving)

Fitted mine in front, but I did struggle to get the oil warm enough on cold days, even on track. At least with it in front its easy to blank a section of just the oil cooler off

Always in front of the rad -- oil has a lower specific heat capcity than water.

And always, always fit a thermo valve in the line, otherwise the oil will never get up to operating temperature, and too cold oil is as bad as too hot. Cheers Ray

Oil cooler on mine is behind the rad but as Chippy says use a thermostatic valve.
Also spend a bit more and get all swaged screw on pipes, my Fir tree and clip pipes blew off at speed, lost all oil, covered car in oil, now needs new big end bearings

Anyone got any links for a thermostatic valve? perhaps I can find one included in the sandwich plate between the filter and the oil pump?

quote:

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Originally posted by thepest
Anyone got any links for a thermostatic valve? perhaps I can find one included in the sandwich plate between the filter and the oil pump?

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Here;
Speedflow

This is mine;


sandwich plate

[Edited on 16/11/09 by tul214]

Done, bought one, now I just need to find a way to bracket the oil cooler ahead of the rad.

Any Ideas or pics anyone?

quote:

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Originally posted by thepest
Done, bought one, now I just need to find a way to bracket the oil cooler ahead of the rad.

Any Ideas or pics anyone?

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I'm skeptical about those, wont they ruin the aluminum radiator matrix if I hang the oil cooler onto the coolant rad?

Having seen a few installs, those with inline thermostats are placed in front of the water rad; the others have the cooler BEHIND the water rad. The reason being two-fold - when in "warmup" phase, the rad heat actually helps warm the oil up. When running, water flows more, so should get a bigger bite of the cooling air anyway.

Oil is happiest running about 10-15 degrees warmer than water temp (around 90-110 degrees, dependant on the oil) anyway - too low and its too thick, straining the pump.

Thanks makes me feel a little better now