I've read quite a few threads on here regarding oil coolers so I have used the search bar before anyone comments, I did a track day Saturday at my local snetterton and after 4 or 5 laps my oil was at 105 degrees c, I'm using gulf competition fully syn ester based 5w40, I start getting nervous once over 100 degrees as that's the 40 rating viscosity with the oil, would I be right I thinking an oil cooler is needed, especially as its still freezing cold, and once summer gets here the oil temp will be well over this, I've a 182 cup with itb's and it's just my track car towed to track, any ideas please.
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I get that on the motorway!
I was well over 130 and possibly 140 (gauge difficult to read in that range) in races - I'm getting an oil cooler but I don't think you need to worry at 105.
I was well over 130 and possibly 140 (gauge difficult to read in that range) in races - I'm getting an oil cooler but I don't think you need to worry at 105.
bozothenutter
ClioSport Club Member
what oil temp meter do you have, would like this for my 182.
I wouldn't worry about oil temps unless its regularly seeing over 120/130 degree's. I think oil cooler is a good idea however and I have got one fitted to mine
I've just fitted the new prosport halo oil temp and pressure guages with peak and selectable alarm features, just fitted via a sandwich plate, I may well just put a 13 row cooler on then just to keep temps down a little, it would be nice to keep temps between 90-100 without having to cool down every 4 laps, I think it will be worse in the summer with some 30 ambient temps would see the oil well over 105. Anyone know what the mocal kits are like from jjc off ebay or do people prefer water cooled ones
Jamie86
ClioSport Club Member
RS175,595,205gti,172
Pop over to merlin at C.Combe they will sort you out.
I use the gauges above and a cheapo sandwich plate off ebay, been on a couple of years no problems so far.
what would you hardy track goers recommend, oil cooler sandwich plate without thermostat as less to go wrong and i dont use it on the road, plus how many rows as i dont want to over cool the oil either. Also stack guages are very good, ive been happy with prosport as i have them in the clio and my impreza too.
Its only just upto temp at 100degC mate
with a good 5W40 you're fine upto 130-135ish, pressure is also worth monitoring
182cup & 172 racecar
Pah!! oil coolers are just something else to go wrong, you're not doing Paris Dakkar are you?
Its only just upto temp at 100degC mate
cool cheers fred, i do have an oil pressure guage fitted aswell and i have always had good pressure, i have it set to alarm if its drops below a certain pressure. so is there bad points to fitting a cooler? if i had to fit one come summer month would you fit one with or without a thermostatic plate?
Jamie86
ClioSport Club Member
RS175,595,205gti,172
Normally I agree with you Tony...
But not this time,positives outweigh the unlikely possibilty of it going wrong..
lol no dakkar tony just little old snetterton, got another trackday in a couple of weeks so will just monitor temps and pressures for now.
182cup & 172 racecar
Can't seem to find one on the race car.
Oh, just the water cooled/heated one, good enough for the cup racers, is good enough for me.
Oh, just the water cooled/heated one, good enough for the cup racers, is good enough for me.
if it starts getting hot, just remove the undertray. Slight risk of getting stones in the linkage if you go off the track, but thats preferable IMO (on a track day)
do you mean stock internally as its not really stock anymore as im running 200bhp on itb`s. cheers dan, removing the under tray never occurred to me lol
Iirc correctly Fred the car boiled itself at that race but he couldn't be sure of temps due to dodgy sensors etc then it spat a rod next time out, more than likely the oil taken a roasting didnt help that.
I think its unfair to say a car doesn't need one Tony when your running one of a different type.
Thermostatic plate and you'll never have to worry IMO.
I think its unfair to say a car doesn't need one Tony when your running one of a different type.
Thermostatic plate and you'll never have to worry IMO.
182cup & 172 racecar
We only ran with that one last year, did 2 years without anything.
Anyway, whatever, fit a cooler if you want and it makes you happy.
It's interesting with everyone's views towards oil coolers, with or without, I'm just trying to guage best way to go from an engineering point of view as some of us know the 40 in 5w40 is the viscosity at 100 degrees c, after all it is the blood of the engine and if it thins too much it's an expensive mistake to then have to put another engine in.
What do you think the positives are though, given that I dont know anyone who is seeing 150 degree oil temps on a more or less standard clio engine?
And the big downside is if an oil cooler pipe becomes loose or splits, you lose all your oil pressure and the engine dies.
So unless you are really using the car very hard for long periods, personally I think for a standard clio there is more downside than up.
The oil pressure and temp guages are one of the first things I did, for this reason.
182cup & 172 racecar
Seen too many race cars not make it, because of damage to cooler or associated pipes, don't forget, they are usually mounted in a very vulnerable area, plus as Chippy say's, pipes can go etc.
Errr not really - the ONLY positive is it will stop the oil overheating, which you'll really struggle to do on a stock engined car or even a bodied car
The downsides are you can hole them and seize the engine (happened to a mate) or they'll cool the oil so much it can't get up to temperature which is even worse for an engine than it getting too hot
If you're gonna fit one at least use a thermostatic sandwich plate so it doesn't over cool the oil
The op has a bodies car that is used for long sessions only on track. Thats reason enough to fit some kind if cooler IMO so the oil isn't getting to extremes of its properties.
If you find it ain't getting upto temp in winter fit blanks or put tape on heat exchanger, fit the cooler correctly and it is no more fragile than a radiator and hoses which both have the same end effect if they leak out. All IMO off course.
Mark123 has monitored temperatures on his stack gauges which I would trust and has seen temps over 130-140 on a rs2'd car.
If you find it ain't getting upto temp in winter fit blanks or put tape on heat exchanger, fit the cooler correctly and it is no more fragile than a radiator and hoses which both have the same end effect if they leak out. All IMO off course.
Mark123 has monitored temperatures on his stack gauges which I would trust and has seen temps over 130-140 on a rs2'd car.
Jamie86
ClioSport Club Member
RS175,595,205gti,172
A swede has said from what the OP said he does with the car and the fact it's not just a bog standard engine I would run a cooler.
Ok granted you have the chance of pipes splitting can't argue with that.. but personally I would run one on any car that is used a lot on track or modified a lot engine wise..
But hey that's just my opinion.. everyone has one
Phil.. I said thermostatic plate wouldn't use one without for that reason.
Ok granted you have the chance of pipes splitting can't argue with that.. but personally I would run one on any car that is used a lot on track or modified a lot engine wise..
But hey that's just my opinion.. everyone has one
Phil.. I said thermostatic plate wouldn't use one without for that reason.
Yes.
Sorry Jamie - missed that in your original post
Yes thermostatic plate is a must!
Yes thermostatic plate is a must!
