corsasport.co.uk
 

Corsa Sport » Message Board » General Chat » If warm engine oil is good, what's with the oil coolers on some cars?


New Topic

New Poll
  <<  1    2  >> Subscribe | Add to Favourites

You are not logged in and may not post or reply to messages. Please log in or create a new account or mail us about fixing an existing one - register@corsasport.co.uk

There are also many more features available when you are logged in such as private messages, buddy list, location services, post search and more.


Author If warm engine oil is good, what's with the oil coolers on some cars?
deano87
Member

Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 09:44   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

I have never quite got this, unless the oil cooler is for something else.

I also wait about 10 mins for the engine to warm up before going to 4krpm and Willay mentioned at the weekend the his oil temp gauge was good so he could give the engine an honest thrashing

Anyway, if warm/hot oil is good, why would you want an oil cooler?

johnhara1
Member

Registered: 19th Oct 06
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 09:46   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

Too hot and the oil would go too thin to work efficiently.

VegasPhil
Premium Member

Avatar

Registered: 16th Jan 05
Location: Fareham, Hants Drives: Octavia VRS
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 09:48   View Garage View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

Oil can get too hot as well as too cool


Corsa 2.0 16v Vegas - Sold
deano87
Member

Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 09:52   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

Fair enough.
Daimo B
Member

Registered: 20th Mar 00
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 09:52   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

On the normal road, most people won't rev about 3000-4000rpm.

On track, your driving wrong if it drops below 4000rpm

Engine is being run at higher revs all the time, hence coolent, oil temp and pressure will go up. Adding an oil coooler means you can use the engine harder without worrying that the oil temp and pressure isn't going to lead to a global meltdown in your engine.
deano87
Member

Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 09:53   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

quote:
Originally posted by VXR
On the normal road, most people won't rev about 3000-4000rpm.

On track, your driving wrong if it drops below 4000rpm

Engine is being run at higher revs all the time, hence coolent, oil temp and pressure will go up. Adding an oil coooler means you can use the engine harder without worrying that the oil temp and pressure isn't going to lead to a global meltdown in your engine.

Even better answer.

You have to rev to 4krpm in a 12v to get anywhere, and 80mph overtaking on a private motorway is 4krpm.
VegasPhil
Premium Member

Avatar

Registered: 16th Jan 05
Location: Fareham, Hants Drives: Octavia VRS
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 09:54   View Garage View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

Cooler is controlled by it's own thermostat in the sandwich plate too.

Only gets used when it is needed.


Corsa 2.0 16v Vegas - Sold
Superlite Ltd.
Member

Registered: 9th Jan 07
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 09:54   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

And if you have a turbo your engine oil is getting pumped through it. Poor oil....turbos are HOT
deano87
Member

Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 09:54   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

kk.
Stu
Member

Registered: 3rd May 00
Location: Madchester UK Drives: 2014 BMW M135i
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 10:32   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

Oil breaks down or shears at high temps - Depends on oil spec as to what temp this happens.

Well worth having if its a track car tho but can be overkill on a road car unless its a massive spec and runs hotter than standard.

Dee
Banned

Registered: 19th Sep 01
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 10:36   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

In short Deano, your 1.0 12v doesn't require a oil cooler
deano87
Member

Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 11:01   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

quote:
Originally posted by Dee
In short Deano, your 1.0 12v doesn't require a oil cooler

No, I knew that. And wasn't even contemplating one.

I just thought you had to wait till the engine was hot till you 'ragged it' so couldn't get my head round the need for an oil cooler as it defeats the object. But now I know
willay
Moderator
Organiser: South East, National Events
Premium Member


Avatar

Registered: 10th Nov 02
Location: Roydon, Essex
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 11:03   View Garage View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

when I was running the 20XE, i waited until the gauge showed 80c on oil temp before taking it past 3 grand.
Stu
Member

Registered: 3rd May 00
Location: Madchester UK Drives: 2014 BMW M135i
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 11:03   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

quote:
Originally posted by deano87
I just thought you had to wait till the engine was hot till you 'ragged it' so couldn't get my head round the need for an oil cooler as it defeats the object. But now I know


Yeah, your right there matey, never drive your car hard from cold! Oil has an optimum operating temp - Basically where it works best. Too cold and it doesnt protect properly and the same goes when it gets too hot!

Stu
Member

Registered: 3rd May 00
Location: Madchester UK Drives: 2014 BMW M135i
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 11:06   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

Oh and as a "general rule" (obviously depends on outside temp, the car, the driving style etc) your oil takes roughly twice as long as your water to get to working temp (cos I know most standard cars dont show oil temp) So if it takes 5 mins for your cars water temp to reach 90, it will take roughly 10 mins for your oil to get there.

Daimo B
Member

Registered: 20th Mar 00
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 11:15   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

Oil cooler on a 2.0 16v conversion is advised. I've still got my astra one not fitted and it ran hot. Another reason i stopped using it. I wanted a mocal one but couldn't afford the other required parts (sandwhich plate etc). It'll get fitted before its on the road again.

Its a MUST with LET conversions.

AS stu says, oil takes longer to warm, so even though your water temps jsut got up to normal level, don't thrash the engine just yet
deano87
Member

Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 11:24   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

! I didn't know that

The trouble is, I live about a 3 minute drive from the A1 and sitting at 70mph my car is revving at 3.5krpm
Superlite Ltd.
Member

Registered: 9th Jan 07
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 11:33   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

quote:
Originally posted by deano87
! I didn't know that

The trouble is, I live about a 3 minute drive from the A1 and sitting at 70mph my car is revving at 3.5krpm


use 5w30 instead then...this will heat up quicker
deano87
Member

Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 12:06   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

kk. I have started driving through town etc which takes about 10 mins to get to the A1 depending on traffic lights in thw town centre. Will just have to do this religiously.
John
Member

Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 12:10   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

I wouldn't be going 7 minutes out my way to let the car warm up enough to go on the motorway.

It will make absolutely no difference at all except waste an extra wee bit of fuel and 7 minutes.
Ben G
Member

Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 12:16   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

would it make a big difference if the oil is not at optimum temperature then?

Lee Wilson
Member

Registered: 20th Feb 06
Location: Fareham, Hants Drives: XE Corsa
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 12:24   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

I always wait for my temp gauge to get to just above 90 before it goes past 3k. First few gear changes are 2k.

So if my temp gauge is at 90 this doesnt necessarily mean the oil is warm yet?
Superlite Ltd.
Member

Registered: 9th Jan 07
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 12:32   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

quote:
Originally posted by Lee Wilson

So if my temp gauge is at 90 this doesnt necessarily mean the oil is warm yet?


no, that means your water is up to operating temp
Robin
Premium Member

Avatar

Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 12:35   View Garage View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

On your average road car (a Corsa, for example) it matters not if the oil temp isn't hot before sitting on the motorway at 3.5k, so don't worry Dean
AndyKent
Member

Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
27th Jun 07 at 12:38   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

And to be honest, you're not likely to have the 12v long enough for any engine damage to appear (unless you really thrash it all the time)

[Edited on 27-06-2007 by aPk]

  <<  1    2  >>
New Topic

New Poll

Corsa Sport » Message Board » General Chat » If warm engine oil is good, what's with the oil coolers on some cars? 23 database queries in 0.1982100 seconds