Oil Cooler

[Jeri]

Quick question. What oil cooler would you recommend for my ford 460?
Look forward in hearing from you.

Jeri

[CowtownCobra]

None.

[Jeri]

Why, none?

[bobcowan]

I agree - None.

Very few engines actually need an oil cooler. Fo the vast majority of cars, the oil cooler prevents the oil from getting hot enough to work right, and it creates weight, complexty, cost, and failure points that you just don't need.

Oil is heated mostly by sustained rpm's. If you race on road courses, then you can probaby benifit from a cooler. Otherwise, don't bother.

[Ant]

I agree with Bob,

The oil cooler is part of the original cobra equipment and look and I think they look great, but you don't have to hook it up. I will be racing my car and it maybe only on a hot summers day the cooler is necessary. The downside to coolers on cobras in original position is vulnerability if you rear end someone, stones so a gauze screen is really necessary...
I purchased a Canton oil thermostat and living in a colder climate NZ I don't believe this is all necessary so have decided to bypass the cooler with a joiner fitting, and if I am doing a longer race I will plumb the cooler in.

So it depends on if your engine is producing big horsepower and you continually use that either on some open highway, fast hilly area or race then the heat is going to increase real quick, I have over 650bhp 373 Ford and hp equals energy/heat...

[Frank Messina]

With a functioning oil cooler it will be a challenge to get the oil up to temp on the street. Not to say you shouldn't do it, just be prepared to deal with it.

Frank

[MFE III]

I didn't install an oil cooler initially, but found that I needed one.
I don't track my car, but I found that sustained periods at freeway speeds (well, maybe a little north of posted speed limits) and in hotter summer temps, the oil temp would creep up to as high as 125C (257 F) and appeared that it would continue climbing if I didn't back off the revs for a spell.
I agree with the problems with oil that is too cool, so I installed a thermostat.
Now, sustained freeway speeds (about 3,000 rpms) only gets the oil to between 105C and maybe 110C - a good operating temp - and it doesn't go any higher.

So my vote is put one in if for no other reason than originality and use an oil cooler thermostat. For what it's worth, I used an Earl's sandwich type and pics are in my gallery.
Matt

[ERA 778]

I put a cooler and Canton thermostat on my 525 hp FE and still have concerns about keeping the oil hot enough. I only drive on the street, so I definitely would be better off without a cooler. If I were doing it again, I would not plumb up the cooler and save a lot of money and worry. A Canton thermostat, fittings, and extra hose adds up to several hundred dollars!

[Roger Bray]

I put one in just for looks.
I was afraid to plumb it up for fear of a catastrophic failure.

[Jeri]

Thanks for all the input. It seems the key factor is I'm better off without an oil cooler, and apparently the headache that goes with it. You saved me a few dollars! Again, thanks for the info.

Jeri