ERA 753 - Final Assembly in Progress

[fkemmerer]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Fred, if you, say, wrapped your oil cooler in some pink insulation and aluminum foil over that, and took it out for a good ride and only gain 10 degrees, how would a thermostat do any better?

Well, the cover I made only blocks the front of the cooler, not the top, bottom and sides. I figure that I am loosing some heat on all of those surfaces as well on the lines that lead to and from the cooler. I figure that the thermostat might be worth another 5 - 10 degress in cool weather.

The real reason that I am doing this is that my oil temps don't get above 70 degrees C (approx. 160 degress F) even in warm weather. Rather that hastle with removing the cardboard block when it does get really hot or I run the car hard, I think its best to just install the thermostat.

I looked at my car on the lift yesterday and it looks like I can install the thermostat down low between the radiator and the chassis cross braces in the front if I make a custom bracked to allow the lines to clear the lower radiator hose. This should be a good spot in terms of "hiding" it and this location should keep the lines short.

BTW, the sensor for my oil temp gauge is installed in the front of my canton pan. I wonder how much of the temperature drop when the car is moving is really the oil temp vs. the fact that the sensor is in the stream of cool undercar air. Does anyone have any thoughts on this one?

- Fred