Oil Cooler

[bremillard]

I need all the cooling that I can get with my 700hp big block motor and to that end I was planning to use an oil cooler. My engine builder has strongly recommended that I not use one as he has seen several failed engines contributed to improper use of oil coolers. He says that the supplied #10 line in not of adequate size(he says #12 is minimum). He also says that without a dedicated fan there is little cooling to be had for street use(low speed). I would appreciate some input on this subject. -Bob

[bdriver]

Bob - thanks for raising the question.

A couple of days ago I was stuck in stop and go traffic on Hwy 95 northbound toward DC. As we are all aware - Cobras and traffic don't always mix well - she just prefers the open roads and really gets pissed when she is forced to stop and go....

My radiator fan was running and the engine water was doing fine- problem was that there isn't the same for the engine oil (nor I might add for the fuel log - which the pressure raised to a level off the dial before I took an off ramp and cooled it down).

Again, the engine water temp was OK - the engine oil continued to raise. I would love to see what other folks have done - other then just avoid driving.....pulling off on the side to wait also produces challenges.....

Bill

[Big-Foot]

Bob,
Your engine builder is right - for the most part... We use nothing but -12 or larger lines for oil coolers and remote filters as there is far less pressure loss due to the parasitic drag in the smaller hoses and fittings.

Where we disagree:
The coolers on a Cobra are well exposed and it takes very little movement through the air to have a positive affect on the cooler.

The rest of the story lays within use during cool/cold weather. There are Oil Cooler thermostats out there from companies like Mocal that are good, but not up to competition use due to the nature of the smaller passages in the thermostat housing. Best advise is to kep the RPM's down until you have some temperature in the oil - this is regardless of your using an oil cooler or not.

Guys with 302's - this information is all particularly relevant to you since you typically cannot get away with running a high volume oil pump with a roller cam.