Over-Cooling Solutions

Modshack · 11-26-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ResIpsa

I don't mean to interrupt the current discussion, but I was hoping this thread could be a source for all of us with oil coolers in cold climates.

I can say with experience that blocking the air flow allows oil temps to rise like it did without an oil cooler. The only difference is that oil temps will not go higher than 210 or 220 degrees even when blocked.

Can someone come up with an eloquent, easy to install and remove solution?

OK! Here we go. This took all of 15 minutes to cut and lay-out and should take no more than 10 minutes to install or remove....
Cost should range from $0 to a few bucks for the metal.

Lets start:

First, remove the plastic shroud between the bumper and the radiator (pop out the push rivets...5 minutes). You can then see and reach your cooler:

Now, depending on how much blockage you desire cut a piece of sheet metal to cover X amount of inches of the cooler. This will vary depending on your cooler size and whether or not you have fittings on the top that need to be compensated for. I sized mine to cover about 1/3rd of my 24 row cooler, essentially turning it into a 16 row. I used some flashing I had laying around for the experiment, but I think doing it in a sturdier aluminum would be better:

Bend into a "U" shape on a Bending brake if you have it, or you could just bend it over a 2x4. Most coolers are 1.5" thick:

Now just reach down and slip it over your cooler. You could even put a handle on the top to make this easier. Adjust your bends so it hugs the cooler to stay in place. About 1/3rd of the 24 row cooler is blocked here:

From the front. I think you'd want to stealth it with a little black paint, but this is just for proof of concept. Snap your shroud back into place and you're done until next summer.
(oh yeah, clean off the bugs while you're in there!)

No driving on this yet but I will over the weekend (supposed to be cool here) to see the results. I suspect it will work just ducky!

Final with Stealth paint job now in winter mode...:

ChrisSlicks · 11-26-2009, 03:55 PM

Nice simple design, piece of cake to make. Might be a little more difficult to put in place if you have the fittings on the top but as long as you take that into account when making it I don't think there will be a problem.

Nice work!

Modshack · 11-26-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Nice simple design, piece of cake to make. Might be a little more difficult to put in place if you have the fittings on the top but as long as you take that into account when making it I don't think there will be a problem.

Nice work!

Thanks! Simple and easy. I'll do some drive impressions and temp observations tomorrow!

Mike · 11-26-2009, 05:20 PM

my friend has a nascar craftsman truck oil cooler on his 350. it now holds 11 qts, and he says he just tapes it up in winter. but then again, we are in the south.

DooDooBrown · 11-26-2009, 06:28 PM

Call me what you want, but why are temps below 180 degrees bad?? Sorry, don't have as much tech. know how as some of the others on this threat!

Modshack · 11-26-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DooDooBrown

Call me what you want, but why are temps below 180 degrees bad?? Sorry, don't have as much tech. know how as some of the others on this threat!

Oil below 180 degrees may not burn off moisture and contaminants that accumulate..

ResIpsa · 11-26-2009, 06:57 PM

I have designed and installed a fiberglass grill cover which blocks about 80% of the air flow over the cooler. Not nearly as pretty as ModShack's but effective.

Pictures and instructions to come when I get back into the office tomorrow.

LiquidZ · 11-26-2009, 07:02 PM

Modshack strikes again

import111 · 11-27-2009, 05:49 PM

I wrapped a piece of cardboard with black electrical tape and zip tied it to the front of my Stillen Race oil cooler today. I have not driven it yet but I will report if and how it changes the oil temps.

import111 · 11-27-2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by import111

I wrapped a piece of cardboard with black electrical tape and zip tied it to the front of my Stillen Race oil cooler today. I have not driven it yet but I will report if and how it changes the oil temps.

Just drove around for a while. 80% of the oil cooler is covered and the temps changed a lot. Wasn't as cool as it has been tonight though so that might have a little to do with it, but temps still got higher faster than since I have had the oil cooler installed. Got up to 220 degrees tonight. As long as the electrical tape doesn't melt on the oil cooler, this will be my solution to over cooling on the street.

Modshack · 11-27-2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by import111

I wrapped a piece of cardboard with black electrical tape and zip tied it to the front of my Stillen Race oil cooler today. .

C'mon! Cardboard and electrical tape? Seems a bit cheezy IMO. I laid out an easy 15 minute mod for you above....
The car deserves something a bit classier....Plus I don't think Your fix will fare well at 220 degrees..

Modshack · 11-28-2009, 11:44 AM

Today's drive.....Cool 50 degree weather. On the cooler, 10 rows covered, 14 exposed. Temps ranged from 185-190 cruising and at speed to 200 around town. This is about 15 degrees higher than what I would have expected with the full cooler exposure..I'll probably leave it like this for awhile and continue observations. Sunday will be a 70 degree day so we'll see how this operates in slightly warmer temps..

ResIpsa · 11-29-2009, 11:59 AM

This mod makes sense for all of us with our hoses and connections blocking the top of our coolers.

1) I taped of the front of the grill with painters tape and newspaper to block over spray. The smoother you tape the grill the better your finished product will look. Also, make sure you cover the area behind the license plate bracket as this will be your primary mounting surface.

2) The materials I used were fiberglass cloth and 3M high strength adhesive available at your local auto parts store.

3) I sprayed the adhesive on the tape and began layering the fiberglass cloth.

4) Make sure to spray the adhesive on first and let it get tacky before layering it on the cover.

5) After layering around three or four layers of cloth I let it dry.

6) Next I spray painted the cover with a heavy coat of flat black paint. The paint acts as the binding agent on the front of the cover.

7) When the paint dried I carefully peeled the fiberglass cover off the grill. Use a scissor to clean up the edges and a hair clipper to smooth out the fiberglass hairs on the front of the cover.

8) Voila! A form fitting and less noticeable front grill cover.

9) Attach it using a hole in line with the license plate bracket and clips available from your auto parts store.

And I can confirm that this method is effective.

Modshack · 11-29-2009, 01:36 PM

Jeebus ResIpsa... You've taken a simple problem and fabricated a very complicated solution..You're not in management are you??.
Work for the Government??.......:-)

ResIpsa · 11-30-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

Jeebus ResIpsa... You've taken a simple problem and fabricated a very complicated solution..You're not in management are you??.
Work for the Government??.......:-)

Worse, I'm a lawyer...

11-26-2009, 05:20 PM	#64 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	my friend has a nascar craftsman truck oil cooler on his 350. it now holds 11 qts, and he says he just tapes it up in winter. but then again, we are in the south. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

11-26-2009, 06:57 PM	#67 (permalink)
ResIpsa Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 564 Drives: 09 RACING HEN Rep Power: 338	I have designed and installed a fiberglass grill cover which blocks about 80% of the air flow over the cooler. Not nearly as pretty as ModShack's but effective. Pictures and instructions to come when I get back into the office tomorrow. __________________ The Reed Law Firm; Michael Fasano VA Attorney and Counselor at Law: A Virginia Traffic, Criminal, and Family Lawyer.https://reedlawva.com/

11-26-2009, 07:02 PM	#68 (permalink)
LiquidZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,940 Drives: Mag. Black 2009 370Z Rep Power: 705	Modshack strikes again __________________

11-28-2009, 11:44 AM	#72 (permalink)
Modshack A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greenville NC Posts: 2,883 Drives: 370Z Sport Rep Power: 976	Today's drive.....Cool 50 degree weather. On the cooler, 10 rows covered, 14 exposed. Temps ranged from 185-190 cruising and at speed to 200 around town. This is about 15 degrees higher than what I would have expected with the full cooler exposure..I'll probably leave it like this for awhile and continue observations. Sunday will be a 70 degree day so we'll see how this operates in slightly warmer temps.. __________________ Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S Oil Cooler DIY: Here! Last edited by Modshack; 11-28-2009 at 11:57 AM.

11-29-2009, 01:36 PM	#74 (permalink)
Modshack A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greenville NC Posts: 2,883 Drives: 370Z Sport Rep Power: 976	Jeebus ResIpsa... You've taken a simple problem and fabricated a very complicated solution..You're not in management are you??. Work for the Government??.......:-) __________________ Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S Oil Cooler DIY: Here! Last edited by Modshack; 11-29-2009 at 11:03 PM.

11-26-2009, 03:55 PM	#62 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Nice simple design, piece of cake to make. Might be a little more difficult to put in place if you have the fittings on the top but as long as you take that into account when making it I don't think there will be a problem. Nice work!

11-26-2009, 06:28 PM	#65 (permalink)
DooDooBrown Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ranson, WV Posts: 178 Drives: 09 370 Touring w/spt Rep Power: 16	Call me what you want, but why are temps below 180 degrees bad?? Sorry, don't have as much tech. know how as some of the others on this threat!

11-27-2009, 05:49 PM	#69 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	I wrapped a piece of cardboard with black electrical tape and zip tied it to the front of my Stillen Race oil cooler today. I have not driven it yet but I will report if and how it changes the oil temps.

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