Oil cooler orientation (Z1 cooler)

BrandonT

I've decided to buy a Z1 oil cooler and posed to them the following, but haven't received a reply yet, so I thought I'd see what you guys have to say. I would like to mount the cooler sideways, with three way fittings at both the upper and lower fitting so oil can be drained from the lower fitting and added to the upper. Hoses would be routed up basically the same as the standard layout. The way I see it this should solve the pros/cons of going with either up or down mounted fittings. Oil can be added and drained, hoses are routed up so the cooler doesn't drain back into the engine throwing off the dipstick reading (I trust the ADBV on the filter for this anyway for a car that gets regularly driven), and air is purged on startup (inlet at the bottom fitting).

My only concerns are that there are not fittings available to do this, and it may not be easily accessible to get at the drain/fill hoses. Also an extra length of hose and connectors just hanging there is a potential source or leaks of damage obviously.

What do you guys think?

dad

ATTENTION: read if your oil cooler fittings face DOWN!

__________________

We can do without any article of luxury we have never had; but once obtained, it is not in human nature to surrender it voluntary.

BrandonT

Thanks for the link. Correct me if I'm wrong but if the lines are routed upward, and are just slightly above the cooler, then the oil cooler can not drain back into the engine? Actually the inlet line from the highest point down to the engine could drain back, so that is a single hose maybe 50" long. Pretty negligible and the top mounted fitting has the same issue.

Push comes to shove I'll top mount, but I really would like to change the oil in the cooler. I intend on doing UOA's so removing as much oil as possible is important to me.

BrandonT

So no one thinks there is any improvement to be made regarding mounting position?

gozfast

I mounted my Stillen 25 row sideways just like you described. The supplied hose length with the fittings both pointed towards the filter side were longer than needed. I only had to buy one 45 fitting to replace one of the original 90's and shortened the longer hose about 5" and then they fit perfect. I also figured that the sideways orientation was the best compromise and only noticed a slight change of oil level due to drainback. The other plus is allowing the cooler to be mounted closer to the face of the condenser (~5mm) than the supplied kit mounting plate which increases actual pass thru airflow. I made four new simple brackets out of aluminum angle, one on each corner. I rubber mounted them to the upper and lower radiator supports to allow for expansion and vibration. My oil temps dropped 35 degrees with this setup. I don't have any pics of the install here right now, but can maybe post some in a few days.

BrandonT

Thanks for the feedback! So what are you doing during oil changes? Draining the cooler? Leaving it be? Are your hoses routed above teh cooler at any point? Pics would be great.

gozfast

My bottom braided line is run only about halfway up the height of the cooler. I did the sideways mounting mainly for a better more efficient mounting position, no possibility of trapped air, limited drainback and possibility of debris retention. I haven't changed the oil yet after installation but I figure I'll blow a little air into the top line to fully drain the oil retained in the cooler and lines. Being sideways, it should come out easy. I didn't install any tee's in the lines like you mentioned.

gozfast

I put some pictures in my album if anyone's interested.

advan37

is this 25 or 32 row?

BrandonT

Looks good! I'm assuming inlet is at the bottom?

gozfast

Stillen 25 row, bottom inlet.