I'm wondering if anyone has installed an oil cooler radiator in the space between the radiator and the front grille and if so do they have advice/photos?
I know that unless the engine is really working hard they're superfluous or even counterproductive but I do have a 13 row rad available and a sandwich plate........
Thank you
Oil cooler location
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moggiegeek
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philthehill
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Re: Oil cooler location
If you do fit an oil cooler, I would advise that you fit an oil thermostat. That ensures that the oil is kept at the correct temperature.
If the oil is kept too cool it can be worse than having the oil too hot.
Below - Serck Speed oil temp thermostat with take-off pipes and unions attached.
An alternative is to fit the MG oil/water type intercooler.
The intercooler is from a Citroen Berling diesel. The MG Metro intercoolers are no longer available new as is the 'O' ring filter seal. The Citroen intercooler is available new, and the 'O' ring filter seal is the standard size fitted to many canister oil filters. The Citroen oil intercooler adapter/securing bolt may have to be machined if the MG Metro bolt cannot be obtained.
If the oil is kept too cool it can be worse than having the oil too hot.
Below - Serck Speed oil temp thermostat with take-off pipes and unions attached.
- oil thermostat..JPG (820.55 KiB) Viewed 894 times
- WDF oil filter.JPG (860.72 KiB) Viewed 894 times
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MikeNash
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Re: Oil cooler location
I understand your wish to fit the oil cooler. To me, the Minor is like a beautiful lady who's already well dressed but on whom a few jewels would not go amiss. For me, its extra instrumentation and headlights but if I'd an oil cooler I'd be wanting to fit that too.
However, you don't tell us if its a standard engine or, say, a 1275cc beast. I can only speak for the 1098 engine and must say on that I've only reached an "oil coolery" zone once and that was after pressing on at 60-65mph (true) on a hot day towing a trailer with my Trav along the A1M where after an hour and a half we finally reached a 95-100C oil temperature. That 1966 engine was a quick but well worn and could only maintain 40psi oil pressure (8psi on tickover) and it drank oil; the high oil temps were reached on a half full sump. (I've since changed it, but the "better" engine is slower!)
Most of the time (and I've had the oil temp gauge fitted for many years) it's a struggle to get the oil temp above 75C even on a hot day on brisk journeys of 20-30 miles, or even above 55C at all in the winter. (And then I'm running with radiator blanks too.) So I do strongly urge that you fit an oil thermometer (I prefer a capillary type to an electric guessometer) so you can avoid running perpetually cool. The right range is, I believe, 80-100C and I base this on a wide reading of WW2 aircraft cockpit pictures which used the sort of internal combustion technology later incorporated in post war auto engineering. But to reach 80C on local running I'm going to fit a sump shield. (More on that later.)
Regards from MikeN.
PS Thinx; can you fit the "cooler" behind the radiator to heat the oil?
However, you don't tell us if its a standard engine or, say, a 1275cc beast. I can only speak for the 1098 engine and must say on that I've only reached an "oil coolery" zone once and that was after pressing on at 60-65mph (true) on a hot day towing a trailer with my Trav along the A1M where after an hour and a half we finally reached a 95-100C oil temperature. That 1966 engine was a quick but well worn and could only maintain 40psi oil pressure (8psi on tickover) and it drank oil; the high oil temps were reached on a half full sump. (I've since changed it, but the "better" engine is slower!)
Most of the time (and I've had the oil temp gauge fitted for many years) it's a struggle to get the oil temp above 75C even on a hot day on brisk journeys of 20-30 miles, or even above 55C at all in the winter. (And then I'm running with radiator blanks too.) So I do strongly urge that you fit an oil thermometer (I prefer a capillary type to an electric guessometer) so you can avoid running perpetually cool. The right range is, I believe, 80-100C and I base this on a wide reading of WW2 aircraft cockpit pictures which used the sort of internal combustion technology later incorporated in post war auto engineering. But to reach 80C on local running I'm going to fit a sump shield. (More on that later.)
Regards from MikeN.
PS Thinx; can you fit the "cooler" behind the radiator to heat the oil?
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philthehill
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MikeNash
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Re: Oil cooler location
Phil, I've replied.
MikeN.
MikeN.
Morris Minor, the car of the future. One day they will all look like this!
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oliver90owner
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Re: Oil cooler location
I would think the first change would be to an appropriate fully synthetic oil, before bothering with an oil cooler on most moggie engine rebuilds.
What is the thermostatted temperature? No point if it will never get to be open.
I expect stats for fully synthetic lubes would open at a rather higher temperature than one for paraffinic base oils?
Not often needed until turbos and under piston cooling jets are installed, IMO.
What is the thermostatted temperature? No point if it will never get to be open.
I expect stats for fully synthetic lubes would open at a rather higher temperature than one for paraffinic base oils?
Not often needed until turbos and under piston cooling jets are installed, IMO.
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philthehill
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Re: Oil cooler location
The Serck Speed oil thermostat does not open until the oil reaches 140dF. Once open the oil is allowed to circulate through the oil cooler. Once the oil temp goes below 140dF the oil thermostat closes and the oil is directed back to the sump via the oil filter. So, the oil thermostat would be constantly opening and closing relative to the engine oil temp.
With the oil/coolant intercooler the engine oil is initially warmed by the engine coolant and when hot cooled by the engine coolant. The oil/coolant intercooler is an aid to getting the engine oil up to working temp and an aid to ensuring that the engine oil does not exceed its working temp.
To aid in getting the engine oil up to working temp quickly on my Morris is the reason I have installed an oil/coolant intercooler and not an oil cooler.
With the oil/coolant intercooler the engine oil is initially warmed by the engine coolant and when hot cooled by the engine coolant. The oil/coolant intercooler is an aid to getting the engine oil up to working temp and an aid to ensuring that the engine oil does not exceed its working temp.
To aid in getting the engine oil up to working temp quickly on my Morris is the reason I have installed an oil/coolant intercooler and not an oil cooler.