How to install air-to-oil engine oil cooler

[402]

Obviously. Nothing like having oil temperature sky rocketing.

[X25]

Originally Posted by 402

Obviously. Nothing like having oil temperature sky rocketing.

That's fine. The engine already has safeguards to protect itself in such cases, like switching to limb mode if the oil temps go out of whack. The real danger is pressure loss, and it might happen if you have a leak. The engine has no good protection against pressure loss.

[KaBoom1701]

Awesome thread.

Thx

Bookmarked.

[1985airborne]

Great writeup! Subscribed

[X25]

Added the following: WARNING: When installing the thermostat upside down, IN/OUT markings are now reversed!

Basically, if we install the thermostat upside down, its markings on it showing the flow of oil will be reversed.

I also had a chat with Improved Racing (Michael) regarding any potential issues during oil changes in terms of what the oil level should be during refill. My concern is that if the oil drains fast from the cooler, a significant portion of the oil would be used to refill the cooler after I fill the oil to max line, making the engine effectively working with less oil than ideal. He told me that the drain would actually be very slow since the oil pump is on the way, so oil level reading would not get complicated. I sure hope so. He also added that they are working on non restrictive check valves to control the flow, so the oil cooler core would always stay filled.

Another concern I have is that the oil cooler core stays pretty cool before I hit high temps, so I'm wondering how much flow the thermostat allows before high temps.

I'll be at the track tomorrow, testing it out and seeing how it performs. I'm a bit nervous about any potential leaks, so I'll have my eye at the oil pressure gauge at all times during the first session. Let's see how it goes!

[icemans2k02]

Tell them to check into a parker 2650 check valve. It has a 0 psi cracking pressure and will stop flow once there is no pressure on it.

Very curious on this as I was starting to piece one together.

[X25]

I was not able to overheat the engine since it now has both upgraded radiator and the oil cooler, but on my way back from the muffler shop, I finally managed to do it by driving at 2nd gear all the way! I'm happy to report that the oil cooler's port got too hot to touch, and was quickly able to cool down once I did upshift, all with no leak whatsoever. During normal highway driving, it settles at 210 degrees, which is almost identical to what it did with the OEM cooler. I think it is excellent for the street.

I'll be at the track all day today. Looking forward to seeing what temps it will settle at!

[Stitch]

Awesome write up!

Been planning this, so thank you for the guide!

[X25]

Read this!
http://forum.grrrr8.net/showthread.p...l=1#post508830

OK I think I am a victim of computer wizardry. I will just install a REAL oil temp sensor (or get it installed).

I'm pretty close to calling complete BS on the ECM's calculated oil temp value on the LS3....here's why:

• GM info states: "This parameter displays the temperature of the engine oil as calculated by the control module using various sensor inputs", but I haven't yet found any details on exactly how it is calculated or what sensors are involved.
• I first disconnected the so-called 'oil level/temp sensor' on the passenger side of the oil pan and let the car idle for 5 minutes. During that 5 min where this sensor was disconnected, my Aeroforce Interceptor displayed what appeared to be a valid oil temp reading. A few days later, I left the sensor disconnected all day. The 'Check Oil' warning eventually appeared on the dash, and my Interceptor continued to provide a valid oil temp reading, up to my normal 200-ish street operating temperature.
• I then disconnected the Coolant Temp sensor...same results, Oil Temp still had a valid reading on the Interceptor while idling for 5 min (haven't done a full day like this yet). Logic suggests that ECT is somehow involved with oil temp calculation, but how much is anyone's guess. We also know that some people have found that calculated oil temps are lower when using a coolant thermostat that opens at a lower temperature.
• I then disconnected the Oil Pressure sensor...same results, Oil Temp still had a valid reading on the Interceptor while idling for 5 min (haven't done a full day like this yet). As the car sits now, all 3 sensors (oil level, ECT, and EOP) are disconnected, and I'm still seeing oil temps that are apparently reasonable and continue to change with the engine idling. I'm not really sure what other sensors to check. I suspect IAT or AAT, but I'm not going to mess with either of those right now. I'm also starting to suspect that engine run time and or RPM is also a significant part of the calculation.
• Lots of folks with wet sumped LS3's (Camaro/G8/wet sump Vette) have found that calculated oil temperatures are relatively unchanged after oil cooler installation (big coolers, small coolers, Air to Oil, Water to Oil, it doesn't seem to matter much). This just doesn't make any sense at all.
• LS engines with actual temp sensors (e.g. LS1 & LS6) seem to respond much better to oil coolers. This seems normal. Case in point: This CTS-V Oil Cooler How-To, which is a copy of a C5 Z06 (LS6) installation, shows 290's before the cooler install in 70-80 deg ambient temps, and after the cooler install, he saw 232 in ambient of 94 deg F during track events. The size of the cooler in this example is almost identical to the one in the Harrop kit and the one I'm using, and yet, somehow, the LS3 calculated oil temp is almost completely unaffected by an oil cooler?? It just doesn't add up.

I'll update the first post to put a note about this. I will also be installing a real oil temp gauge to test this out, but it might be a while. I am relieved already : )

[X25]

The related post from my build thread:

I should have realized this fake gauge issue the day I installed the oil cooler, since the engine oil temp was climbing very fast considering there was no warming aid by the coolant anymore (it was showing wrong temp). Anyhow, lesson learned, moving on. I ordered the following:

• Improved Racing ENV-150 Dual Inline Oil Sensor Manifold Block: This will let me tap into the line oil temp and pressure.
  
  
• Autometer 5286 direct-fit gauge-pod for Camaro: This should provide a good location for the gauges.
  
• Autometer 6348 Oil Temp Gauge
  
  
• Autometer 6327 Oil Pressure Gauge
  
  

I am quite relieved that the high readings had nothing to do with my set-up. I will install these gauges, and will confirm the temperature drops as soon as I can. Here is hoping I can find a track day before the season is really over.

[xc_SS/RS]

Is there anyway to integrate a real temp sensor into the oil temperature gauge that's part of the 4 pack gauges? Kinda like how mine are and if I could put a real sensor to the gauge that would be awesome.

Just thought about adding one of those sandwich plate adaptors then running the wires from a sensor to the original gauge on a 2SS. Any reason why that wouldn't work?

[Bad@ssCamaro]

subscribed

[X25]

Originally Posted by xc_SS/RS

Is there anyway to integrate a real temp sensor into the oil temperature gauge that's part of the 4 pack gauges? Kinda like how mine are and if I could put a real sensor to the gauge that would be awesome.

Just thought about adding one of those sandwich plate adaptors then running the wires from a sensor to the original gauge on a 2SS. Any reason why that wouldn't work?

Gauges need to be calibrated with their sensors. It would be much easier to buy a new gauge that comes with its sensor.

[wakespeak]

I wonder if just pulling the dipstick and reading it with an infrared temp gauge would provide a fairly accurate reading?