[jeepers creepers]

hi guys,
using the engine (chevy 350 first gen), mostly in off road i've thought to put an engine oil cooler, the only thing i don't like about those is the oil flow restriction they make.
i'm always concerned about distributor/cam gear wear due to the increased force the oil need to run but i don't really kno how much a cooler can afflict that, any idea or experience?
i saw Derale oil radiator pretty simple, it's basicly a pipe with some curve underneath the "coolant mass" and nothing more, it shouldn't have too much restriction, i already have a Long engine cooler radiator on the shelve but that seem to have more restriction, i don't know, just my opinion.

thank you in advance

[DoubleVision]

Even so I can`t tell you much about oil coolers, or tell you what it`ll effect, I can tell you a way to aide the oiling to your distributor gear. If you look on the HEI or given distributor, there`s a shoulder right above the gear on the housing itself. It`s designed to fall directly into the hole in the block to stabilize it. The trick is, take a rat tail file and file a groove in the shoulder about .050 deep. This way, the oil in the lifter valley will fall down in the groove and direct oil the distributor gear. I used this trick when I ran a regular distributor gear on a roller cam to extend the gears life. Keep in mind there is a direct oil passage to the rear slightly to the right side of the block. Make sure you don`t cut the groove there or it`ll result in a loss in oil pressure.

[jaguarxk120]

If you choose to go with the oil cooler then make sure all the hose's and passages are larger to minimize any restrictions. I use a DeRale 16 pass fan cooled remote cooler, works just fine. It's surprising on how much heat the oil carries away from the heads and the underside of the pistons.

In hot weather and when the engine is working hard you want all the cooling you can get.

[jeepers creepers]

thank you guys,
@ doublevision, thanx for the trick, i already did that on the distributor to help the lubrication, i hope will work just fine, i've also checked how deep the distr. is to avoid extra power needed to turn the pump, also the shim above the gear is ok, (the distr is brand new and the cam as well).

i'm just in doubt if put the cooler or not, engine got also a pair of Edelbrock alu heads, they should keep the engine a little bit cooler than before or it's just my immagination? any experience about that?

thank you again

[diamond mike]

i guess it depends where you are.here in cali my engine builder strongly recommended negative on the cooler i really wanted to instal. maybe it was just my set up? ( hi volume oil pump, high comp. straight 40 wt oil ) i guess the oil needs a certian temp to burn off water ( condensation ) in oil. i think once it starts roasting here in june or so ill do it anyway. i had one in a blazer, and i must say, even after getting off of the freeway, oil remained at 45 pounds. always. i took its oil cooler off to fit headers , and boom, oil pressure would start fluctuating some after prolonged use

[DoubleVision]

Come to think of it, I remember that oil coolers are mostly needed when the engine will be subject to long term upper rpm usage. In a 4X4 application I can`t say I ever seen any of the guys use them but I can see how they`re needed, upper RPM usuage quite a bit as well as not much air movement. Plus the mud that gets all over everything tends to act as a blanket, holding in heat all the more. However, I would likely use synthetic oil before I went to a oil cooler. In my ATV`s which are both air cooled, we changed the oil before we went riding, when we came back the oil was black. So I went over to synthetic on the next trip and the oil was still clear when we returned. I can run synthetic oil and get 5 times the hours out of it compared to conventional oil. For your application, If it were I, I wouldn`t install one, I would just use synthetic oil and use a 180 degree thermostat. But if you wanted a safety net, by all means install one. Anyways, I found this little article for you to read, maybe it`ll help you.
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/V6-instru...er-removal.pdf

[malc]

I have a B/M oil cooler plus a thermostat which works like this.



I think mine is Derale but there are several choices.

I have the same system for the trans cooler as well.

[302 Z28]

Any oil needs to be at temperature to function properly and do it's job. I agree that most times an oil cooler on our engines is not needed. I also agree with the suggestion to go with synthetic oil before installing an oil cooler. The high temp breakdown threshold of synthetic oil is so high your engine will be toast long before the synthetic oil gives up.

Vince

[malc]

My thermostat opens at 180º, oil temp can go to 190º then comes back down slowly.
Even so, slow traffic hot day can see the temp stay up, I´m assuming without the cooler it would be even higher.

[jaguarxk120]

Many service vehicleshave engine oil coolers installed because the engines sit at idle for long periods of time (radar cops waiting for you). It's so the oil will not overheat. In many supercharged cars there are oil coolers because there are oil sprays directed to the piston bottoms to keep them cool. Oil is not just for the bearings it is also there for carrying away heat from area's in the engine block where water is not.