Oil cooler for road use..

[Reck]

Hi all...

Just wondering if this is a worthwhile investment;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-1602-2002 ... 1c22ad43c3

I realise most people only recommend these for trackday cars and say they're unnecessary for road use - but since many of us are running 30 year old engines (many of which haven't had any bottom end work done), would an oil cooler serve as a sort of 'preventative maintenance' - keeping the oil from getting too thin and making the job of a tired oil pump a little bit easier, and thereby extending the running life of an old engine?

In addition - for everyday use I take it that it would be worth getting one with a thermostat installed, so you're not overcooling and cancelling out any potential benefit?

[e21-Mark]

Thermostat and temp/pressure gauge. You can never have too much info about your engine imo.

[Reck]

Can you recommend any Mark?

[arshad76]

I've got one for £70 if you want one bud. It's an E30 325i one I modified with hydraulic hoses so it was more flexible to place. You'd be paying for the cost of having the hoses made and the oil cooler comes free I had it taken out of my car in the end as there wasn't enough room for that and the air con fan

[drjim]

When the slug goes M52 I may have something to suit your car. I also have an e30 M3 one with the filterhead etc that you can just connect, hoses wouldn't work on the slug but you are welcome to borrow it for trial fitting

Jim

[Reck]

Thanks for the offers both. Do either of them have a thermostat built in? An oil cooler might do more harm than good when driving about in winter.

Jim - I think I may have inadvertently nicked some still-wrapped track control arms from your workshop on Sunday - I found them in the bottom of the cardboard box my pancake filter etc. was in? I can drop them off for you at Crumpsall or next time I'm up your end.

[arshad76]

Not that I know off. Just looks like a large surface area to help cool oil quicker, like a mini radiator. I think there will be a separate gauge for that.

[Reck]

I mean a thermostat that bypasses the oil rad below a certain oil temperature.

[arshad76]

I mean a thermostat that bypasses the oil rad below a certain oil temperature.

See now you're just going to show my poor technical knowledge up of certain things

[drjim]

stat built into the filterhead

Not sure what control arms they are - are they wrapped in bubble wrap/parcel tape?

[Reck]

That auction mentions they'll build the stat into the sandwich plate for an extra £20 - meaning some kits are out there without a stat? Or are they talking guff?

I didn't look too closely as it was dark but they're in clear plastic bags with what looks like BMW part numbers on them.

[drjim]

I have the one with thermostat in. The M3 one has one in it too.

Basically if you have a very hot engine/oil and thrash it eg race use, permanent flow through cooler is fine. If you drive on the road mainly it will be too cool most of the time, so need a thermostat in it.

Not sure what parts of mine you have nicked but I'll gladly have them back!