Easiest oil cooler - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Qwimby1 · 10-22-2018, 01:08 PM

I've read though most of the posts I can find on this. I'm ready for an oil cooler, but wonder if anyone can advise which is the easiest to install. I'd rather not pay a wrench to do it, but have limited garage space and I'm not as limber as I once was. I don't think I could get the front clip off myself, partially because I wouldn't have room or the strength to maneuver it when detached.

Code Monkey · 10-22-2018, 01:11 PM

I suspect all coolers will require the removal of the front bumper.

strat61caster · 10-22-2018, 01:17 PM

what's the oil cooler for? track use?

weederr33 · 10-22-2018, 01:53 PM

If you have issues getting up and down off the ground, I'd say find a DIY shop so you can use a lift. Most oil coolers are very easy to get installed, except maybe the Jackson Racing Dual cooler, or the OEM. Not that they are hard, just more time consuming since you have to drain, refill, and then burp the coolant.

chaoskaze · 10-22-2018, 01:58 PM

They are easy to install but you gonna have to remove the bumper even for 200 dollar ebay oil cooler....so.....just get ur friend to help you.

JIM THEO · 10-22-2018, 02:06 PM

Forester oil to water cooler may be?

jflogerzi · 10-22-2018, 02:43 PM

Look at the OEM Oil cooler that use the Throttle body location. Very easy to install and all work is done above the hood. This will only give you a modest bump in protection. Its not meant to cover a serious track car. This will add a bit of extra cooling for a street/canyon carver.

mistople · 10-22-2018, 03:43 PM

All will require the front bumper to be removed. Its fairly easy to do. The bumper itself is super light. I wouldn't worry about it.

wolffbite · 10-22-2018, 04:39 PM

OEM style oil cooler will be the easiest (no bumper removal required). Took about half an hour following along with an installation guide on youtube. Some more time will be required to burp your coolant loop properly, but if you have a no-spill funnel that shouldn't take long at all.

Not suitable for any serious track driving, it will quickly be overwhelmed. I don't track but installed one to get slightly quicker warmups and provide some cooling ability for more spirited street driving.

Qwimby1 · 10-22-2018, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strat61caster

what's the oil cooler for? track use?

Yeah, for track use and in Florida to boot.

Qwimby1 · 10-22-2018, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaoskaze

They are easy to install but you gonna have to remove the bumper even for 200 dollar ebay oil cooler....so.....just get ur friend to help you.

If I had a friend.

finch1750 · 10-22-2018, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qwimby1

Yeah, for track use and in Florida to boot.

OEM style won't be enough for this.

If it mounts to the crash beam like the Jackson there's no plan B thought. Perrin, Full Blow, etc all mount to the plate between the bumper and the metal skid plate.

Just pull that plastic plate off from under the car, mount, reinstall. Requires you to get on the ground though so not sure if that helps.

CSG Mike · 10-22-2018, 06:56 PM

Easiest? Jackson Racing.

TommyW · 10-22-2018, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Easiest? Jackson Racing.

YEP. That's the one I'll be going with

10-22-2018, 01:08 PM	#1
Qwimby1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Drives: 14 FRS Monogram, 05 Mazdasped Miata Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 559 Thanks: 128 Thanked 140 Times in 104 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Easiest oil cooler I've read though most of the posts I can find on this. I'm ready for an oil cooler, but wonder if anyone can advise which is the easiest to install. I'd rather not pay a wrench to do it, but have limited garage space and I'm not as limber as I once was. I don't think I could get the front clip off myself, partially because I wouldn't have room or the strength to maneuver it when detached.

10-22-2018, 01:53 PM	#4
weederr33 Airborne at your service Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: '17 BRZ Series.Yellow Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 6,325 Thanks: 4,528 Thanked 5,586 Times in 2,928 Posts Mentioned: 33 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	If you have issues getting up and down off the ground, I'd say find a DIY shop so you can use a lift. Most oil coolers are very easy to get installed, except maybe the Jackson Racing Dual cooler, or the OEM. Not that they are hard, just more time consuming since you have to drain, refill, and then burp the coolant. __________________ Series.Yellowbird - http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122135 MS, CSCS, TSAC-F, CPT

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10-22-2018, 01:11 PM	#2
Code Monkey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Drives: Subaru BRZ Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 837 Thanks: 868 Thanked 558 Times in 336 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I suspect all coolers will require the removal of the front bumper.

10-22-2018, 01:58 PM	#5
chaoskaze The Fail Boat Join Date: Aug 2011 Drives: CWP S.B. Location: LasVegas Posts: 3,028 Thanks: 4,718 Thanked 1,293 Times in 873 Posts Mentioned: 19 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	They are easy to install but you gonna have to remove the bumper even for 200 dollar ebay oil cooler....so.....just get ur friend to help you.

10-22-2018, 02:06 PM	#6
JIM THEO Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Drives: BRZ 2018 Location: Greece Posts: 495 Thanks: 119 Thanked 135 Times in 95 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Forester oil to water cooler may be?

10-22-2018, 03:43 PM	#8
mistople Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Drives: 2017 BRZ (Sold), 2023 GR86 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 618 Thanks: 376 Thanked 433 Times in 216 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	All will require the front bumper to be removed. Its fairly easy to do. The bumper itself is super light. I wouldn't worry about it.

10-22-2018, 04:39 PM	#9
wolffbite Just the tip Join Date: Mar 2017 Drives: 2017 DGM BRZ Location: BC, CANADA Posts: 630 Thanks: 912 Thanked 874 Times in 376 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	OEM style oil cooler will be the easiest (no bumper removal required). Took about half an hour following along with an installation guide on youtube. Some more time will be required to burp your coolant loop properly, but if you have a no-spill funnel that shouldn't take long at all. Not suitable for any serious track driving, it will quickly be overwhelmed. I don't track but installed one to get slightly quicker warmups and provide some cooling ability for more spirited street driving.

10-22-2018, 06:56 PM	#13
CSG Mike Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: S2000 CR Location: Orange County Posts: 14,527 Thanks: 8,916 Thanked 14,174 Times in 6,833 Posts Mentioned: 966 Post(s) Tagged: 14 Thread(s)	Easiest? Jackson Racing.

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