Koyo Radiator vs Oil Cooler - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Captain Snooze · 06-12-2013, 07:08 AM

How much is one better over the other? I appreciate that an oil cooler would (probably) be better at keeping the oil cool but would an after market radiator be better at keeping the engine and oil cool? I ask because it is my opinion that an aftermarket radiator is more elegant. That is, there are no additional hoses/pipes in the engine bay but I suspect that an oil cooler would be more beneficial.

rx3 · 06-12-2013, 07:58 AM

Sorry, I'm not directly answering your question.
But if you were to install a vented hood, airflow through the radiator and around the (oil-filled) motor block should also be improved:
http://body-kitz.com/contents/en-us/...by_Seibon.html

(Some cars also had vented hoods in stock configuration:
http://www.classicscars.com/rally/205t16new/car1.jpg )

Captain Snooze · 06-12-2013, 08:01 AM

Thanks rx3 for your reply. I have considered this but I would have to get the original hood modified as a carbon fibre hood is not street legal here.

504 · 06-12-2013, 08:21 AM

Oil temps on this car rise really quickly (above 100 degrees easy) even on street spirited driving while coolant seems to hold a constant 92 degrees Celsius (obtained from data on this forum). Personally I'd address the oil cooling first because oil contacts all critical engine components directly and can transfer heat from them much more efficiently. Also since this car takes 0W20 which isn't exactly thick, it would be good insurance to keep the oil from thinning too much from heat.

With an oil cooler, you will need more oil for oil changes and when it does get changed, the oil in the cooler and lines don't actually drain. just something to consider.

With that being said, the radiator probably isn't the bottleneck of the cars cooling abilities

rx3 · 06-12-2013, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 504

Also since this car takes 0W20 which isn't exactly thick, it would be good insurance to keep the oil from thinning too much from heat.

I switched to 0W-40 (Motul 300V) for this reason.

No Limit Motorsport · 06-12-2013, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rx3

I switched to 0W-40 (Motul 300V) for this reason.

A lot of people overlook a GOOD oil at helping keep oil temps in check and stable.

These cars get really hot, really fast. Add in forced induction and even more so. Sometimes I feel like I am dealing with a rotary.

OrbitalEllipses · 06-12-2013, 09:33 AM

I doubt this engine will EVER be as temperamental as a rotary.

DAN_BRZ · 06-12-2013, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by No Limit Motorsport

A lot of people overlook a GOOD oil at helping keep oil temps in check and stable.

These cars get really hot, really fast. Add in forced induction and even more so. Sometimes I feel like I am dealing with a rotary.

what would you consider to be a good oil? any recommendations?

Hanakuso · 06-20-2013, 04:59 PM

I was almost 100% set on going with an oil cooler first, but if a bigger radiator like the Koyo can give similar results like an oil cooler I rather go that route. Can anyone else give an explanation between the two?

For the price of a good oil cooler (Perrin) vs radiator (Koyo), it's about half the price for the radiator.

kmbkk · 06-20-2013, 05:12 PM

I went with a radiator first. My thinking is if the coolant cools faster, and more, it'll help cool the engine better, in turn helping keep the oil a little cooler. I have no empirical data to back this up, just my opinion. Also, I have a vented CF hood to help the hot air escape better.

Captain Snooze · 06-20-2013, 06:14 PM

I've ordered the Perrin oil cooler. From what I have read water temperatures don't get nearly as bad as oil temps. Ah well, everything's a compromise except for those things that aren't.

ATL BRZ · 06-20-2013, 06:18 PM

What I don't understand is why the oil cooler kits cost 2x as much as a big ass aluminum radiator from Koyo...

ichitaka05 · 06-20-2013, 06:20 PM

Not convincing anyone, but I'll be going w oil cooler first over aftermarket radiator... but that's just me.

spitz · 06-20-2013, 06:41 PM

Oil Cooler first for me. Same logic as many above.

06-12-2013, 07:08 AM	#1
Captain Snooze Because compromise ® Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: Red Herring Location: australia Posts: 7,723 Thanks: 3,993 Thanked 9,346 Times in 4,127 Posts Mentioned: 60 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Koyo Radiator vs Oil Cooler How much is one better over the other? I appreciate that an oil cooler would (probably) be better at keeping the oil cool but would an after market radiator be better at keeping the engine and oil cool? I ask because it is my opinion that an aftermarket radiator is more elegant. That is, there are no additional hoses/pipes in the engine bay but I suspect that an oil cooler would be more beneficial. Last edited by Captain Snooze; 06-12-2013 at 07:20 AM.

06-20-2013, 06:20 PM	#13
ichitaka05 Site Moderator Join Date: Oct 2009 Drives: ichi 86 Project Location: Middle of No where Posts: 20,966 Thanks: 7,664 Thanked 19,052 Times in 8,327 Posts Mentioned: 677 Post(s) Tagged: 27 Thread(s)	Not convincing anyone, but I'll be going w oil cooler first over aftermarket radiator... but that's just me. __________________

06-20-2013, 06:41 PM	#14
spitz Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: '13 SWP BRZ-L Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 252 Thanks: 70 Thanked 106 Times in 68 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Oil Cooler first for me. Same logic as many above. __________________

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06-12-2013, 07:58 AM	#2
rx3 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: BRZ Location: Europe Posts: 350 Thanks: 53 Thanked 114 Times in 71 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Sorry, I'm not directly answering your question. But if you were to install a vented hood, airflow through the radiator and around the (oil-filled) motor block should also be improved: http://body-kitz.com/contents/en-us/...by_Seibon.html (Some cars also had vented hoods in stock configuration: http://www.classicscars.com/rally/205t16new/car1.jpg )

06-12-2013, 08:01 AM	#3
Captain Snooze Because compromise ® Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: Red Herring Location: australia Posts: 7,723 Thanks: 3,993 Thanked 9,346 Times in 4,127 Posts Mentioned: 60 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks rx3 for your reply. I have considered this but I would have to get the original hood modified as a carbon fibre hood is not street legal here.

06-12-2013, 08:21 AM	#4
504 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: 2014 86 GTS Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 168 Thanks: 131 Thanked 85 Times in 57 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Oil temps on this car rise really quickly (above 100 degrees easy) even on street spirited driving while coolant seems to hold a constant 92 degrees Celsius (obtained from data on this forum). Personally I'd address the oil cooling first because oil contacts all critical engine components directly and can transfer heat from them much more efficiently. Also since this car takes 0W20 which isn't exactly thick, it would be good insurance to keep the oil from thinning too much from heat. With an oil cooler, you will need more oil for oil changes and when it does get changed, the oil in the cooler and lines don't actually drain. just something to consider. With that being said, the radiator probably isn't the bottleneck of the cars cooling abilities

06-12-2013, 09:33 AM	#7
OrbitalEllipses Banned Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: Attitude Location: MD Posts: 10,046 Thanks: 884 Thanked 4,889 Times in 2,902 Posts Mentioned: 123 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	I doubt this engine will EVER be as temperamental as a rotary.

06-20-2013, 04:59 PM	#9
Hanakuso Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: FR-S Location: California Posts: 1,956 Thanks: 294 Thanked 673 Times in 390 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I was almost 100% set on going with an oil cooler first, but if a bigger radiator like the Koyo can give similar results like an oil cooler I rather go that route. Can anyone else give an explanation between the two? For the price of a good oil cooler (Perrin) vs radiator (Koyo), it's about half the price for the radiator.

06-20-2013, 05:12 PM	#10
kmbkk First 86 Driver Baby! Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: FR-S, Flex Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,752 Thanks: 503 Thanked 513 Times in 349 Posts Mentioned: 32 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	I went with a radiator first. My thinking is if the coolant cools faster, and more, it'll help cool the engine better, in turn helping keep the oil a little cooler. I have no empirical data to back this up, just my opinion. Also, I have a vented CF hood to help the hot air escape better.

06-20-2013, 06:14 PM	#11
Captain Snooze Because compromise ® Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: Red Herring Location: australia Posts: 7,723 Thanks: 3,993 Thanked 9,346 Times in 4,127 Posts Mentioned: 60 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I've ordered the Perrin oil cooler. From what I have read water temperatures don't get nearly as bad as oil temps. Ah well, everything's a compromise except for those things that aren't.

06-20-2013, 06:18 PM	#12
ATL BRZ Driving Coach Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: BRZ Location: Atlanta Posts: 3,666 Thanks: 3,723 Thanked 4,137 Times in 1,707 Posts Mentioned: 90 Post(s) Tagged: 6 Thread(s)	What I don't understand is why the oil cooler kits cost 2x as much as a big ass aluminum radiator from Koyo...

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