The need for an oil cooler when going FI (Temperature Data Inside)

[spdbydesign]

I frequently get PM's asking about the various Oil Cooler Kits on the market for this platform, and whether they are worth the cost.

To that I always tell others, I wouldn't install any Forced Induction kit without an oil cooler.

These cars run high oil temperatures, and as we approach the summer heat, I think it's very important to have an oil cooler installed.

Today, we took some back to back data without and with an oil cooler, with the addition of our turbo kit.....on a customers BRZ.

The specific kit we used is made by Kate Cool in Taiwan, and I specifically sourced their kit as I was impressed with the engineering behind it.

It features heat shrouding on all 4 corners, which build a box between the bumper and oil cooler.....to force air into the cooler. This is how any OEM solution is typically engineered, and I was impressed to see their solution in the aftermarket.


There are several aftermarket companies that offer shrouding, and I would strongly recommend staying with this design for maximum air flow into the cooler. This should lead towards maximum temperature drop over a non-shrouded solution.


With that said, I will post up the logs before and after.


But the quick highlights....


88-89F Outside Temperature
Clear, Sunny Skies


Without the cooler, we saw 104-105 Celsius or 220F after a few 3rd gear highway pulls. Cruising we saw 98 Celsius or 208F.


With the oil cooler installed, 88 Celsius or 190F the highest we saw after a few 3rd gear highway pulls. Cruising we saw 84F Celsius or 183F.


Right at 30F drop with an oil cooler installed under boost. Roughly 25F drop while cruising.


For those of who you live in an even more extreme temperatures, the need becomes even greater.


Hope this helps those of you who are considering adding that oil cooler to your Supercharged or Turbocharged FT86.


My Best,


Chris Riggs

Photo from BossPaco BRZ for reference:



Oil Cooler Shrouding for reference:

[spdbydesign]

This is not an advertisement towards any one kit, but simply before and after data to show the value of an oil cooler.

I think any kit that has proper shrouding, forcing air into the oil cooler would be a worthwhile purchase.

[Jason@DSG]

This platform should have an oil cooler even in NA format, FI is without question. Running FI long term without a cooler is almost guaranteed failure down the road.

220/208f is just way too high IMO.

Nice oil cooler! @spdbydesign

[Ironsquid]

To be fair, 220F is quite acceptable for today's synthetic oils. 180's is actually on the low side of operating range. Most t-stat blocks are set to ~185-190.

[Sniper2606]

Originally Posted by Jason@DSG

This platform should have an oil cooler even in NA format, FI is without question. Running FI long term without a cooler is almost guaranteed failure down the road.

220/208f is just way too high IMO.

Nice oil cooler! @spdbydesign

Agreed, way way high temps even on NA format

If people think 220F is acceptable...... well its your engine.

[spdbydesign]

Originally Posted by Ironsquid

To be fair, 220F is quite acceptable for today's synthetic oils. 180's is actually on the low side of operating range. Most t-stat blocks are set to ~185-190.

Understand we are seeing 220F after a few 3rd gear pulls in 89F weather, spaced a few minutes apart.

I can only imagine what the temps would be on a South Texas day in 105F weather making back to back highway pulls with your buddies, or at a track beating on the engine for several minutes at a time.

[stevo585]

220F is not hot at all. Do some research on bob is the oil guy .com. They claim oil temp should be 10-30 degrees higher than water temp. With water temp around 190-195, 220 sounds ok especially with synthetics.

[spdbydesign]

I'm just sharing information from our findings

For those that track the car, or live in hotter temperatures, the oil temps will be significantly warmer I feel confident.

If you are comfortable with your existing setup, more power to you.

For myself and our in-house customers, we will be getting the addition of an oil cooler for all FI installs.

[Ironsquid]

Originally Posted by spdbydesign

Understand we are seeing 220F after a few 3rd gear pulls in 89F weather, spaced a few minutes apart.

I can only imagine what the temps would be on a South Texas day in 105F weather making back to back highway pulls with your buddies.

I'm seeing about 215F in 90F mountain driving and about 220F in 95F Florida during autoX.

I'll be at Sebring in June, should be fun, but I'm not worried about oil temps.

The Porsche guys are closer to 275F on the track.

Synthetic oil has come a long way.

[cdrazic93]

http://www.speedtalk.com/forum/viewt...hp?f=1&t=31363

Helpful to read.

[evo4g63]

Come to Phoenix and I bet that thing will hit 240+ after just one pull on the freeway without an oil cooler. I agree synthetic oil has come a long way but I wouldn't wanna run super high oil temps for very long regardless.

[Ironsquid]

Originally Posted by evo4g63

Come to Phoenix and I bet that thing will hit 240+ after just one pull on the freeway without an oil cooler. I agree synthetic oil has come a long way but I wouldn't wanna run super high oil temps for very long regardless.

Not sure why you are scared, there's been no documented case of any engine failure due to oil viscosity breakdown on the 86.

If there is a case, please show it here. Otherwise, no real reason to be scared and no real reason to scare others into thinking they absolutely need something because 220+ temps "seems" high.

[Calum]

This guy lives in AZ and its super hot there! See how now body cares.

[spdbydesign]

Just become it hasn't been discussed on a forum, doesn't meant issues have not risen from the lack of proper cooling modifications.