Forester XT oil cooler questions

[fiveoneoh]

Has anyone who tracks the car regularly (2-3 times or more per month) used the Forrester oil cooler from this thread



https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50427


and actually logged your oil temps? I'm curious to see how well this thing works during track driving?



Any suggestions for a different oil cooler set up? I am particularly attracted to this one because of it's low cost, so it'd be nice to see some data or at least hear about your experience.

[fatoni]

While I haven't, I'm not sure anyone who has will tell you that's okay if you're tracking with that frequency.

[Vesartis]

I connected to the throttle body with my installation, but it's the same cooler. I posted some before and after data in this thread. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3166393

Direct Imgur link: https://imgur.com/a/e90ChVU

Basically you can expect maybe 10-15F cooler oil temps at best. For me that was better than nothing for a car being tracked every few months, and still under warranty. With your track day frequency, you probably just want to spring for a heavier duty cooler. I will probably go Jackson Racing Dual Radiator/Oil Cooler in the future.

[ayau]

A dedicated air to oil cooler will always be better for track driving, but you'll have to inspect your oil cooler lines every so often to make sure there are no leaks. That may or may not be a hassle for you. I'm also leaning towards the OEM water cooler due to the lower risk even if that means I have to shorten my session times.

[86MLR]

Air to oil coolers can be problematic for street duties.

Getting your oil temp up can take along time, if at all.

Thermostats are definitely required.

I fabricated up a blanking plate for 1 car I had with a air to oil cooler, without it, during the winter, my oil never got over 80°C.

As for if the Forester heat exchanger is up to the task, you need to watch/log your oil temp.

I use one, mainly to initially bring up my oil temps from cold.

Mine is plumbed into the throttle body.

[JIM THEO]

I do believe for spirited road driving or mild track use even for places with high summer ambient temps like where I live OEM oil cooler is more than enough and better choice than an air to oil cooler.
Cost simplicity safety!

[justinco]

My data is also in the thread Vesartis linked (my install thread):

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...2&postcount=17

For me, during hard lapping, the OEM cooler made little to no difference on the track. I do like it for the street and DD as it gets the oil temps up to operating temp during the cold seasons.

For tracking 2-3 times a month like you want, I would definitely go with an air to oil cooler. But, then you have other issues to deal with like 86MLR said, not a big deal though.

[treedodger]

More data on Forester OEM cooler:

https://www.pointmeby.com/2016/09/18...z-frs-gt86-86/

As said above, if you are tracking regularly, you want an quality air/oil cooler.

[GrandSport]

No experience, just reading this thread- but I've been around motorsports for a while. Powertrain cooling is a bad place to save money- probably second only to brakes.

[86MLR]

You need data.

Until then you have no idea if the Forester heat exhanger will work, or, if not, what size air to oil cooler is required.

Have a read

Disclaimer: this is only the first thing that came up googling.

Not alot of people actually get the sizing right.

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/do...ocID=TECH00133

[jflogerzi]

For regular track use you will want a decent air to air oil cooler. The OEM cooler is more for getting oil temps up to temp quicker in colder climates. For street and and back road driving it can help. Most who have done testing show a 10-15F lower temps but your milage will vary. I plan to run my OEM oil cooler using the throttle body method at the track in next 30 to 60 days with 5w-30 oil. I plan to run 4-5 hpde per year and will skip summer months.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

[JIM THEO]

Originally Posted by 86MLR

You need data.

Until then you have no idea if the Forester heat exhanger will work, or, if not, what size air to oil cooler is required.

Have a read

Disclaimer: this is only the first thing that came up googling.

Not alot of people actually get the sizing right.

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/do...ocID=TECH00133

I wonder what oil flow restriction induces the OEM oil cooler?
Cause there is some restriction even from it so has someone logged oil pressures before and after fitting it?

[dpaqu]

Originally Posted by JIM THEO

I wonder what oil flow restriction induces the OEM oil cooler?
Cause there is some restriction even from it so has someone logged oil pressures before and after fitting it?

Good question. It might get bypassed if its on the oil filter housing. I know GM put spring loaded bypasses to avoid people exploding there oil filters on cold days.

[86MLR]

Originally Posted by dpaqu

Good question. It might get bypassed if its on the oil filter housing. I know GM put spring loaded bypasses to avoid people exploding there oil filters on cold days.

I believe they are for blocked filters from lack of maintenance.