Perrin Oil Cooler - Impressions, Pics, and Data

[loogs]

Originally Posted by swift996

what am i looking at here and how can i get my hands on whatever this is? thanks

[ATL BRZ]

Originally Posted by loogs

what am i looking at here and how can i get my hands on whatever this is? thanks

You'd know if you bothered to read this thread in its entirety.

[loogs]

Originally Posted by ATL BRZ

You'd know if you bothered to read this thread in its entirety.

lol, sometimes i get lazy. thanks

[Spartan65]

Has anyone mounted their Oil Cooler the Loco JDM Way? I was wondering if it can be mounted upside down to ease draining it.

[swift996]

Two of my sessions at VIR (about 220 peak on oil and water temps were tame)

[xjohnx]

Damn, that's impressive. I may have to give perrin another look.

[swift996]

Another member was running the Mishimoto cooler and had similar results (he didn't log but same peak numbers).

[chadstyle]

The OP results are about the same as mine with the Mishi. I was consistently around 215-225 and since installing I'm more in the 160-170 range and I haven't passed 190 since installing. That's a MAJOR improvement!! The car feels much better at cooler temps!!

Doesn't matter the brand so much, just buy an oil cooler if you don't already have one installed!! These cars need them bad!


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[F1point4]

Looking good. I'm happy you like Excel as much as I do.

What were your ambient temps from your latest graph? around 220 with FI and track is impressive sir.

[swift996]

Originally Posted by F1point4

Looking good. I'm happy you like Excel as much as I do.

What were your ambient temps from your latest graph? around 220 with FI and track is impressive sir.

There's barely a day that goes by where I don't use excel.

Ambient temps were high 80s - low 90s. Track temp was probably pretty hot, the sun was beating down all day.

[BatStig]

Your temps look better than mine and my engine is stock, save for the Perrin Oil Cooler. At the track in 15-20 minute sessions in 80ºF weather I was hitting 250ºF.

[FRSRAVEN]

Originally Posted by chadstyle

The OP results are about the same as mine with the Mishi. I was consistently around 215-225 and since installing I'm more in the 160-170 range and I haven't passed 190 since installing. That's a MAJOR improvement!! The car feels much better at cooler temps!!

Doesn't matter the brand so much, just buy an oil cooler if you don't already have one installed!! These cars need them bad!


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I'm bored, so I typed the following. Please don't take it as an attack, just a friendly observation. I too was interested in the Mishimoto oil cooler, but took a pass because it doesn't have a built in thermostat to regulate oil temperatures.


160-170 is a bit too low for a daily driver. Cold oil isn't better, its only when oil gets too hot that its a problem. An oil cooler that kept the oil around 212 degrees F would be ideal. This allows the oil to operate in its rated viscosity range, whilst still being hot enough to evaporate off any fuel or moisture that is contaminating the sump (lots of water and fuel make it into the oil).


At 160 degrees F, your 20 grade oil is substantially more viscous then it would be at its rated operating temperature of 100 degrees C, or 212 degrees F).

In other words, an oils operating viscosity is rated at 100 degrees Celsius, or about 212 degrees F. Most vehicles are designed to keep the oil around this temperature for reasons noted above.

Oil is thicker when cold. Cold, thick oil results in reduced fuel economy (more parasitic pumping losses), and potentially more engine wear.

Using Mobil 1 0W-20 as the test oil. Commonly available and popular.

At 100* C, it is 8.7 cSt. (The SAE has defined a 20 grade oil as falling between 5.6 to 9.29 cSt @ 100* C)

At 71* C (~160* F), it is 16.8 cSt. This oil, at this temperature, is now functionally a 50 grade oil...(SAE defines 50 weight oils as ranging between 16.3 to 21.89 cSt @ 100* C).


This is why oil coolers without a thermostatic control are generally a bad idea. On the track, it doesn't matter, but for daily driving it does, because the oil never fully heats up, and in other words, never fully "thins out". Also excess fuel dilution in your oil can lead to increased engine wear. Fuel gets evaporated once the oil reaches temperatures over 180 degrees for sustained periods of time (preferably over 200 degrees F). This is why short trips under 5 minutes with are considered harsh conditions by most OEM's, and why they recommend shorter oil change intervals as a result.


Now, if you are driving on the track, you NEED an oil cooler for the FA20...

People often report 260+ degree oil temperatures on the track with our cars. (with no oil cooler)

The above listed Mobil 1 0W-20 at 270 degrees F is 5.01 cSt. Reference a couple paragraphs above, where I noted that the SAE defines a 20 grade oil as ranging from 5.6 to 9.29 cSt. At 270* F, the oil is no longer within its viscosity grade. Furthermore, most oils, even quality synthetics, will start to experience some thermal breakdown at these temperatures, especially with prolonged exposure.


For giggles, lets look at Mobil 1 15W-50 in an FA20 on the track WITHOUT an oil cooler...
At 212* F, we are at 18 cSt (well within the 50 weight oil range)
At 270* F, we are at 9.39 cSt (just barely above the 20 grade oil range)

So, if you plan on tracking the FA20 without an oil cooler, and want to make sure the oil in the sump stays within the factory recommended viscosity grade during your session, perhaps consider using a quality 40 grade oil.

Now there is another means to measure oil viscosity, and that is HTHS. But that is a topic for another day. Also, viscosity only plays part of the role of engine protection, and oils additive package also has a serious impact. So even if an overheated thin oil is squeezed out of the bearings under stress, there are additives in place to offer some protection during periods of boundary lubrication. But it gets rather complicated, and there are far better sources of information on the subject. www.bobistheoilguy.com

Also, on a side note, does anyone know where the ECU takes its oil temperature reading from? Is the sensor near the oil filter housing?

[SpeedLab]

Originally Posted by swift996

Another member was running the Mishimoto cooler and had similar results (he didn't log but same peak numbers).

I went back and checked my logs, what i was seeing out at VIR by session 4 was a peak temp of 236F, usually hovering around 230F after 30 minutes on the Mishimoto oil cooler with 0w30 german castrol. That is at low 90s temps and about 7/10th on track. Shifting 1000rpm below redline, oil temps were right around 200F.

I see a direct correlation between holding high rpms longer and the higher oil temps.

Water temps never went over 205F with the factory radiator and coolant.

[Splat]

Originally Posted by euroshowoff

how often would you need to track the car to justify an oil cooler? Overall opinions wanted...

Never need to track it to justify it. I push my car often, for long periods at time 4-7k, not at track. If you never drive your car hot, then you do not need it. For everybody else, sure can not hurt.