Oil Cooler vs. High Performance Rad - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

ThierryIsAble · 07-30-2014, 07:55 PM

Hi everyone! I had a question about which would keep the engine cooler for the money: an oil cooler or a high performance radiator.
Which would you prefer? As a reference, I was looking at the Mishimoto oil cooler and radiator.
Any info appreciated!

14BRZ · 07-30-2014, 08:09 PM

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Sportsguy83 · 07-30-2014, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThierryIsAble

Hi everyone! I had a question about which would keep the engine cooler for the money: an oil cooler or a high performance radiator.
Which would you prefer? As a reference, I was looking at the Mishimoto oil cooler and radiator.
Any info appreciated!

What will be your intended car use?

Oil cooler is better bang for buck, but pending what will be your application might need to get both.

Decay107 · 07-30-2014, 08:44 PM

Oil cooler definitely, for stock (and even low pressure boosted) power OEM radiator is more than adequate.

ThierryIsAble · 07-30-2014, 09:36 PM

Thanks for the quick responses!
It will be a daily driver with regular track use.

Hawk77FT · 07-30-2014, 09:59 PM

Why not both? You can get a water to oil cooler kit (Cusco, factory Forester , Robispec, etc)

I was debating whether I should go Water or air cooled and decided to go water.

Poodles · 07-31-2014, 02:09 AM

Oil is the only thing actively cooling the reciprocating parts in the motor, meaning it's actually more important than the coolant.

calmtigers · 07-31-2014, 04:17 AM

This is actually what I was going to ask, I do a decent amount of stop/go traffic driving and freeway stuff so I was wondering if this would help / extend the life of the car

Guillaume · 07-31-2014, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThierryIsAble

It will be a daily driver with regular track use.

That's pretty much my use too. I think the best bang for buck in that area is the Forester oil cooler: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50427

If, once you've installed a cooler, you feel the need for a bigger radiator you can still upgrade it. With my otherwise stock engine, I do not find it necessary at all, even on track. Both oil and water temps stay well within acceptable ranges.

rs999 · 08-01-2014, 07:41 AM

The radiator doesn't cool oil as well as the engine?

My GTI has the stock radiator and upgrade FMIC. I've done several track runs and autox's and never had an issue with oil temps.

Shady195 · 08-01-2014, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs999

The radiator doesn't cool oil as well as the engine?

My GTI has the stock radiator and upgrade FMIC. I've done several track runs and autox's and never had an issue with oil temps.

If I recall many other posting it has to do with how sealed up the engine bay is. Between the skid plates on the bottom of the car as well as the rubber seals etc on the hood the engine compartment traps heat quite well. It's especially apparent with boosted applications.

Sportsguy83 · 08-01-2014, 09:34 AM

Best bang for buck is oil cooler. Cooling oil is an issue even on stock cars. Upgraded Rad is really not that important until you go to FI or are hard core tracking it.

Decay107 · 08-01-2014, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sportsguy83

Best bang for buck is oil cooler. Cooling oil is an issue even on stock cars. Upgraded Rad is really not that important until you go to FI or are hard core tracking it.

Hell, I'd even draw that line at FI AND hardcore tracking it. I'm N/A with a giant exhaust manifold that passes pretty close to the radiator and I've still never seem the water above 212 while I'm trackng

07-30-2014, 07:55 PM	#1
ThierryIsAble Back in Black Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: Volvo S60 T6 AWD/ VW GTI PP Location: Philly Area Posts: 26 Thanks: 20 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Oil Cooler vs. High Performance Rad Hi everyone! I had a question about which would keep the engine cooler for the money: an oil cooler or a high performance radiator. Which would you prefer? As a reference, I was looking at the Mishimoto oil cooler and radiator. Any info appreciated! __________________ If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium.

07-30-2014, 08:44 PM	#4
Decay107 Turning is for Nerds Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: 35 characters is not enough Location: PDX Posts: 1,974 Thanks: 836 Thanked 1,259 Times in 717 Posts Mentioned: 186 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Oil cooler definitely, for stock (and even low pressure boosted) power OEM radiator is more than adequate. __________________ My build thread / journal / evidence for warranty claim denial Motorcycle build thread

07-30-2014, 09:36 PM	#5
ThierryIsAble Back in Black Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: Volvo S60 T6 AWD/ VW GTI PP Location: Philly Area Posts: 26 Thanks: 20 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks for the quick responses! It will be a daily driver with regular track use. __________________ If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium.

07-31-2014, 04:17 AM	#8
calmtigers Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2014 Whiteout TRD FR-S 6MT Location: Fresno / DTLA Posts: 928 Thanks: 628 Thanked 376 Times in 214 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	This is actually what I was going to ask, I do a decent amount of stop/go traffic driving and freeway stuff so I was wondering if this would help / extend the life of the car __________________ "I love dinosaurs so much that I’ve based my life on burning as much black melted dinosaur flesh as I can on a daily basis...even the screaming sound of prehistoric reptilians being burnt through any of the classic Japanese four cylinders gives me great joy."

08-01-2014, 07:41 AM	#10
rs999 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: VW MK6 GTI \| 13 Mustang GT Location: Pungo Posts: 212 Thanks: 223 Thanked 64 Times in 42 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The radiator doesn't cool oil as well as the engine? My GTI has the stock radiator and upgrade FMIC. I've done several track runs and autox's and never had an issue with oil temps. __________________ SOLD FR-S Build \| MK6 GTI Build \| I might be getting another FR-S

07-30-2014, 08:09 PM	#2
14BRZ Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2014 BRZ, 08 CBR600RR Location: Corona, California Posts: 124 Thanks: 12 Thanked 73 Times in 29 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	http://www.ft86club.com/forums/search.php

07-30-2014, 09:59 PM	#6
Hawk77FT Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: GTS 86 Location: Australia Posts: 989 Thanks: 873 Thanked 476 Times in 272 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Why not both? You can get a water to oil cooler kit (Cusco, factory Forester , Robispec, etc) I was debating whether I should go Water or air cooled and decided to go water.

07-31-2014, 02:09 AM	#7
Poodles Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2015 Series.Blue Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,781 Thanks: 88 Thanked 781 Times in 481 Posts Mentioned: 16 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Oil is the only thing actively cooling the reciprocating parts in the motor, meaning it's actually more important than the coolant.

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