What's the verdict on the need of oil cooler?

[TouchMyHonda]

Good read

[Mark Slide Squad]

I'm installing my own DIY kit tonight or tomorrow. It's definitely much cheaper than buying a complete kit like the Perrin, Blitz or Greddy. I used some stuff I had laying around already. You can get a nice Setrab oil cooler core for around $150-$200. The Mocal sandwich plate/spacer kit was $169, and the hoses would run you about $100.

Parts list:

1.) Brand new Trust (Greddy) 13 row core (from another car project/build I am doing)
2.) Earl's Stainless braided hoses with -10 AN fittings
3.) Mocal thermostat controlled sandwich adapter with spacer kit (Part# SP1T-FA20, made specifically for ours cars)
4.) Machined my own oil cooler mounting blocks out of aluminum

I'll do a little install DIY thread on here when I get everything done. I need to get an oil temp gauge sensor for my greddy gauge I already have.

[Hanakuso]

Originally Posted by balance

Cooler oil will result in lower water temp. Even if an oil cooler is located in front of radiator and there is enough space between the oil cooler and radiator, the air will be able to get around the cooler and hit the radiator.

Complete kits offered by tuning companies are nice in that they come with everything including installation instructions, but you can achieve the same by assembling your own kit and save money.

Thanks. I figured the heat coming off the oil cooler would be small for the radiator.

I like the complete kits for less hassle and less chance of a leak or something worse. Hopefully I can get the HKS oil cooler for cheap and get it soon.

[celica73]

I've got to say, all yall are high rollers. When I do this, it will be with a Long/Trucool cooler. They don't look as nice, but are way cheaper and work just fine.

A NASCAR takeoff is also a big savings, but I worry about a used oil cooler.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by celica73

I've got to say, all yall are high rollers. When I do this, it will be with a Long/Trucool cooler. They don't look as nice, but are way cheaper and work just fine.

A NASCAR takeoff is also a big savings, but I worry about a used oil cooler.

Tru-cool's are fine IMO. I like the 2" core and the mounting style of the Setrab/Mocal more, those items and previous experience are the reasons I have a Mocal cooler.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Parts have been ordered

Assuming it fits, my setup will consist of:
Mocal 19 row 235 cooler (already have this)
Aeroquip SS hose (-10AN) (already have this)
Mocal sandwich plate with spacer
Cheap sandwich plate for oil temp and oil pressure gauges (already have this)
Defi Advance CR gauges, going to have to find a place to mount the control box (already have this)
Assorted Aeroquip -10AN reusable fittings (already have some of these)
Blood from cutting SS hoses (already have, just not relocated to the hoses yet...)
Zip ties
Maybe some AL blocks to make the mounting more stable, going to check spacing first.

Looking forward to your full DIY write-up. Thanks for volunteering! Take lots of pics!

[Dave-ROR]

Some parts sitting in a box


Cooler itself (19 row Mocal 235)


Once I get some other parts in I'll start test fitting this larger cooler (so far everyone else is running a 13 row I believe) and start measure hose lengths, etc.

[Mark Slide Squad]

Ok, put my DIY oil cooler kit in last night. Took me about 3 hours from start to finish, and was taking my sweet time I'm going to do a write up within the next several days hopefully, but here's a sneak preview. The pics aren't the best, and the 90º AN fitting going into the sandwich plate isn't ideal, but it's all I had laying around. Planning on revising that, but it works for now, just not aesthetically pleasing I will be taking the car to the track on Saturday though, so that shall be the real world test!

[Dave-ROR]

I like it That's basically what my setup will look like, except a different cooler obviously.

[Dave-ROR]

Ugh Racer Parts Wholesale is waiting for the sandwich plates to come in stock, they are saying about 1.5 weeks until it will ship so I probably won't have a working setup until early Feb unless I can find a sandwich plate elsewhere. I'll still be test fitting my larger cooler this weekend though just to make sure that part will fit at least

[Mark Slide Squad]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Ugh Racer Parts Wholesale is waiting for the sandwich plates to come in stock, they are saying about 1.5 weeks until it will ship so I probably won't have a working setup until early Feb unless I can find a sandwich plate elsewhere. I'll still be test fitting my larger cooler this weekend though just to make sure that part will fit at least

I ordered mine directly from Mocal in Florida a couple days ago and they had them in stock. Might wanna try calling Mocal directly. Hopefully they got one for ya!

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Mark Slide Squad

I ordered mine directly from Mocal in Florida a couple days ago and they had them in stock. Might wanna try calling Mocal directly. Hopefully they got one for ya!

Damn they are 45 minutes from me and I never even knew that lol I'll call them and then see if RPW will cancel that part of the order

Thanks!!

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Mark Slide Squad

I ordered mine directly from Mocal in Florida a couple days ago and they had them in stock. Might wanna try calling Mocal directly. Hopefully they got one for ya!

Mocal has them. I called RPW back to remove the part from the order but they offered to drop ship it from mocal instead which means sales tax (same as me buying it directly from mocal so I'm fine with that). So now, I should get my parts quicker

Thanks again Mark! BTW I am working with someone on the aluminum standoffs/feet but if that falls through (should know next week hopefully) would you be opposed to making another set?

[Mark Slide Squad]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Mocal has them. I called RPW back to remove the part from the order but they offered to drop ship it from mocal instead which means sales tax (same as me buying it directly from mocal so I'm fine with that). So now, I should get my parts quicker

Thanks again Mark! BTW I am working with someone on the aluminum standoffs/feet but if that falls through (should know next week hopefully) would you be opposed to making another set?

No prob, Dave! If I get enough interested people, I would definitely consider making the aluminum standoffs. All I would need to know is the spacing from hole-to-hole center on your core.