What would improve overall/global cooling more: Oil Cooler or Performance Radiator? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

fooddude · 04-09-2014, 06:11 PM

Let's say, you aren't the richest person in the world, and you would like to get your 1st high performance cooling modification part, and can get only 1 part.

Which would you buy first and which would help the most in global/overall engine cooling (both oil and coolant/water temperatures)...?

...an oil cooler, or a new aftermarket plug-n-play/drop-in radiator (ie: Koyo, Mishimoto, etc.)?

From what I've read(correct me if I'm wrong), the water/coolant temperatures don't really get super hot at the track. On the other hand/end however, some people said that the oil temperatures get hot sometimes during hard laps.

Obviously, an aftermarket radiator addresses the water temps first(which aren't the first concern, as the oil is more of a priority I believe), and would secondarily help the oil temps by bringing the overall engine temps down with the new radiator and cooler water temps.

So, since we need to address the oil temps first, would getting an oil cooler first be the better/smarter choice? ...since an oil cooler would address both the oil temps firstly, and then secondarily and also additionally bring overall engine temps down and the water temps down as well, from the cooler oil?

CSG David · 04-09-2014, 06:50 PM

Oil cooler.

retrosmiths · 04-09-2014, 06:52 PM

These were my temps during that last track event in Chuckwalla.

gramicci101 · 04-09-2014, 07:05 PM

CARNZ did a DIY to install a Forester XT oil cooler (coolant-to-oil, not air-to-oil) here. I asked him about the idea of using the coolant lines from the throttle body (seen here) instead of running them from the block, and he didn't see a problem with it. I know some turbo kits use those lines, so there may be conflict if you have a turbo.

glamcem · 04-09-2014, 07:15 PM

why not both? I ordered both Koyo Radiator and OEM Oil cooler. I figured the OEM unit utilizes the radiator so by upgrading the radiator capacity you also improve the effectiveness of the oil cooler. This is the case with many sports cars that come with oil cooler from factory (not exactly sure why Subaru didn't include the oil cooler anyways) including Miatas, Corvettes..etc

icemang17 · 04-09-2014, 07:56 PM

why does everyone think the FT86 needs a bigger radiator? I drive mine on track in 108f temps with the AC on sitting in the hot pits....then turn it off on track with windows down...car never-ever waivered....always right in its normal temp spot.

Oil cooler is a good idea, especially with such light weight oils....

mav1178 · 04-09-2014, 09:33 PM

FWIW, last weekend at Chuckwalla:

Peak coolant temp w/ heater to "Hi" but blower on lowest setting was at most ~95C
Peak oil temp w/ Cusco oil cooler (same as Forester kit, sandwich adapter) was 116C

Without this, oil temps of 130-140C would have been reached easily (documented on multiple occasions by other people)

-alex

xwd · 04-09-2014, 10:09 PM

Yeah I think oil cooler is needed even on a stock car in hot temps during track days, really don't know why they didn't include the OEM one from the FA20DIT... Radiator is a FI upgrade.

AZP Installs · 04-13-2014, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemang17

why does everyone think the FT86 needs a bigger radiator? I drive mine on track in 108f temps with the AC on sitting in the hot pits....then turn it off on track with windows down...car never-ever waivered....always right in its normal temp spot.

Oil cooler is a good idea, especially with such light weight oils....

Most OEM gauges are not linear. They have steps and you won't know it's too hot until it's too late.

With that said, I'm going to be doing a coolant and oil temp gauge and then do some road course testing. Then we will put in an oil cooler and retest. Then a radiator and retest.

-Mike Paisan

AZP Installs · 04-13-2014, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retrosmiths

These were my temps during that last track event in Chuckwalla.

What app is that?

-Mike Paisan

Dezoris · 04-13-2014, 01:42 PM

torque the defacto obd2 auto app for android.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZP Installs

What app is that?

-Mike Paisan

AZP Installs · 04-13-2014, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dezoris

torque the defacto obd2 auto app for android.

thanks.

Wasn't sure if it was an actual gauge sensor or if it was just reading OBDII.

-mike

Dezoris · 04-13-2014, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZP Installs

thanks.

Wasn't sure if it was an actual gauge sensor or if it was just reading OBDII.

-mike

I seem to be one of the only ones on the forum that have seen higher coolant temps on the stock radiator. Coolant was always up to 212F in long idling, autox, dyno.

Even after I added the Koyo, same issue, it just would take longer to heat soak but quicker to cool in open air or when fans kicked on.

AZP Installs · 04-13-2014, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dezoris

I seem to be one of the only ones on the forum that have seen higher coolant temps on the stock radiator. Coolant was always up to 212F in long idling, autox, dyno.

Even after I added the Koyo, same issue, it just would take longer to heat soak but quicker to cool in open air or when fans kicked on.

Sounds like a bad T-stat possibly?

-Mike Paisan

04-09-2014, 06:11 PM	#1
fooddude Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: 04 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Reg Cab Location: LA > SF > NYC > OC Posts: 943 Thanks: 556 Thanked 268 Times in 200 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	What would improve overall/global cooling more: Oil Cooler or Performance Radiator? Let's say, you aren't the richest person in the world, and you would like to get your 1st high performance cooling modification part, and can get only 1 part. Which would you buy first and which would help the most in global/overall engine cooling (both oil and coolant/water temperatures)...? ...an oil cooler, or a new aftermarket plug-n-play/drop-in radiator (ie: Koyo, Mishimoto, etc.)? From what I've read(correct me if I'm wrong), the water/coolant temperatures don't really get super hot at the track. On the other hand/end however, some people said that the oil temperatures get hot sometimes during hard laps. Obviously, an aftermarket radiator addresses the water temps first(which aren't the first concern, as the oil is more of a priority I believe), and would secondarily help the oil temps by bringing the overall engine temps down with the new radiator and cooler water temps. So, since we need to address the oil temps first, would getting an oil cooler first be the better/smarter choice? ...since an oil cooler would address both the oil temps firstly, and then secondarily and also additionally bring overall engine temps down and the water temps down as well, from the cooler oil?

04-09-2014, 06:52 PM	#3
retrosmiths Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: Scion FR-S Whiteout Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 962 Thanks: 297 Thanked 241 Times in 137 Posts Mentioned: 22 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	These were my temps during that last track event in Chuckwalla. __________________ 2013 Scion FR-S

04-09-2014, 07:15 PM	#5
glamcem Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2022 BRZ Limited Location: Orange County Posts: 1,553 Thanks: 997 Thanked 607 Times in 404 Posts Mentioned: 32 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	why not both? I ordered both Koyo Radiator and OEM Oil cooler. I figured the OEM unit utilizes the radiator so by upgrading the radiator capacity you also improve the effectiveness of the oil cooler. This is the case with many sports cars that come with oil cooler from factory (not exactly sure why Subaru didn't include the oil cooler anyways) including Miatas, Corvettes..etc __________________ 2022 BRZ Track Build (A New Chapter)

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04-09-2014, 06:50 PM	#2
CSG David Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: S2000 CR Location: California Posts: 2,109 Thanks: 537 Thanked 1,723 Times in 956 Posts Mentioned: 173 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Oil cooler.

04-09-2014, 07:05 PM	#4
gramicci101 Off Topic Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Vegas, baby! Posts: 4,610 Thanks: 2,369 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,170 Posts Mentioned: 43 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	CARNZ did a DIY to install a Forester XT oil cooler (coolant-to-oil, not air-to-oil) here. I asked him about the idea of using the coolant lines from the throttle body (seen here) instead of running them from the block, and he didn't see a problem with it. I know some turbo kits use those lines, so there may be conflict if you have a turbo.

04-09-2014, 07:56 PM	#6
icemang17 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Scion FR-S/ Subaru BRZ Location: Stockton CA Posts: 181 Thanks: 2 Thanked 105 Times in 54 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	why does everyone think the FT86 needs a bigger radiator? I drive mine on track in 108f temps with the AC on sitting in the hot pits....then turn it off on track with windows down...car never-ever waivered....always right in its normal temp spot. Oil cooler is a good idea, especially with such light weight oils....

04-09-2014, 09:33 PM	#7
mav1178 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: 2005 Toyota Camry Location: 91745 Posts: 6,562 Thanks: 493 Thanked 6,097 Times in 3,029 Posts Mentioned: 95 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	FWIW, last weekend at Chuckwalla: Peak coolant temp w/ heater to "Hi" but blower on lowest setting was at most ~95C Peak oil temp w/ Cusco oil cooler (same as Forester kit, sandwich adapter) was 116C Without this, oil temps of 130-140C would have been reached easily (documented on multiple occasions by other people) -alex

04-09-2014, 10:09 PM	#8
xwd Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: 2013 DGM Subaru BRZ (Subie #9) Location: ATL, US Posts: 2,667 Thanks: 123 Thanked 861 Times in 552 Posts Mentioned: 32 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yeah I think oil cooler is needed even on a stock car in hot temps during track days, really don't know why they didn't include the OEM one from the FA20DIT... Radiator is a FI upgrade.

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