Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:35:56 -0600
Reply-To: GMac999 <gmac999@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: GMac999 <gmac999@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Oil cooler, D-pillar, Syncro - question
In-Reply-To: <20081111013443.D02927F4042@pop6.cfu.net>
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Or another option is to use a cooler with and integrated fan and a
thermostat. I've run them on several VW's, air-cooled that is, and they
work great. Here' one at CB Performance,
<http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=231>. If you do go with
an electric fan cooler, you definitely need to get a thermostat that will
turn it on/off so it doesn't overcool the oil,
<http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=1330>.
Greg
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Max Wellhouse
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008 7:35 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Oil cooler, D-pillar, Syncro - question
Man, 240 on the road and 210 in the city(where you'd think it would be
higher) than on the open road), that';s pretty hot. I know the synthetics
do well in high heat, but I'm pretty old school on oil temp. If I were
you....
1. I'd keep the oil cooler hoses as short as possible to avoid oil pressure
drop.
2. I'd keep the cooler as low as possible so the pump doesn't have to fight
gravity and then all that extra oil overload the sump when the motor is shut
down. You can get one way valves to keep the oil in the line, but then I'd
also have a thermostat in line with a bypass for proper warm up of the
motor(regardless of where you live or what time of year itis).
3 Our concerns about adding heat tot the fuel lines may or may not hold
water, but ANY extra heat in the engine compartment isn't good. My
suggestion is to build a separate inlet on the driver's side with an
aftermarket air scoop and get a heating and cooling shop that makes custom
duct work build you a box for the cooler to get nothing but outside
air(yeah, you'll have to cut on the rear quarter panel, but it's more than
worth it) so the incoming airflow goes through the scoop, then over the oil
cooler, and then cut another hole in the horizontal surface with and exhaust
ducting to let the hot air flow right out the back of the van. This can
look very sanitary and will add years to your engine's life. YOu could even
rig up an old Rabbit(or Vanagon) fan motor to kick on in town when the oil
gets too hot, but then you're getting into some complicated stuff. In my 79
Bay window bus with dual 44IDF Webers on it, I had this very system and my
oil never got over 210, and that was hauling 2 canoes on top and climbing
I-24 up that 8% grade to Sewannee Tennessee in the middle of August.
YMMV
DM&FS
At 06:46 PM 11/10/2008, Luke Bakken wrote:
>Hello everyone,
>
>Having successfully completed my first newbie vanagon project with this
>list's help, I thought I would move on to #2. My van has a 2.5L Subaru
>engine in it with an oil cooler, however, I don't think the cooler is
>located in an optimal place (up behind the left rear wheel
>well) because on hot days the oil temp can get as high as 240 degrees
>if I'm going on the freeway - around town the temp stays at about 210
>degrees. I have been using synthetic oil as a precaution as well.
>
>What I would like to do is move the cooler to the passenger side
>D-pillar as these two people have done:
>
>http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/subaruvanagon/message/47107
>
>http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=102662
>
>I removed the black plastic air flow box and water trap and everything
>looks OK except for the fact that the metal fuel pipe also runs through
>the area at the bottom of the D-pillar (the van is a Syncro).
>I'm wondering if the presence of an oil cooler here would radiate too
>much heat and create a dangerous fuel situation. If so, where do other
>Syncro owners put their oil coolers to ensure good air flow?
>
>And, while I'm on the subject, what brand of oil cooler do people use?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Luke
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