Date:         Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:46:50 -0800
Reply-To:     Luke Bakken <luke.bakken@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Luke Bakken <luke.bakken@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Oil cooler, D-pillar, Syncro - question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

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