Date:         Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:02:14 -0400
Reply-To:     Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: I am considering installing an auxiliary oil cooler
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Some of you have mentioned wanting to hear about the bus boys cooler setup
from someone that has one, so I'll chip in a bit more although I've already
mentioned that I have one and like it.

The bus boys kit may be more flexible, but also a bit more difficult to
install, though this is speculation since I haven't seen the tencentlife
kit.  I ordered all of the parts and pieces from the bus boys site (adapter,
thermostat, hose, cooler etc.) and had no problems with them on the
purchase.  I did receive instructions on how to plumb the lines as I recall,
but the mounting of the cooler and routing of the hoses etc. was pretty much
up to me.  They may have made a recommendation (don't remember) but I had my
own ideas anyway and mounted the cooler/ran the lines in a custom manner.
My cooler is installed in the space above/near the transmission on the oil
filter side of the engine and this would be a really difficult install
without dropping the engine and tranny.  I had the engine and tranny out so
I was able to mount the cooler etc. easily and then simply connect the lines
when the engine went in so it was easy for me.

If you don't want to figure out where to put the cooler and such maybe the
ten cent life setup makes all of those decisions for you?  I can say that
the quality of the hoses/hardware/cooler etc. and the service from bus boys
were all great and that I'm really happy with the purchase.  It is obviously
a sturdy cooler when you look at it and I have a lot of confidence in it.
I'll keep using the Bus Boys kit on my vans for as long as it's available.
I like the flexibility, price and quality.

I would not consider running an air cooled vanagon without one,, no way.  On
a water cooled it is less of a priority in my opinion, but still worth it in
many situations.  All of these stock engines get worked pretty hard pushing
these Westies and all of our gear at or near current highway speeds.
Combine that with high ambient temps and something is going to get hot.

I really like having an oil temp and oil pressure guage.  I don't pay
attention to them a lot around town, but when it is hot and I'm pushing it
on the highway it is really comforting to know exactly whats going on
(cylinder head temp, air fuel ratio, tach and other guages help too).
Anyway,, the oil will climb pretty high on hot South Eastern days.  I've
also got an electric radiator fan on my oil cooler and when the oil temp
gets up around 210-220 I hit the fan.  Don't get to do it often, but it's
great to be able to do it, and keep rolling without stressing out.  Usually
on these hot days the head temps are fine on my van,, the oil temp is the
only one that keeps climbing.  I must confess that I'd like to have a temp
sender in my tranny oil too,, maybe I'll add it one of these days.  Never
had a real issue but I wonder what the temp swings are in the gearbox too??

When the weather isn't piping hot the oil hovers around the 180 mark,, this
is true the large majority of the time.  That is the temp of the oil cooler
thermostat so basically the oil gets to 180 and then stops due to the
external oil cooler.  Only if it's pretty cold out with the oil temp have
trouble getting to 180..

Hope that helps some folks a bit.

Jonathan Poole
'83 AC Westy