Date:         Wed, 10 Apr 1996 12:56:08 EST
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "William R. Kennedy, NJIT CIAT, 201-596-5648" <kennedy@admin.njit.edu>
Subject:      RE: Oil temp

Brian G. asks if an oil cooler could work too well.  Most oil cooler instal-
lations will include a thermostat that sends the oil right back to the
engine, not to the cooler, if the temp is below 170-180.  So worst case
the oil cooler would be "wasted", not overly effective.  Thermostat is
especially important in an installation like mine where the oil cooler is
in front, behind the (81 Vgon) grill, at the end of a LONG run of hose.
Absent the thermostat, engine would try to push 80-100psi cold oil through
the system at startup, likely blowing the cooler or a connection somewhere.

On a cold day, the oil cooler doesn't get used until the van's been running
for a while, but it always gets used; the cooler on the engine can't keep
the temps below 180 even in 10oF. weather, especially at idle.

B.
Wm Kennedy
kennedy@admin.njit.edu