Anyone running an oil cooler? I'm currently doing a complete rebuild of my Duke and I kinda wanna install an oil cooler to avoid excessive heat.
Unless an engine is designed to use oil as a coolant (e.g. old Porsche), adding an oil cooler is not much use.
Some old sports cars had oil coolers to keep the oil below its maximum temperature threshold (e.g. Ferrari 308). Modern oils are a much more tolerant of heat than the old oils. If Pontiac didn't think the car needed an oil cooler back in the day, it is certainly not needed now.
. Depending on the type of driving one does, often an oil cooler is the last thing an engine needs. Engine oil lubricates best when it's reached engine operating temperature. Unless your car has an oil temperature gauge, you're probably unaware that it takes the crankcase oil a heck of a lot longer to warm up than the coolant.
My turbo Subaru STi has a factory oil "cooler", but it's probably better described as an oil temperature moderator. Using a line from the coolant system, this device warms up the crankcase oil when the oil's cold, and then keeps it at the engine's operating temperature (as determined by the coolant system's thermostat).
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 04-08-2025).]
On a 4.9L swap that we did we did run an oil cooler only because the engine was built to run with one and we just used existing connections.. Its probably not needed as I see that option mainly for a vehicle used for towing or racing.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
My 3800 turbo has an oil cooler. The oil filter/pressure relief block, with the flexible pipes fittings for the cooler, came from a 3800 fitted in europeen spec Pontiac Trans Sports. Pontiac thought that the europeans would push the car engine harder, so they fitted it. I race the car, so I think it needs it too.
------------------ "Turbo Slug" - '87 Fiero GT. 3800 turbo. - The fastest Fiero in France! @turboslugfiero https://youtu.be/hUzOAeyWLfM
On a 4.9L swap that we did we did run an oil cooler only because the engine was built to run with one and we just used existing connections.. Its probably not needed as I see that option mainly for a vehicle used for towing or racing.
I left the oil cooler off of my 4.9 swap and modified the oil filter housing per the instructions on Mickey Moose's excellent 4.9 thread. That was 100,000 miles ago....
My 3800 turbo has an oil cooler... I race the car, so I think it needs it too.
And therein lies the difference in need between your car and the OP's...(although I wonder if an oil cooler is even really necessary IF a car's used strictly for drag racing).
Another way to increase oil cooling is to increase the oil capacity of the sump. If I remember correctly Frenchrafe did so when he had to re fabricate his oil pan for extra baffling and he ended up making the pan deeper. I don't recall the amount of extra oil he ended up with?!
Another way to increase oil cooling is to increase the oil capacity of the sump. If I remember correctly Frenchrafe did so when he had to re fabricate his oil pan for extra baffling and he ended up making the pan deeper. I don't recall the amount of extra oil he ended up with?!
Hi Rei. Nearly two litres more oil than before!
------------------ "Turbo Slug" - '87 Fiero GT. 3800 turbo. - The fastest Fiero in France! @turboslugfiero https://youtu.be/hUzOAeyWLfM
