Oil Cooler and Pressure Drop
#1
Oil Cooler and Pressure Drop
I'm running a Melling High Volume oil pump in my LS3. I currently have a large oil cooler unsure of capacity (radiator mounted and size, just thin) with -8AN lines. Would the standard LS style oil pump be able to utilize this setup without a major pressure drop or would I need to go with a dry sump system for a cooler like this?
#2
TECH Senior Member
The size and capacity of an oil cooler and its lines should have no effect on oil pressure, UNLESS they are too small, which would restrict it. A stock pump would be plenty, as high volume pumps are not advised for most non-VVT/DOD LS engines. Too much volume can be as bad as not enough.
#3
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (11)
Actually, any time you induce an angle (bend) into a line, the pressure will drop accordingly. My only concern on your setup would be the -8 being a little on the small side for oil. Try monitoring the pressure thru the cooler, and with the line bypassing the cooler and see what the diff is...
#4
Actually, any time you induce an angle (bend) into a line, the pressure will drop accordingly. My only concern on your setup would be the -8 being a little on the small side for oil. Try monitoring the pressure thru the cooler, and with the line bypassing the cooler and see what the diff is...
#5
FormerVendor
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Oil Pan Modification For Flow Increase
Hi Bandit, the problem is NOT the Cooler & Lines, it is the Oil Pan Passage Way Design.
Remove the Oil Filter Insert, drill the Bypass Hole.
Sure, the cooler will NOT be full flow though it will still cool the oil.
Lance
Remove the Oil Filter Insert, drill the Bypass Hole.
Sure, the cooler will NOT be full flow though it will still cool the oil.
Lance
#6
TECH Enthusiast
I think a number 10 line might help - the block oil passage hole is 13mm that is about a number 10 line. The bypass block in the Corvette style Z51 line has a 5/16 hole or so thus the number 8 line they use can becomes a number 10 when the bypass opens up. Not all the oil gets cooled but the flow is made up with the bypass.
#7
LS1Tech Sponsor
Just to throw out a number, at full operating temp, the pressure drop across -10AN lines and a typical oil cooler will probably be around 5-6 PSI at 7 GPM (high RPMs). At low RPMs, the pressure drop will be proportionally lower. We definitely recommend running -10AN lines as -8AN lines are more restrictive and will have a few more PSI of pressure drop.
The oil pump is a positive displacement pump, so flow volume won't be affected by the back pressure. The only affect adding additional restriction will have is that the pump will use more engine horsepower and there will be a bigger pressure drop across the system.
Hope that makes sense.
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#8
TECH Addict
If your using a oil thermostat (MOCAL for example) the pressure drop issues are partially mitigated, since it controls the amount of the oil-flow based on temp that gets to bypass through the cooler.. If you think about it, how big is the pickup tube for the pan to pump? it can't move more oil than that size allows, and its suction, not nearly as efficient as the pressure side...
If you've ever blown a oil filter on a dyno run, the factory pump will empty the sump like a flash bulb going off, literally about a second or two and the engine is empty.. So volume / pressure shouldn't be a problem IMHO,, I usually put a T in the hot at both sides of the cooler for initial startup to attach a pressure gauge to to see the overall and drop across the cooler...
If you've ever blown a oil filter on a dyno run, the factory pump will empty the sump like a flash bulb going off, literally about a second or two and the engine is empty.. So volume / pressure shouldn't be a problem IMHO,, I usually put a T in the hot at both sides of the cooler for initial startup to attach a pressure gauge to to see the overall and drop across the cooler...
#9
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
You may find this an interesting read:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ting-size.html
I am running -10 on my C5 as is another friend. We're both on Melling pumps.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ting-size.html
I am running -10 on my C5 as is another friend. We're both on Melling pumps.