oil cooler
I removed one, kept one. Both 94 cars. the one I haven't removed yet is coming off soon. The ones GM installed are of 2 types. 3 types if you include the offset body shape of the ones they put in the B bodies. I've read the real effect and intended purpose of the factory ones is to actually heat the oil faster to operating temperature.
The ones that GM put on are not of good quality for the purpose of truly cooling the oil supply. Those should be remotely mounted away from the block. Circle track racing applications place the oil tank on the firewall or fender well, fed by hoses off the oil pump, and linked to an actual radiator-style cooler where fresh air can flow across it. Thereby cooling the oil supply, preserving some oil pressure otherwise lost to heat / thinning.
On street applications of our cars, there's no real good reason to have one. For road racing, other long periods of heat/ stress, probably so.
For thermal management, probably the best thing you can do is go to a lower thermostat and tune the 'fans commanded on' points a little lower to compliment. An oil cooler is probably not a worthwhile investment for the average LT1.
The ones that GM put on are not of good quality for the purpose of truly cooling the oil supply. Those should be remotely mounted away from the block. Circle track racing applications place the oil tank on the firewall or fender well, fed by hoses off the oil pump, and linked to an actual radiator-style cooler where fresh air can flow across it. Thereby cooling the oil supply, preserving some oil pressure otherwise lost to heat / thinning.
On street applications of our cars, there's no real good reason to have one. For road racing, other long periods of heat/ stress, probably so.
For thermal management, probably the best thing you can do is go to a lower thermostat and tune the 'fans commanded on' points a little lower to compliment. An oil cooler is probably not a worthwhile investment for the average LT1.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 11
From: centerville, ohio
Well if you do alot of top speed running or if you have a turboed or supercharged motor I would put an after market cooler like a B&M with the built in electric fan with 1/2" inlet and outlet then use AN fittings with a be cool oil thermostat to regulate the oil temp. Not to mention the added oil capacity.
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i had to remove mine with my ebay longtubes just the other day, but i plan on adding one in the future since i plan on some serious about for more than 1/4 mile at a time
