Plumbing an oil cooler onto the 4A084

[buster]

Now that I am the proud owner of an oil cooler, I thought I'd just plumb it into the oil filter lines, and I would be done

Then, I stopped to think that there might be right and wrong ways of doing it.

I picked a spot to mount it on the cage where the prop suction will get a full shot at it.

I notice the bottom oil filter port on the engine is marked "out". From there on, I would only be guessing how to route hoses correctly.

I could use some input about that, and also the best place to put a temp. sender unit, and what is the ideal, and Max. reading?

Thanks,
Dave

[Papee]

I think the location of the oil temp is up for debate but myself, I would want it where you get the hottest temp. I didn't put one on since I have no cooling problems. I put on a oil pressure gauge.

I just got back from camp, I was there for three days. We put on a lot of hours and had no problems the whole weekend. I filled the tank up, 12 gals and still had some left, not much though. I'm waiting until I go out again to fill it up and see how much I used. My digital hour meter only works at random so I'll have to wait until the next time it decides to work to see how many hours I have on it now.

[buster]

Papee,

I haven't had any cooling problems that I know of either. The thing that persuaded me to get an oil cooler is when Chuck mentioned that "heat wears out parts" Besides that, I guess I enjoy fiddling with the boat, as much as driving it, strange as that might seem

I monitor the CHTs, which have stayed ok, (under 250*) but I really have no idea how hot my oil is. I think it's worth some effort to insure that the engine will last a good long time

I also have an oil pressure gauge, in fact I have two. One of them is placed so I can easily watch it if I start the engine while standing beside it on the trailer.

Where is the hottest oil on the engine? My guess is at the "out" oil filter port.

Thanks, Dave

[Papee]

I would say the hottest would be on the output. I am putting on a cooler but... I have to get another one. OOPS I also change my oil often, hmmm I guess a cooler would be even easier to change the oil. I know as soon as I buy one a buddy will tell me that he has one laying around

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster,

Hmmm.... I remember "something" about "in" and "out" being mislabeled on the 4A084. It seems like what I remember is that they are labeled from the perspective of the oil filter, not the engine.

I may be wrong about that though. It sure as heck wouldn't be the first time I was wrong.

But, assuming that I do remember correctly ( ), that would mean that the oil line labeled "in" on the 4A084 block goes to the inlet of the oil filter, and I'd think that it'd be the hottest.

It's raining like cat's and dog's fighting now, or I'd go out and try to figure it out. It shouldn't matter a whole lot, but it shouldn't be too hard to figure out either.

But since this thread is "about" oil coolers, I have a question about oil coolers to throw out there.

There are generally two kinds of oil coolers. One I call plate and frame. The other I call single pass. I know that we may all have different ideas and names, so I'll try to post some random Ebay pictures.

This is what I've always called a plate and frame oil cooler. :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HI-PERFO ... ccessories

This is what I've always called a single pass oil cooler:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... MEWAX%3AIT

I know that my terminology may be misleading, so that's why I've posted the pictures. In what I call a single pass cooler, the oil makes a single pass. (The oil flow doesn't split up to go through the cooler).

But which style would be the best for a 4A084 oil cooler? My feeble mind thinks that the single-pass style has some advantages.

Let's hear what you guys think.

Thanks,

Duane

[chuckitt]

Here is a picture of Ron's Oil cooler. It is a small transmission oil cooler. He added it to help keep the temp down.
[attachment=1:1n5v6yq9]013.JPG[/attachment:1n5v6yq9]
[attachment=0:1n5v6yq9]001.JPG[/attachment:1n5v6yq9]
If these don't show up good, I will look for some more.
On one boat, we used the small chrome B&M Supercooler.
Thanks, Chuck

[buster]

Duane,

I had not heard about the in and out oil ports being backwards on the 084. I will check mine out with my brand new point and shoot thermometer next time I start the engine. I think the oil cooler will work best if hooked directly to the hottest port.

My guess as to the best style cooler is the "plate and frame". After all that is how most car and truck radiators have been made for many years. The one I choose is eBay item #230487542791. (I don't know how to insert those fancy superlinks). I admit my purchase was influnced by the cost.

Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Chuck,

Thanks for posting those pictures of Ron's oil cooler. That is a fine example of what I'd call a single pass oil cooler.

Duane

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster,

I've looked at Ebay item 230487542791, and I can't see any reason why it wouldn't work well. I guess that ANY oil cooler is better than NO oil cooler. Make sure that you don't take my comment the wrong way. I see nothing wrong with it, O.K.?

The plate and frame style has been used in auto radiators for a LONG time.

I was only asking because, well you know how I am about things.

I guess that I was just wondering why they make 2 completely different styles.

Duane

[buster]

Duane,

I promise I won't hold your oil cooler preference against ya. Heck, we already got past the big one, Ford vs Chevy didn't we?

I think they make two differenrt styles because, everybody has his own idea. There are other styles also, if you know where to look.

Dave

[buster]

Chuck,

I noticed a second filter on Rons boat picture. Is that an extra oil filter? It looks bigger than any fuel filter I have ever seen

Thanks,
Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster,

Naw, we ain't past the Ford/Chevy thing yet. I've been letting it slide for now, because I wasn't able to get you to move from the dark side. But you'll come over one of these days. I've still got hope that you'll see the error of your ways.

BTW, that second filter on Ron's boat was a fuel filter/water separator. That deserves a thread all on it's own.

Let us know how the oil cooler works out.

As you'd guess, I'm still leaning toward the single pass style...

Here's what I'm interested in for now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... MEWAX%3AIT


Thanks,

Duane

[buster]

Duane,

That cooler should work out good. Good price too.

As for moving me back to the Chevy side, been there done that, got the tee shirt. Save your breath, it ain't gonna happen

Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster,

I "almost" ordered that cooler, but then I decided to browse around their web-site a little.

Here is what they had prominently posted:

IMPORTANT NOTES
1. DO NOT use transmission oil coolers for engine oil applications. Engine damage may result due to flow restrictions.

I'll learn more before I order.

Thanks,

Duane

[buster]

After reading your last post, I rechecked the auction description for my cooler. It reads "suitable for engine or tranny". I wonder if it is different than the one you are looking at?

Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster,

I went back to look at the cooler that you had ordered. It's spec's seem to be fine.

You should be good to go with that style oil cooler.

The single pass (also called a tube and fin) cooler that I was thinking about is the one that had the warning.

I just knew that there HAD to be a difference, now maybe we know...

Duane

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster,

I'm still trying to learn more about oil coolers. Specifically the differences between tube and fin, (which I incorrectly called single pass oil coolers) and stacked plate oil coolers.

I ran across this:

http://www.engineoilcooler.com/

It has some interesting info, which may be more relevant that some other places. The VW engine is much more similar in size and style to a 4A084 than some of the other sites were.

Just thought it may be interesting to you and others.

Edit:

On another site I learned that this is the recommended size tube and fin oil cooler for a 150 HP engine.

Coil size: 3/4" x 7-1/2" x 12-1/2"

http://www.perma-cool.com/Catalog/Cat_page07.html

Well, we hardly have 150 HP do we? I figure that ANY oil cooler should just about work on a 4A084.

But like Papee, I still wonder if we need an oil cooler at all. The search for information goes on...

Duane

[buster]

Duane,

Too much information

It will be a bummer if I find out my cooler works so well that my engine won't get to a proper operating temp.

If that happens, I will be looking for a reason to blame you

Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster,



Maybe you need one of these remote oil thermostats as well:

http://www.perma-cool.com/Catalog/Cat_page14.html

Or you can just blame me. It's up to you.

Now if I lived way up Nawth, and I planned to operate in the cold, I'd be a little more concerned about not getting the engine up to proper operating temp.

Fortunately, I do not plan to operate (also spelled WILL NOT operate) when its that darned cold.

But back to whether a 4A084 NEEDS an oil cooler. I'm still not 100% convinced that we even need an oil cooler. However, we have removed the cooling shroud, and the fan, etc., so its PROBABLY a good idea. Especially since I plan to do much (almost ALL) of my running in the really warm weather of NC.

Having said all of this, I have ordered this Ebay item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... MEWNX%3AIT

The price was right, the fittings were right, etc., etc.

I'll mount it and then can experiment.

Thanks,

Duane

[buster]

Duane,

I think I'm gonna "rough it", and get by without a oil temp thermostat. If all else fails, I can use the tried and true Minnesota trick. That would be putting cardboard in front of the radiator to get more heat


Since you ordered an oil cooler not designed for engines, I guess that means you're gonna install an AT into your boat huh?

I think it'll work out ok for ya anyway

Dave