Oil cooling system design

johnnybeetle · #1 February 14th 2006, 17:28

Hello everbody
I have been seaching your site and I find it is a wealt of information. I have been away from the old Dub scene for approx 5 years now. However I have pressed back into service my old bug again.

I have fitted a type4 engine. The spec is 2400cc, mild head job, twin 40,s stock bottom end.
I fitted this engine 2 years ago but have not driven it really since except for the odd day. I fitted 2 oil coolers one behind the front valance and another over the gearbox with a fan.

Anyway on start up the oil pressure is off the gauge 10psi. On the engine warming up the oil pressure starts to drop. Once engine is hot 100 - 110degrees the oil pressure at idle is 2 psi. The hotest I have let the oil temp go is 120. I then trottle off and drive like an old fart at 3000 rpm, until it cools a bit.
Anyway I afraid of doing damage to the engine and am forever watchin the gauges. Is this normal or am I being a jessy.

Any help advice!

LLVWGL · #2 February 14th 2006, 21:50

how are you measuring pressure? my VDO guage/sender read 15-20psi LOW. You will need to test with a mechanical guage to get an accurate reading, then report back if there is still a problem.

**NO_H2O** · #3 February 15th 2006, 01:12

Wht oil are you running? (20w50, 10w40, 30)
Do you have an oil cooler?
Have you tried a different sending unit?

speedy · #4 February 15th 2006, 01:42

Are your oil coolers on a thermostat? in parrallel or in series . if your engine is not highly tuned it should not get up anywere near 120 in british weather, it could be the wrong grade of oil as the post above said
cheers jon

SilverBullet · #5 February 15th 2006, 10:18

2 oilcoolers shouldnt be doing 100-120'c. I have 2 oilcoolers too, from the bas thermostat to the front oilcooler from a merc, then to a setrab cooler with twin fan and back to the engine, 90'c all day, if i push hard max 105'c. I use 20/50 oil and ambient temp at 33'c avg. 2666 T4. Pressure starts at 5bar, warms up to 2bar on idle.

johnnybeetle · #6 February 15th 2006, 11:07

Thanks for the input.
The oil I am using atm is 15w 40. As for the oil cooler layout check out my pic.
I know its a bit sad.

I can only assume there is a problem with the oil flow. The front cooler gets warm on one side. Does it return??? The adapter plate has a standard vw golf filter could this be an issue. This has done my head in for a long time and is the main reason I dont drive it.

Cheers again

speedy · #7 February 16th 2006, 00:01

just a thought, it may be an idea to bypass the front cooler and run with the fan assisted cooler ,if there is a restriction you will require alot more pressure to go all the way to the front of the car and back , see how this works as you will not require the front cooler at this time of year anyway

SilverBullet · #8 February 17th 2006, 03:55

What size pump are you using?

johnnybeetle · #9 February 17th 2006, 12:00

I dont know what size it is but its not standard. Its a steel melling oil pump.
Cheers for the input guys

Andrew Jones · #10 October 1st 2006, 22:14

I may be late on this on but I just wanted to know what the best way to run an external is oil cooler. I am thinking a 600mm from the front. Should I keep the stock cooler too, or run an adapter from the stock area? I have an external oil filter now taped into the case at this point. Should I run one of those sandwich adapters from my oil filter? Do I need a thermostat? I live in the Seattle and the car is 1303 with 1914cc. :shrug:

AJ

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