pityocamptes

This is not for a Honda (though I do own one) - thought you guys might be more savvy when it comes to running these. Anyways, I installed the Earl's thermostatic engine oil cooler adapter and cooler, lines, etc. this weekend. The orientation of the sandwich adapter IN and OUT nipples are horizontal to ground level. The cooler ports are also oriented this way.

I was wondering about when do the lines of the cooler fill? Do they fill when the thermostat in the sandwich opens, or do they prime prior to this? The reason I ask is that I am running a high volume oil pump and need to figure out if I need to add additional oil - don't want to run the sump dry. Any info on this, and how to add the appropriate amount of oil is appreciated.

Also, due to the orientation of the cooler and sandwhich ports (IN sandwich port is connected to the top of the oil cooler, and the OUT port is attached the to the lower port of cooler) will oil from the cooler drainback into the crank when the engine is shut off? Also, any issues with this when changing oil - getting all the oil out?

Any additional info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

pityocamptes

Bump... anyone?

DVDr

iTrader: (2)

what size is your oil cooler. Account for that.

the thermostat will not let any oil through till temperature is reached.

different manufactures have different methods in priming the oil cooler, but best is to fill your oil. and check once oil operating temperature is reached.

I did this with my rx7. they have big oil coolers, once a year I would clean and drain it. fill oil to level , drive around till temperature is reached, then add more oil.

cheapskate

The earls thermostat is never fully closed. Even when its "closed" it allows ~10% of the oil flow to bypass the thermostat and flow to the heat exchanger. The reason for this is to slowly warm the oil in the lines and the heat exchanger so that when the thermostat opens it doesn't shock the engine with cold oil. You will observe this if you start the car and let it idle for 15 minutes, you will feel the line to the heat exchanger start to slowly build heat while the return line remains cool.

When I started my car after the install I estimated that I increased the capacity by 1 quart so I added an extra quart to start with. I idled the car up to temp a couple times while keeping an eye on the temp and pressure. I did a couple short drives after that and checked my oil level.

As far as oil drainback, it will depend on how you routed the lines. I made my thermostat the high point of the system so the heat exchanger will always remain full when the car is shut off.

For oil changes, I just leave the oil in the heat exchanger. It accounts for 1 quart out of 5.

sowellman88011

Im about to install a mocal thermal sandwich plate does anyone know if it also lets some flow thru like the earls? I was planning on connecting the return side to the sandwich then putting a quart into the feed hose to atleast fill the cooler.

Also does the oil go thru the cooler before or after it goes thru the filter?

whitesihatch

good to know, thanks.

pityocamptes

Thanks. I did notice a small amount of heat in the hoses. So technically, if the sandwich allows 10% through, it has already primed (filled) the lines and cooler, correct? The cooler INLET and OUTLET connectors are horizontal to the ground. The cooler sits higher than the sandwich adapter. The sandwich adapter INLET and OUTLET connectors are also oriented horizontal to the ground... So would I have a significant amount of drain back? I assume that I should check the oil amount a few seconds after shutdown (allow oil to drain out of head), to get close to proper level? The vehicle in question is a 1974 IHC Scout II...

pityocamptes

Not sure on how the Mocal operate. I know I looked at those before getting the Earl's. I believe, if I remember correctly, when looking at the Earl's sandwich plate adapter that the oil passes through the threaded insert that screws into the filter, and then exits out into the adapter/cooler. So all the oil should hit the filter FIRST before going to the cooler and then the block.

cheapskate

Whether you have air in the heat exchanger or not will depend on how the lines are connected. If the heat exchanger is filled from the bottom port it will purge the air out. If it is filled from the upper port air could stay trapped in it for some time.

If the thermostat plate is mounted lower than the heat exchanger the oil will drain back. I would suggest trying to route the lines with a high point between the thermostat plate and the heat exchanger to keep the exchanger full while only allowing a small portion of the lines to drain.

NoXqcsMotosport

I have the Mocal thermostat it opens up at 180 degrees, my temps never go above 210 in a 30 minute track day with the 19 row oil cooler.

here are some pics
https://noxqcsmotorsports.wordpress....nter-upgrades/