Been looking to get an oil cooler for the past 2 months since summer gets up to the mid to upper 90's and 100's around here. Trying to see which one has better cooling for the money as of right now funds are pretty tight.

I currently have a ls-v that puts down 200whp and 137tq with a full size aluminum radiator to keep the temps down. It is driven everyday at an average of 60 miles a day in stop N go traffic mix with freeways. Also if the time and funds permits I would like to take it to the tracks too.

There is not much info online about which one is better just manufactures saying that their tube-and-fin style coolers are more efficient than stacked-plate coolers and vise versa.

So Road Racing and Auto X folks I have watch some youtube videos and seems like some of you guys don't really show no love for your motors around the track. I would like to know what are your thoughts about these two styles of coolers? For what reason would you choose one over the other? If you have used both what was your experience and likes and dislikes?

 

Tube-fin better for cooling efficiency but higher pressure drop so choose size wisely. Stacked plate vise versa but more durable.

I run a 25 row stacked plate for a 170whp D16 and it's barely sufficient for 20 min track sessions in 85F. 'Sufficient' based on minimum oil pressure spec running 10W40. I think D's generally run higher oil temps than B-blocks.

 

Majority of the time I'm stuck in traffic so I'll go with a tube-fin design since Ive been finding more and more folks suggesting it for the type of driving I do.

I am considering an oil cooler from perma-cool (kit #10195) they made it pretty simple to pick one out base on the vehicles HP. If anyone have a suggestion on a different type or manufacture, please let me know.

The perma-cool oil cooler flows 3-10 gpm so if the oil pressure drops, how much psi of a drop should I start to worry?

 

A suggestion, I spent the last few months trying to piece together a oil cooler kit that would merit it being installed, but not loosing pressure.

Also remember if your car sees the street ( aka not a racecar only ) a thermostat would help alot. Once pieced together ( the perma cool kit is the cheap part, the mocal thermostat adds another $ 110-200 ) . ( all in all a descent package would cost around $ 600-800 ).

So I opted for the water to oil cooler that the early GSR's and Type R motors have.

Definilty wont cool as much as the air option, but cheaper, and reliable. ( I did upgrade from the half core raditor to a full core , so that should keep coolant temps controlled with the added heat )