Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Engine Oil Temps

[fortunate1]

Any thoughts out there regarding our lube oil temps? It's 100*F here today, and it feels even hotter. Would the oil (synthetic or conventional type) benefit from a cooler mounted in front of the radiator? I've seen this arrangement on some air-cooled bikes and old VW bugs. Just a thought. Any ideas?

 

[HoleshotHolset]

The OEM cooler that Cummins thoughfully put into our engines does a good job keeping the oil temps happy. It sits behind that great big huge housing that the oil filter housing assembly is part of... .



So long as your coolant temps are under control and the heat exchanger you already have is working properly... a front mounted air/oil cooler isn't really necessary... . unless you are doing something extraordinary with your engine.



It's still a good idea to keep an eye on all temps/pressures, though...



Matt

 

[amsoilman]

fortunate1,

I just returned from a short trip pulling my boat (25 ft cruiser) to a mountain lake. (120 miles) Altitude changed from 4200 ft to just a little over 8,000 ft during the trip. Outside temp was near 95 F most of the way. Engine oil temp never went over 200 F at any time. When it did reach the 200 F mark, I was on a hard pull. (8 percent hill about 5 miles long) Most of the trip, the oil temp was hanging around 180 F.



I do use a Synthetic engine oil (5W-30)



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[fortunate1]

Which Cooler?

Originally posted by HoleshotHolset

"The OEM cooler that Cummins thoughfully put into our engines does a good job keeping the oil temps happy. It sits behind that great big huge housing that the oil filter housing assembly is part of... . "



I thought that cooler runs the engine coolant through it to "cool" the ATF. At least that's what the lines in & out of the cooler on my truck would indicate. Although, I'm not sure how 185*F is supposed to keep the ATF cool.



"It's still a good idea to keep an eye on all temps/pressures, though... "



Total Agreement there. That's always a good idea.



Matt

 

[amsoilman]

Fortunate1,

I believe the cooler you are reffering to is the ATF "water-to-coolant" cooler and is located on the right rear side of the engine block, looking towards the front of the engine. The "air-to-coolant" cooler is located in front of the radiator, on the drivers side. No ATF cooler is mounted inside the radiator, as in most other applications. There is also an "oil cooler" mounted on the engine block, just behind the spin-on oil filter, as Matt said.



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Maybe I should have been more clear as to what I was referring to. I deal with the ATF heat-exchangers so often that I forget that others may not even have them in their truck (manual transmission trucks... ) or even know what it is that they are looking at.



My bad.



Matt

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Originally posted by fortunate1

..... benefit from a cooler mounted in front of the radiator? I've seen this arrangement on some air-cooled bikes and old VW bugs. Just a thought. Any ideas?

What drugs were you taking when you saw a radiator on an old VW bug??



Sorry, just had to say that... . I had a good laugh about it and I need that here at work!



Dan

 

[illflem]

Dan, I've seen many Bugs with an added on radiator type oil cooler, most times without fans, many times mounted on the outside of the body to catch airflow.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

illflem,



Yes, my room mate from college had them on his bugs - don't know if it helped him much since he usually wrecked the thing before the engine went.



The funny part was a cooler mounted in front of a radiator. (radiator typically meaning a antifreeze to air heat exchanger to keep the engine cool).



In college we were actually thinking of mounting a radiator on his bug just for the heck of it - see how many people would catch on that the radiator was useless since the bug is air-cooled



Dan

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Dan_69GTX said: "In college we were actually thinking of mounting a radiator on his bug just for the heck of it - "



Imagine how our country could cut down on the binge drinking if all of these crazy college kids would become gearheads!!



Matt - crazy college kid that parties, gearhead