[Baddawg53]

I'm kind of at a loss and looking for some opinions on why this setup didn't work.

As virtually everyone that drives on track can attest to, my oil temps hover around 285-290 degrees. After reading reviews from this forum and looking around, I removed the OEM oil cooler to keep heat out of the coolant, and replaced the aux radiator with the PWR cooler. I installed improved racings 215 degree thermostat and adapter plate and plumbed it all up with 10AN lines.

After getting back on track, I saw oil temps average around 290-295. Kind of surprised by this I started making calls to improved racing and PWR to get help. Unfortunately neither company can come up with any theories. The thermostat tested good, the lines are clear and now I can't come up with any ideas why this setup isn't working. Ambient temps were not high, maybe 80 degrees.

Hoping someone here may have some insight, but I'm doubting it because every post on here I've seen has been tremendously positive. If you have any ideas on this I'm all ears!!

[SOCAL.M6.ZLE]

Hey buddy, looks like you purchased the right stuff... so the fix should be easy. I am sure you have checked everything 3 times by now, but a few questions if I may.

1. Have you double checked your oil level, and assuming it's good, how much total oil did the system take after the cooler was installed? Should be near 12 quarts.
2. Have you confirmed that the oil flow is going in the same direction? as the thermostat is directional.
3. Assuming you have, and the plumbing is directionally correct, can you confirm that the PWR cooler is getting fluid? Perhaps you can take the surface temp of the cooler using an IR gun before and after the thermostat should have opened? Example (when you oil is at 180F the cooler should be much cooler than that after driving) but when the oil reads 230F and you pull over, the IR should read near 22-230F...
4. What weight oil are you running?
5. Lastly, how has you oil pressure been before and after the install (hot idle vs crusing)

[Baddawg53]

Good questions!!

I believe I was actually over 12 quarts, closer to 13. I run mobil 1 0w50 racing oil. The plumbing was in the correct orientation, and improved racing stated that while not as efficiently, it will still function if plumbed backwards. PWR stated the cooler is non-directional. The oil pressure I didn't deeply investigate but I did look quickly and saw it was consistent with what I had previously. I'll do a deeper dive into that data

I did not measure with an infrared camera, this is a good idea and I'll do this my next track day. I'm solely going by the gauge on the dash and the data from the AIM solo DL.

[SOCAL.M6.ZLE]

Originally Posted by Baddawg53

Good questions!!

I believe I was actually over 12 quarts, closer to 13. I run mobil 1 0w50 racing oil. The plumbing was in the correct orientation, and improved racing stated that while not as efficiently, it will still function if plumbed backwards. PWR stated the cooler is non-directional. The oil pressure I didn't deeply investigate but I did look quickly and saw it was consistent with what I had previously. I'll do a deeper dive into that data

I did not measure with an infrared camera, this is a good idea and I'll do this my next track day. I'm solely going by the gauge on the dash and the data from the AIM solo DL.

Do you have something like this you can use to make sure the thermostat is opening, and hot oil is circulating into the cooler after 215F ?

[Baddawg53]

I put the thermostat in the oven and watched it close when it got hot, it's functioning correctly. I don't have that particular one, I have a flir camera that can hook into my iPhone, I'll use that and see if I can see the oil flow. My biggest hurdle is that the car is non op, not road legal so it's tough to test.

[Racerbox77]

I would think you would need a larger cooler or put one on the other side? When I did my C6z06 I had 2 coolers that size.

[Baddawg53]

Originally Posted by Racerbox77

I would think you would need a larger cooler or put one on the other side? When I did my C6z06 I had 2 coolers that size.

I might be that anomaly that needs that, seems as though literally everyone else that installed this one has had the expected results.

At this point, I'm leaning towards installing the OEM cooler and running this off a sandwich plate, having both. Which is kind of along the lines of what you're saying.

My hope was to keep the heat of the oil out of the coolant, but seems I don't have that option.

[calypso50kid]

Is this on a SS or a ZL1? air flow is key, if its on a SS where did you put the cooler? are you getting enough airflow and do you good enough to evacuate the air after its gone through the cooler?

[Baddawg53]

Originally Posted by calypso50kid

Is this on a SS or a ZL1? air flow is key, if its on a SS where did you put the cooler? are you getting enough airflow and do you good enough to evacuate the air after its gone through the cooler?

This is an SS. This cooler is designed to replace the auxiliary radiator. I tend to agree that it's probably airflow related because everything else seems to be working.

The OEM ducting from the bumper through the fender liner is in place, I do run a 315 front tire and the fender is vented. If you have a suggestion on how to test the airflow without a wind tunnel I'd love to hear it.

[Baddawg53]

Just an update, I installed a lower temperature thermostat and it made no difference in my track oil temps, they're still 285-290.

I had hoped to keep the oil and coolant separate however I don't think I have much choice but to reinstall the OEM cooler and run that as well as the aftermarket oil cooler. I'm pretty disappointed in the results here, giant waste of time and money.

[SOCAL.M6.ZLE]

Hey Mark, I was thinking, have you sent your FLIR images to PWR yet? I was looking at them again and thinking that the "cold" side of the cooler should still be showing a heat gradient from bottom to top, and it doesn't. Perhaps as a last effort you should share those images with PWR and request a replacement cooler to test again. there might be a unique manufacturing issue with your cooler that is not allowing oil to pass through the bottom of the cooler. Just a thought.

[Baddawg53]

Interesting thought there, when I looked at the temp differential left side vs right side I assumed it was divided down the middle. That's a good idea, I'll get some clarity on that.

[That1guy_tim]

Where did you mount the cooler ?

[Baddawg53]

The cooler replaces one of the auxiliary radiators. I put it on the driver's side.