External oil cooler inside engine bay?!! (with hot Vintage Speed exhaust!!)

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by Jude 33, Aug 26, 2019.

  1. Latest on our new engine & problems with it all getting really hot.....

    The cogs have started turning....

    The mechanic convinced us the better place to put the 72 fin cooler fan was inside the engine bay (where the leisure battery used to go) not under the van, in front of the gearbox as we had planned.

    We are now thinking that the oil pipes are bringing hot engine oil into the upper part of the engine area & the cooler is cooling off but also heating the air in the top half at the same time!!

    This combined with the Vintage Speed exhaust which does create a lot of heat, is why the whole area is getting so hot.

    We are thinking that the 'external' air cooler has to be moved (how gutted we listened to the mechanic?)

    What are you thoughts? Have we worked out how the heat problem works?

    Cheers Jude & John
    Another fun weekend working on the VW
     
  2. Oil coolers need are flowing over them. That's simple physics.
    Your engine bay should be as cool as you can get it.
     
    mgbman likes this.
  3. Faust

    Faust Supporter

    What engine type 4 or 1600 .what's the cause of your engine overheating to warrant the extra cooling?
     
    mgbman likes this.
  4. We had 1600 - limped van back from Dorset after being told engine on way out - got stuck on M25 traffic jam on hot day.
    New lump 1776 - thought it would benefit from extra cooling
    Hope to go Portugal / Spain warmer weather
    Hope not to sit in traffic - but there is so much of it in SE England.
     
  5. It needs to be under the van
    Where it is now the hot air will be getting sucked into the engine cooling fan.

    Above the tinware is supposed to be the cool zone
     
    snotty likes this.
  6. ^this. The cooler won’t be doing much apart from pre-heating the air into the fan.

    And a 1776 doesn’t really need an external cooler. Just disconnect it. And find another mechanic.
     
    theBusmonkey, Dubs and nicktuft like this.
  7. Depends on how you have put it together....my oil cooler started off in a similar place but moved it and placed it under the battery tray until the engine gave up so now it's hanging on the garage wall...
    20150226_172837.jpg
    20150226_172745.jpg
     
  8. Nice battery tray heater ;)!
     
    PanZer likes this.
  9. Don't like my battery getting to cold:D
     
    Gingerbus and snotty like this.
  10. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    The overheating makes more sense. The engine itself is blowing very hot air, the exhaust is a secondary source of hot air.

    The garage was obviously looking for repeat business in engine replacment. They were being lazy .


    Anyway if you have an oil cooler put it outside. Thats mine in a scoop under the bus, the cooler is basically horizontal above the scoop .

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    Thats thin stainless sheet, the cooler is fixed to brackets on the cross member and studding from the floor.
    [​IMG]
     
    PanZer likes this.
  11. As above oil cooler in front of gear box. I had stainless braided lines with proper hydraulic fittings made by a local hydraulic specialist...loads better than normal hose.
    You will need to insulate a short length of hose where it passes between the exhaust manifold(makes a fair bit of difference!)
    I also replaced the main rear tin with a fibreglass version as it wont transfer heat as much as the metal tin.
    We went from @130° to @80° on a normal summers day
     
    Lasty likes this.
  12. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    I have changed to braided stainless sheathed hose since those pictures.
    Because I use a CB Maxi 3 oil pump (no drilling just hacking a late bay rear engine support bar, fitted one to my new engine at Techenders., the oil lines dip below all the exhaust so dont need shielding from hot air.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  13. MIne is in a similar place to @mikedjames

    I have a wire mesh around mine to try and prevent any road debris damaging it.

    My air scoop is just a bit of black corrugated fan hose
     
  14. Seems to me the Vintage Speed exhaust is the cause of excessive heat, which rises up and raises the engine bay temperature higher than it should be.

    I thought most of the vw air cooled vans are driven in hot countries where its hot most of the year. Over here we get a few hot spells during the summer but the rest of the year the ambient temperature is well below 20C.

    I would fit a stock exhaust, which I've got, keep the metal rear tin and stick heat insulation pads under the tin, which I have, and make sure the engine surround seal is perfect and block up any holes in the rear tin so no hot air can enter the engine bay. My engine bay keeps its cool even on those few hot days.

    Another concern I have is if the engine bay is too hot, this would warm the fuel in the carbs and fuel lines and affect carburation.

    My mgb has an oil cooler and its mounted just behind the front grille and before the rad and so gets maximum airflow cooling so does its job.
     

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