Do I need an oil cooler?

Hi all,

I've been thinking ahead a little on my 110 v8 conversion. I'm sticking a John Eales 4.6l v8 into it, attached to an r380 box.

Am I correct in thinking that something like the allisport v8 defender rad should provide ample cooling? Do I also need an oil cooler, or is this just for auto boxes?

Thanks

Adam

The money you're spending I'd say yes - you can get thermostatic ones to prevent overcooling and it'll give you piece of mind - your engine builder would know best though...................

waldamar said:

The money you're spending I'd say yes - you can get thermostatic ones to prevent overcooling and it'll give you piece of mind - your engine builder would know best though...................

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Thanks chap. I'll ping Mr Eales an email and see what he says. Just had a chat with his wife, and she's given me the number of radiator place in cov which they used to use, so I'll follow the rad angle up too.

oil cooling is a little bit of a dark art to me at the moment... like fuel systems. Just something I've never thought about. I assumed that the rad would provide all the cooling the engine needed, and the oil would be cooled indirectly in the engine because of the water flow.

ok, just spoke with JJ radiators. they generally do a re-core service with this sort of thing. I think they've done upgraded 3.9 rangie stuff in the past, where they've been given an old 3 core standard rad and they've modified it as a 4 core.

sounds to me like something along the allisport lines will do just fine in which case. JJ are generally non-ally stuff too. seems like a nice company to deal with though - the chap I spoke with was very open to helping.

Well yes in theory............... but you're building a very nice workhorse that may well be working mighty hard while not moving very fast - so at the very least your leccy fans are going to be spinning. Oil coolers are more belt and braces kind of things - and interestingly your oil can be significantly hotter than your coolant. Are you going to be towing a lot? If so I'd go oil cooler for definite. Good luck - nice build, I'm jealous!

waldamar said:

Well yes in theory............... but you're building a very nice workhorse that may well be working mighty hard while not moving very fast - so at the very least your leccy fans are going to be spinning. Oil coolers are more belt and braces kind of things - and interestingly your oil can be significantly hotter than your coolant. Are you going to be towing a lot? If so I'd go oil cooler for definite. Good luck - nice build, I'm jealous!

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ah useful to know. thanks. yes towing will be in its future.... sheep/pig trailers etc. allisport do a v8 rad with oil cooler option, so unless John comes back with some mega requirement, that might be the way to go.

farmershort said:

ah useful to know. thanks. yes towing will be in its future.... sheep/pig trailers etc. allisport do a v8 rad with oil cooler option, so unless John comes back with some mega requirement, that might be the way to go.

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That would be less vulnerable than a separate one - I'm guessing your engine will have high flow or high pressure oil pump? [TBH I know more about old 3.5s] worth asking your builder.....................

Land Rover seem to think that their 3.9 engine fitted in a Discovery1 needs an oil cooler. It's fitt in the same housing as the coolent radiator.
I'm sure that this is the same with other LR vehicles.

discool said:

Land Rover seem to think that their 3.9 engine fitted in a Discovery1 needs an oil cooler. It's fitt in the same housing as the coolent radiator.
I'm sure that this is the same with other LR vehicles.

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engine oil cooler or transmission cooler for a automatic? Here automatics have a cooler built into the radiator, and a external cooler for engine oil

waldamar said:

That would be less vulnerable than a separate one - I'm guessing your engine will have high flow or high pressure oil pump? [TBH I know more about old 3.5s] worth asking your builder.....................

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hmmmm, this is the bit i hate... going back to John with all of these noob questions which probably should have been asked a long time ago! you also got me thinking about fueling again, on the bench test sheet it lists the 14cux fueling system, but i think that's just a controller isn;t it?

discool said:

Land Rover seem to think that their 3.9 engine fitted in a Discovery1 needs an oil cooler. It's fitt in the same housing as the coolent radiator.
I'm sure that this is the same with other LR vehicles.

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That's useful to know.

and Thor - it's a manual.

Thor1950 said:

engine oil cooler or transmission cooler for a automatic? Here automatics have a cooler built into the radiator, and a external cooler for engine oil

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All my posts are based on UK spec vehicles. The small auto fluid cooler is in front of the rad much like the RRc have.
I haven't a clue on vehicles in other parts of the world, I'm not that interested

No don't feel bad asking questions of your builder - I'm sure he's very good and would want you to be 100% happy - anyway you're paying him! On the old V8's the pump was fairly low pressure and flow rate - I'm sure by the time of your engine it was sorted - just worth asking him if it's upgraded or if it may be a good idea.

waldamar said:

No don't feel bad asking questions of your builder - I'm sure he's very good and would want you to be 100% happy - anyway you're paying him! On the old V8's the pump was fairly low pressure and flow rate - I'm sure by the time of your engine it was sorted - just worth asking him if it's upgraded or if it may be a good idea.

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I believe he's using a 3.9 front cover / oil pump.

If John ran it with 14cux, it is same as you are using (with 4.6 ecu chip). So he fitted the full efi inlet to run it.
Are you having any porting done on your donor inlet?

Oil cooler up to you. I don't bother in 2wd using quality 15/50 but as said, low range and towing, may be prudent. Je will advise. Ask him what oil he recommends too.

Thanks for all the responses chaps.

John came back and advised an oil cooler with 19 rows minimum. he also said the oil lines should be -10 jic or -12 jic. I've no idea what that means yet, but a bit of research should shed some light. He also said I could speak to a company called "Fuel Systems Enterprises" about fuel pumps - either that, or the RRC set up which has previously been mentioned.

19 rows? Assuming that's a separate cooler [and I guess it is] where are you going to mount it? Ideally in full airflow but out of the way of flying debris............................. My question, mostly idle interest, was is the OIL pump on your nice new engine upgraded in any way? If not would it be wise? All this is good to ascertain now - during the build so don't be afraid of asking sensible questions...................... measure twice cut once etc. Good luck

waldamar said:

19 rows? Assuming that's a separate cooler [and I guess it is] where are you going to mount it? Ideally in full airflow but out of the way of flying debris............................. My question, mostly idle interest, was is the OIL pump on your nice new engine upgraded in any way? If not would it be wise? All this is good to ascertain now - during the build so don't be afraid of asking sensible questions...................... measure twice cut once etc. Good luck

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yeah I also asked him about this. He didn't really say anything at all on the subject, so I take it to mean that fuel pump attached is standard and up to the job.... I have asked for some clarification.

Oil pump is the one I'm wondering about - but as I say just idle interest - I trust he is doing you a full build sheet? If for no other reason should you ever want to sell it'll prove what your selling.............................

waldamar said:

Oil pump is the one I'm wondering about - but as I say just idle interest - I trust he is doing you a full build sheet? If for no other reason should you ever want to sell it'll prove what your selling.............................

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sorry, typo on my part... is was the OIL pump I asked him about.

the build sheet doesn't mention the oil pump at all.

farmershort said:

sorry, typo on my part... is was the OIL pump I asked him about.

the build sheet doesn't mention the oil pump at all.

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I'll shut up now! not wanting to cause you extra worry! I'm sure the o/pump is fine - as I said my experience is on old 3.5 motors.

waldamar said:

I'll shut up now! not wanting to cause you extra worry! I'm sure the o/pump is fine - as I said my experience is on old 3.5 motors.

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no no, it's all valubale stuff chap. truth be told, I've not got the experience or knowledge to take on a build like this... but then this is how one gets the experience and knowledge these days.