| stock radiator and engine oil cooler cross section [message #296754] |
Sat, 05 March 2016 17:16  |
KB
Messages: 1262
Registered: September 2009
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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I've been trying to understand exactly what we're dealing with in the
stock vs aftermarket oil cooler issue, and why it is advised to
replace the stock cooler after any kind of major engine trouble.
As I understand it, the oil path goes directly from the oil pump to
the oil cooler and, if the filter bypass isn't open, through the filter
to return to the engine. The killer there is if the filter is being
bypassed, any junk gets pumped directly into the engine beginning
with the main bearings. Various things can cause the filter to be
bypassed such as a clogged filter, a weak bypass spring, low oil pressure
either due to engine/pump trouble or, more typically, at initial startup
before the pressure has risen above ~5-6 psi.
Turns out there are a variety of construction techniques for radiators and
oil coolers. The more modern designs are often incredibly complex
and would be equally incredibly difficult to clean. Seeing those,
I can fully understand why engine re-manufacturers void the
warranty if you try to clean the cooler rather than replace it.
However, ours are not modern. As far as I can tell, we're talking about
something like this in our case:
http://www.buyautoparts.com/howto/radiator-break-down-diagram.htm
(Our radiators have the tanks on the sides, like the right-hand diagram.)
If so, the engine oil cooler could be a very simple short tube with a right angle
bend at the top and bottom, a straight section in between, and a bunch
of heat fins on the outside of the tube. I believe that design would be
pretty straightforward to clean.
So (finally) my question: has anybody taken the ends off a stock radiator
and seen what the engine oil cooler actually looks like?
Apologies if this has already been covered; I wasn't able to find anything
when I searched the photo site or forum.
thanks,
Karen
1975 26' yard ornament
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