LS3 oil cooler yes/no?

LS3 oil cooler yes/no?

Author
Discussion

eliot

11,364 posts

253 months

Tuesday 11th October 2011
quotequote all
4packet said:
The LS3 in the current Camaro has an oil to water cooler. It mounts on the left hand side of the sump. LS3 Corvette doesn't have a cooler however.
Which is probably very similar to the VXR8 as they share a similar platform I believe.

ultimass

67 posts

158 months

Wednesday 12th October 2011
quotequote all
Mark, if 65deg is accurate, your oil temp is far too cold. I have been advised by several engine builders that even with modern fully syn oils, they are designed to give max protection at around 90 deg.

Having said that, my car has a LS7 and even with the oil cooler blanked off she still only gets to around 85 deg on normal roads (and takes quite a while to get to that temp).

Martin.

spatz

1,783 posts

185 months

Wednesday 12th October 2011
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In my setup I have a very funny situation. My oil temp sensor is mounted with the pressures sensor in the deck of the V8 and when the engine is running is typically shows 25-30 degress less than actual. If I measure the oil temp with my infrared temp probe it is 85-95 under normal conditions. When I let the car sit a while my oil and water temp probe are reading the same temps, so the oil probe is ok. It has to do with the place I put it and I still have no idea where the cooling is coming from ? I will move the temp probe since I want to read it the correct values where no math is required.


UltimaCH

3,155 posts

188 months

Wednesday 12th October 2011
quotequote all
I would imagine that the running temperature would be the most important, i.e. the temperature of the oil after having passed through the engine and at the scavenge exit of the sump before it passes to the cooler or oil tank.

barriejames

895 posts

178 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
quotequote all
I just wanted to bring this thread back as I find myself asking the same question. I am fitting an LS3 developing less than 500hp and will use the car for road use only (no track) What is the present thinking on the need for a separate oil cooler when using my planned set up? It would be a pain to fit later, but if I wont really benefit from fitting one then I guess it's a possible saving?

chucknorris

Original Poster:

180 posts

162 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
quotequote all
Hi Barrie,

I have had this exact conversation (once again) with a couple of other owners this week, and our unanimous decision is that for a 430-550bhp LS3 Ultima an oil cooler is not needed, and especially if you are not planning to do any track days. Also the factory confirmed that it wasn't worth fitting one for that type of power.
If that doesn't help...I was the one that started this thread and asked the question 4 years ago, the car is being IVA'd in 2 weeks and there's no oil cooler fitted. Not only that, my plan is to fit a cam over the next winter to give me around 550bhp and i'm still not planning to fit a cooler.
I hope that helps

Pete

V8Dom

3,546 posts

201 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
im supprised, but you learn something everyday.

if in doubt, measure oil temp when very hot

dom

deadscoob

2,263 posts

259 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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I think LS's generally run cooler Dom?

I cant see a road only car with a standard or mildly tuned LS would need one.

Racingroj

488 posts

162 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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Just remember guys a dry sump system with radiator isn't just for cooling the oil. It keeps up oil pressure especially when on track during long corners when a wet sump system can starve the engine of oil due to centrifugal force taking the oil away from the pickup.

chucknorris

Original Poster:

180 posts

162 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
But of course the LS3 doesn't have a dry sump as standard, that's the LS7.
There is a guy on here who races off road vehicles (and is also building a GTR) and he uses LS3's in his off roaders. He says that those engines really get put through their paces in more ways than our cars will, but he's still never felt the need to fit an oil cooler to any of them.

V8Dom

3,546 posts

201 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
V8Dom said:
im supprised, but you learn something everyday.

if in doubt, measure oil temp when very hot

dom
as i said above, if in doubt best to check :0)

356Speedster

2,293 posts

230 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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I can attest that LS3s run cool, even in my Can Am, which has less free air-space under the clam. 99% of the time, I'd agree that if you're under 550bhp and not beating the car on track, the oil cooler isn't strictly necessary. However, I chose to add one during my build, but did so with a thermostat. This way, when it's not needed, the cooler isn't in use, but when things heat up, the stat opens and the oil circulates. Best of both worlds and it's there when needed, without me having to think / worry about it.

UltimaCH

3,155 posts

188 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
I imagine that use of an LS3 in a hotter environnement than your "Island will ne hotter. A oil rad and stat would be a safe solution to have in such a case.

barriejames

895 posts

178 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
Excellent thanks for the reply. I am going to leave the oil cooler as it wont see any real hard driving whilst in my ownership

chucknorris said:
Hi Barrie,

I have had this exact conversation (once again) with a couple of other owners this week, and our unanimous decision is that for a 430-550bhp LS3 Ultima an oil cooler is not needed, and especially if you are not planning to do any track days. Also the factory confirmed that it wasn't worth fitting one for that type of power.
If that doesn't help...I was the one that started this thread and asked the question 4 years ago, the car is being IVA'd in 2 weeks and there's no oil cooler fitted. Not only that, my plan is to fit a cam over the next winter to give me around 550bhp and i'm still not planning to fit a cooler.
I hope that helps

Pete