Discussion
Last summer in southern France I experienced overheating on my 1998 Chimaera 450 which had a detrimental effect on oil pressure. On my return I had my rather corroded radiator replaced with a new aluminium version, which along with changing the oil to 10w-60 seems to have improved things.
However, this year I’ll be spending 2 weeks touring in Spain and around 2 months in France. I’m therefore considering fitting an oil cooler before I head off for warmer climes.
I’ve been in touch with Demon Tweeks who tell me they don’t do a kit specifically for the Chimaera but can put one together. They have asked me to let them know the length of the hose required and to check if there is enough clearance for the oil filter after fitting a thermostatic sandwich plate. From what I can gather the Mocal sandwich plate is about 32mm deep. I’ve also read that it is possible to use the oil filter from a Sierra Cosworth 2WD as it is shorter than the standard filter.
So there we have it folks can anyone who has fitted an oil cooler (in front of the radiator) be good enough to give me answers to the questions asked by Demon Tweeks?
Many thanks.
Bill
However, this year I’ll be spending 2 weeks touring in Spain and around 2 months in France. I’m therefore considering fitting an oil cooler before I head off for warmer climes.
I’ve been in touch with Demon Tweeks who tell me they don’t do a kit specifically for the Chimaera but can put one together. They have asked me to let them know the length of the hose required and to check if there is enough clearance for the oil filter after fitting a thermostatic sandwich plate. From what I can gather the Mocal sandwich plate is about 32mm deep. I’ve also read that it is possible to use the oil filter from a Sierra Cosworth 2WD as it is shorter than the standard filter.
So there we have it folks can anyone who has fitted an oil cooler (in front of the radiator) be good enough to give me answers to the questions asked by Demon Tweeks?
Many thanks.
Bill
phazed said:
I may have a sandwich plate and cooler in the garage that came from my car before I fitted a very large one.
You need to fit a shorter filter, readily available.
Thanks for responding. What I'm looking yo fit is a 19 row oil cooler and a thermastatic sandwich plate. I may need the cooling in France but it gets cold in this part of Yorkshire in the winter!You need to fit a shorter filter, readily available.
Do you remember the length of the hoses you used on your installation?
Many thanks
Bill
phillpot said:
"Radiator" type oil coolers are so last year ... Modine Cooler is the way to go 
The problem is I am extremely last year so a 'radiator' type oil cooler will fit in very well! Bill
phillpot said:
"Radiator" type oil coolers are so last year ... Modine Cooler is the way to go
Yep, trial fitting NOS Modine on the RV8 I used these before in the nineties kept my oil pressure nice and stable on a screaming Ford X flow and just 4 litres of oil 
Sardonicus said:
Yep, trial fitting NOS Modine on the RV8 I used these before in the nineties kept my oil pressure nice and stable on a screaming Ford X flow and just 4 litres of oil
Are those the one fitted to fast 90s Fords? I've seen a few used on ebay but I would definitely prefer a NOS one. I used these before in the nineties kept my oil pressure nice and stable on a screaming Ford X flow and just 4 litres of oil 
BoostedChim said:
Are those the one fitted to fast 90s Fords? I've seen a few used on ebay but I would definitely prefer a NOS one.
Those are the one's and yes I purchased NOS from an ex Ford Cossy off Fleabay there are 2 thickness's (4x4 and 2 WD) so beware the one in shot is the thicker 
they do come up from time to time this was the 2nd one I missed the end of the auction on the 1st 
the Capri/Colgne V6 ones are thinner but the Escort XR3i circa 83 on (with the K Jetronic FI) are the same as the Cosworth thicker type not sure how they would cope with 500hp+ though I think they may struggle the coolant hoses 5/8 16mm couldn't pass enough coolant for adaquate cooling surely 
cant see the Modine causing any oil flow restrictions frankly 
I'm guessing these zetec ones use a smaller filter. Is that a Sierra Cossie filter in your picture?
I'll have a look tonight to see if theres room for a Granda / Scorpio remote housing.
I'll have a look tonight to see if theres room for a Granda / Scorpio remote housing.
BoostedChim said:
I'm guessing these zetec ones use a smaller filter. Is that a Sierra Cossie filter in your picture?
I'll have a look tonight to see if theres room for a Granda / Scorpio remote housing.
That one you pictured should be the same thread Ford stuck with it for years, the filter in my pick is not Cosworth its a random filter I had in stock the Cosworth filter is about 10mm shorter I'll have a look tonight to see if theres room for a Granda / Scorpio remote housing.
phazed said:
I'm sure they work well up to a point but they can't possibly work as well as a big remote cooler.
Good point 
what they do have in their favour is coolant warms quicker than oil this then gets transferred via heat exchange and vice versa but like Peter says I doubt they would better a large air to oil exchanger/cooler Not sure if this helps however Sydney summers are quite hot, all of the Rover V8 based cars here just use a good quality 10w60 oil, and with a properly maintained cooling system, none have heating problems.
You could change your coolant and drop the glycol content down for your trip, glycol absorbs a lot less heat than water and your unlikely to want antifreeze in Spain in summer.
You could change your coolant and drop the glycol content down for your trip, glycol absorbs a lot less heat than water and your unlikely to want antifreeze in Spain in summer.
its generally not rapid but starts with engine oil entering the cooling system 
Sardonicus said:
Yep, trial fitting NOS Modine on the RV8 I used these before in the nineties kept my oil pressure nice and stable on a screaming Ford X flow and just 4 litres of oil
Hi Simon I used these before in the nineties kept my oil pressure nice and stable on a screaming Ford X flow and just 4 litres of oil How did you get on with this Modine oil Cooler setup?
I happen to have one and considering an install...
Cheers
MPO
BoostedChim said:
My nose cone is a bit crowded with an intercooler and a Rotrex oil cooler otherwise I would be looking at a radiator version
There is room Andy (just). I have a similar arrangement to you and have fitted a narrow matrix 25 row cooler where the windscreen washer bottle used to sit. I had previously removed the carbon can and moved the washer bottle back accordingly. The cooler runs from a standard Mocal thermostatic sandwich plate and works very nicely, my experience is an average overall drop of 10 degrees C in coolant temperature (no oil temp gauge fitted yet). I get the short Ford oil filter (Sierra Cosworth) from Burton Power but i'm sure they're readily available elsewhere.Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff