Oil change with an oil cooler.

[DanielJames]

Hello all,

I've googled this a bit, but getting very varied opinions, so thought I'd ask PH for theirs.

I have a Honda Integra track car which has a 19 row oil cooler fitted. Between the cooler and the car there are about 3 meters of hose. This adds about 1.2L to my oil capacity.

I've had the cooler fitted for about 8 months now and have done 3 trackdays and been to the ring. Perhaps 5k road miles. In total I think I've changed the oil about 4 times, but one thing I've never done is flushed out the oil cooler and lines.

The question is, does that need doing, and if so how often? Any tips to carrying this out? It seems that it could become a very messy job very quickly.

Any input appreciated.

Cheers
Dan

[DanielJames]

That's not a bad idea to lift it up and push it through. It is thermostatic though so I'll have to get the engine up to temp first! (which should allow the oil to drain easier anyway).

Yes it's there for temperature, why else would you fit an oil cooler

I can't believe you didn't get upto temp after 70 mile flat out! that's crazy!! (or am I missing the joke)

I got to crazy temperatures after just half a lap at the ring before fitting the cooler, for example.

[DanielJames]

ging84 said:

depends how the cooler is fitted, if it's higher than where the hoses come out the engine, it should all drain back in, if it sits lower, then some of the oil might remain, probably not as much as you might think, as much of it can still get pulled via a syphoning action, but even if some remains, so long as you are not adding something like engine flush, it's not a big deal that some of your oil doesn't get changed, especially given how regularly you seem to be changing it.

The oil cooler is lower, perhaps by 20cm or so.

Thanks for the informative reply

[DanielJames]

red_slr said:

If you ever have to change the oil cooler then get one with a drain plug. HTH.

Now that's a good idea.

I ended up taking the cooler off and tipping it upside down. To my surprise, not very much oil came out. Maybe 200ml.

Thanks for the replies.