Laminova Oil Cooler - Do I need a Thermostat?
Discussion
I am fitting a Laminova water cooled oil cooler - Do I need to use a thermostat for the oil or will it be better without?
I was thinking that the oil would possibly warm up quicker as it could be heated by the water initially & then when running the oil would be slightly above the water temp, which should be OK..
Any thoughts welcome.
Cheers
Neil
I was thinking that the oil would possibly warm up quicker as it could be heated by the water initially & then when running the oil would be slightly above the water temp, which should be OK..
Any thoughts welcome.
Cheers
Neil
mk2 24v said:
id guess that the laminova coolers are just the same as a heat exchanger that most engines have fitted lately. in which case, there is no thermostat fitted 
and they are used to warm the oil up slightly quicker with the heat transfer from the coolant
It's an oil cooler, not an oil heater...and they are used to warm the oil up slightly quicker with the heat transfer from the coolant
Yes, you need a thermostat. Cold oil is not good for an engine.
Its a heat exchanger. On a cold engine the coolant heats up quicker than the oil, so its good, it heats the oil quicker than it would without it. On a hot engine it puts heat from the oil into the coolant, which then leaves the engine in the normal way, controled by the coolant thermostat.
As long as your coolant system has the capacity to lose the extra heat you do not need an oil thermostat. Production cars with Laminova coolers do not have a thermostat.
As long as your coolant system has the capacity to lose the extra heat you do not need an oil thermostat. Production cars with Laminova coolers do not have a thermostat.
davepoth said:
It's an oil cooler, not an oil heater...
Yes, you need a thermostat.
For an oil to air cooler this would be the correct, but in this case he does not need a thermostat.Yes, you need a thermostat.
davepoth said:
Cold oil is not good for an engine.
Correct. Which is why an oil to water cooler is a great idea as it allows the coolant to heat the oil up more quickly.davepoth said:
mk2 24v said:
id guess that the laminova coolers are just the same as a heat exchanger that most engines have fitted lately. in which case, there is no thermostat fitted
and they are used to warm the oil up slightly quicker with the heat transfer from the coolant
It's an oil cooler, not an oil heater...and they are used to warm the oil up slightly quicker with the heat transfer from the coolant
Yes, you need a thermostat. Cold oil is not good for an engine.
Nick3point2 said:
No, you don't need a thermostat. The minimum oil temperature is controlled by the minimum water temperature, which is thermostat operated.
Does rather depend on how you plumb it in doesn't it? I'd be inclined to have gone for a separate water circuit, as you would with an intercooler; otherwise either you'll be attempting to cool it with water that has just come out of the engine block, or heating up water that's just about to go into the engine block. Neither seems ideal.Like any properly optimised cooling system, you need to consider the heat flows and magnitudes to determine the best placement and sizing of the cooling pack components.
Generally, most engines run best with the oil running hotter than the cooling water. (say typically up to 100dec coolant (engine out) and 120 degC oil (engine out). This means a oil-water heat exchanger placed in the top hose, prefferably before the themostat "loop return" is you want to get the benefit of oil heating on cold starts, will have approx 20deg deltaT to reject heat to the coolant. Obviously your heat rejection is required to increase from your cooling pack to ambient, but generally, this is helped by an increased in coolant top hose temp post HE (you have a bigger DeltaT to ambient)
On a pure race car, where coolant temps of approx 80degC engine out are normal, this will also lower your oil temperature as well.
Generally, most engines run best with the oil running hotter than the cooling water. (say typically up to 100dec coolant (engine out) and 120 degC oil (engine out). This means a oil-water heat exchanger placed in the top hose, prefferably before the themostat "loop return" is you want to get the benefit of oil heating on cold starts, will have approx 20deg deltaT to reject heat to the coolant. Obviously your heat rejection is required to increase from your cooling pack to ambient, but generally, this is helped by an increased in coolant top hose temp post HE (you have a bigger DeltaT to ambient)
On a pure race car, where coolant temps of approx 80degC engine out are normal, this will also lower your oil temperature as well.
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