Oil coolers and baffled sumps
Discussion
I could do with everyone's thoughts on this oil/cooler/baffled sump question, please.
My 5 litre 1999 Chimaera has a six month old V8D engine it, 9,000 miles covered. I do track days, as some of you know. 300 bhp, but I do drive it on track as hard as I can within my capabilities, and am getting more daring on the brakes (I now have Peter's old 330mm set up) and I throw it into tight corners with as much gusto as my 888s and my lack of driving skill allow.
Picture painted.
I have no baffled sump, no oil cooler. I use Castrol 10w60 oil, as it is recommended for the track, I top it up above the top mark for track days and change it every 3000 miles. Eventually yesterday, towards the end of a flat out (by my standards) 10 laps of Snetterton, I managed to look at the oil pressure gauge while going right round Corams at just under 80 mph and then as hard as I could manage through the tight left hander that's now called Murray's, while cutting inside a slower car.
The needle stayed resolutely stuck on 32 psi, which is its normal motorway cruising pressure. Either the engine/oil is fine, or I am not trying hard enough! I don't want to break several thousand pounds worth of engine. What does the collective recommend regarding oil coolers, baffled sumps etc?
My 5 litre 1999 Chimaera has a six month old V8D engine it, 9,000 miles covered. I do track days, as some of you know. 300 bhp, but I do drive it on track as hard as I can within my capabilities, and am getting more daring on the brakes (I now have Peter's old 330mm set up) and I throw it into tight corners with as much gusto as my 888s and my lack of driving skill allow.
Picture painted.
I have no baffled sump, no oil cooler. I use Castrol 10w60 oil, as it is recommended for the track, I top it up above the top mark for track days and change it every 3000 miles. Eventually yesterday, towards the end of a flat out (by my standards) 10 laps of Snetterton, I managed to look at the oil pressure gauge while going right round Corams at just under 80 mph and then as hard as I could manage through the tight left hander that's now called Murray's, while cutting inside a slower car.
The needle stayed resolutely stuck on 32 psi, which is its normal motorway cruising pressure. Either the engine/oil is fine, or I am not trying hard enough! I don't want to break several thousand pounds worth of engine. What does the collective recommend regarding oil coolers, baffled sumps etc?
QBee said:
I could do with everyone's thoughts on this oil/cooler/baffled sump question, please.
My 5 litre 1999 Chimaera has a six month old V8D engine it, 9,000 miles covered. I do track days, as some of you know. 300 bhp, but I do drive it on track as hard as I can within my capabilities, and am getting more daring on the brakes (I now have Peter's old 330mm set up) and I throw it into tight corners with as much gusto as my 888s and my lack of driving skill allow.
Picture painted.
I have no baffled sump, no oil cooler. I use Castrol 10w60 oil, as it is recommended for the track, I top it up above the top mark for track days and change it every 3000 miles. Eventually yesterday, towards the end of a flat out (by my standards) 10 laps of Snetterton, I managed to look at the oil pressure gauge while going right round Corams at just under 80 mph and then as hard as I could manage through the tight left hander that's now called Murray's, while cutting inside a slower car.
The needle stayed resolutely stuck on 32 psi, which is its normal motorway cruising pressure. Either the engine/oil is fine, or I am not trying hard enough! I don't want to break several thousand pounds worth of engine. What does the collective recommend regarding oil coolers, baffled sumps etc?
Easy job fitting a cooler ,remember to go for a sandwich plate with some take off for oil temp gauge ,mine doe not have them . I would get some pipes made up and stay away from Jubilee clips . My 5 litre 1999 Chimaera has a six month old V8D engine it, 9,000 miles covered. I do track days, as some of you know. 300 bhp, but I do drive it on track as hard as I can within my capabilities, and am getting more daring on the brakes (I now have Peter's old 330mm set up) and I throw it into tight corners with as much gusto as my 888s and my lack of driving skill allow.
Picture painted.
I have no baffled sump, no oil cooler. I use Castrol 10w60 oil, as it is recommended for the track, I top it up above the top mark for track days and change it every 3000 miles. Eventually yesterday, towards the end of a flat out (by my standards) 10 laps of Snetterton, I managed to look at the oil pressure gauge while going right round Corams at just under 80 mph and then as hard as I could manage through the tight left hander that's now called Murray's, while cutting inside a slower car.
The needle stayed resolutely stuck on 32 psi, which is its normal motorway cruising pressure. Either the engine/oil is fine, or I am not trying hard enough! I don't want to break several thousand pounds worth of engine. What does the collective recommend regarding oil coolers, baffled sumps etc?
Can't comment on the need for baffles on a RV8, been told the AJPV8 doesn't need it, however if my oil get below 1/2 on the dipstick it sloshes around too much. As for oil cooler, a temp gauge is the only way to really tell if you need it, however if you get a thermostatic take off plate, then it will use it when it needs it. I need a thermostat on mine as it cools the engine too much at this time of the year.
Daz
Daz
I think it safe to say that Daz and Daz have the right of it with the oil cooler;
As long as you have the thermostatic takeoff block, it will only cool when cooling is needed.
This can't hurt a thing.
I fitted one to each of my MG Midgets and it certainly reduced the strain on the water cooling system on hotter days and helped keep both oil and water temperature readings a lot more stable in all weathers / driving conditions.
Mr Jackson's point about the sump baffles seems to summarise quite well, and on similar logic; it can't hurt.
Oil starvation on the track can be momentary and all but invisible to the gauge watcher (or so my research has informed me).
Certainly in drag race or large oval track racing where the forcing of oil is in a single direction for an extended period of time, it would have to make sense.
Neither of these jobs should be individually expensive, and both would give you peace of mind.
As long as you have the thermostatic takeoff block, it will only cool when cooling is needed.
This can't hurt a thing.
I fitted one to each of my MG Midgets and it certainly reduced the strain on the water cooling system on hotter days and helped keep both oil and water temperature readings a lot more stable in all weathers / driving conditions.
Mr Jackson's point about the sump baffles seems to summarise quite well, and on similar logic; it can't hurt.
Oil starvation on the track can be momentary and all but invisible to the gauge watcher (or so my research has informed me).
Certainly in drag race or large oval track racing where the forcing of oil is in a single direction for an extended period of time, it would have to make sense.
Neither of these jobs should be individually expensive, and both would give you peace of mind.
Anthony I am not sure a baffled sump is needed for the RV8 engine, I have used the same basic engine at extream angles in various landrover products for many years and never had a problem with oil starvation.
If you fit an oil cooler please fit a thermostat otherwise you are likely to over cool the oil in normal road use and as we all know cold oil is not good and restricts flow.
If you fit an oil cooler please fit a thermostat otherwise you are likely to over cool the oil in normal road use and as we all know cold oil is not good and restricts flow.
Goaty Bill said:
I think it safe to say that Daz and Daz have the right of it with the oil cooler;
As long as you have the thermostatic takeoff block, it will only cool when cooling is needed.
This can't hurt a thing.
I fitted one to each of my MG Midgets and it certainly reduced the strain on the water cooling system on hotter days and helped keep both oil and water temperature readings a lot more stable in all weathers / driving conditions.
Mr Jackson's point about the sump baffles seems to summarise quite well, and on similar logic; it can't hurt.
Oil starvation on the track can be momentary and all but invisible to the gauge watcher (or so my research has informed me).
Certainly in drag race or large oval track racing where the forcing of oil is in a single direction for an extended period of time, it would have to make sense.
Neither of these jobs should be individually expensive, and both would give you peace of mind.
But Bill there not STDAs long as you have the thermostatic takeoff block, it will only cool when cooling is needed.
This can't hurt a thing.
I fitted one to each of my MG Midgets and it certainly reduced the strain on the water cooling system on hotter days and helped keep both oil and water temperature readings a lot more stable in all weathers / driving conditions.
Mr Jackson's point about the sump baffles seems to summarise quite well, and on similar logic; it can't hurt.
Oil starvation on the track can be momentary and all but invisible to the gauge watcher (or so my research has informed me).
Certainly in drag race or large oval track racing where the forcing of oil is in a single direction for an extended period of time, it would have to make sense.
Neither of these jobs should be individually expensive, and both would give you peace of mind.
Are you going to the dark side or have you been there?
Goaty Bill said:
I think it safe to say that Daz and Daz have the right of it with the oil cooler;
As long as you have the thermostatic takeoff block, it will only cool when cooling is needed.
This can't hurt a thing.
I fitted one to each of my MG Midgets and it certainly reduced the strain on the water cooling system on hotter days and helped keep both oil and water temperature readings a lot more stable in all weathers / driving conditions.
Mr Jackson's point about the sump baffles seems to summarise quite well, and on similar logic; it can't hurt.
Oil starvation on the track can be momentary and all but invisible to the gauge watcher (or so my research has informed me).
Certainly in drag race or large oval track racing where the forcing of oil is in a single direction for an extended period of time, it would have to make sense.
Neither of these jobs should be individually expensive, and both would give you peace of mind.
Are you talking about a cartridge and spring type thing which screwa inside the sandwich plate ? Think you can get different temperature stats .As long as you have the thermostatic takeoff block, it will only cool when cooling is needed.
This can't hurt a thing.
I fitted one to each of my MG Midgets and it certainly reduced the strain on the water cooling system on hotter days and helped keep both oil and water temperature readings a lot more stable in all weathers / driving conditions.
Mr Jackson's point about the sump baffles seems to summarise quite well, and on similar logic; it can't hurt.
Oil starvation on the track can be momentary and all but invisible to the gauge watcher (or so my research has informed me).
Certainly in drag race or large oval track racing where the forcing of oil is in a single direction for an extended period of time, it would have to make sense.
Neither of these jobs should be individually expensive, and both would give you peace of mind.
SILICONEKID343HP said:
Are you talking about a cartridge and spring type thing which screwa inside the sandwich plate ? Think you can get different temperature stats .
I bought mine as pretty much complete kits from (someone you will recognise well Daz) Brown and Gammons of Baldock.In the case of the Midget 1500 engine (all from dim memory), the sandwich plate included the thermostatic flow control to the cooler, and the filter fitted onto the sandwich plate.
If memory serves, the oil was first filtered, then straight back to the engine if cool, or sent to the oil radiator before returning to the engine, if hot.
I don't recall there being any options on temperature, but it would certainly make sense to have them.
In fact, as MG did use the RV8 for a while, I had a quick look at the B&G site, and they do offer oil cooling kits/components for the RV8.
Richard 858 said:
Slight change of subject, but how did things go yesterday ?
Full report onhttp://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
www.accusump.com Canton racing products will be fitting one of these when funds allow..
Track days without sticky tyres aren't much of an issue, it seems the most that will happen is that the oil will thin and therefore your pressure will drop. The harder you drive, the more this becomes a problem.
I have seen my oil temp up to 115 degrees on a full on TD!
Add to that sticky tyres and the problem exacerbates!
Throw in heavy braking, hairpins and sharp turns and you will see your oil pressure gauge plummet.
I have seen the oil pressure gauge drop to zero dozens of times before I fitted an oil cooler and a home made baffled sump
Yesterdays TD saw my oil pressure drop even though I have an oil cooler on this car but it is a quarter of the size of the one on my 4.6.
Soooo, I suggest the following;
Fit an water/oil cooler or air/oil cooler.
Fit an Accusump.
I will do this before the next track day and see what happens.
I've never had an Accusimp but on reading about them today they sound ideal and not a fortune
If you have only driven on the road with road tyres you can't imagine the forces generated on track so we need to take precautions.
I have seen my oil temp up to 115 degrees on a full on TD!
Add to that sticky tyres and the problem exacerbates!
Throw in heavy braking, hairpins and sharp turns and you will see your oil pressure gauge plummet.
I have seen the oil pressure gauge drop to zero dozens of times before I fitted an oil cooler and a home made baffled sump
Yesterdays TD saw my oil pressure drop even though I have an oil cooler on this car but it is a quarter of the size of the one on my 4.6.
Soooo, I suggest the following;
Fit an water/oil cooler or air/oil cooler.
Fit an Accusump.
I will do this before the next track day and see what happens.
I've never had an Accusimp but on reading about them today they sound ideal and not a fortune
If you have only driven on the road with road tyres you can't imagine the forces generated on track so we need to take precautions.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff