oil cooler questions

[menostig]

hello

So I run a Sports with a 355bhp ZZ4 5.7L engine and wet sump. I need to fit an oil cooler, and at a later date an oil-accumulator. This is my parts list:
- chevy sandwich plate with no stat
- 2m of s/s braided hose
- thermostat
- 8 pro-clamps
- oil cooler
- fan
- oil & filter
- metal with which to make some rubber mounted brackets

Q1 - is a 25 row and 24cm-long oil-cooler overkill given I have no intention to tune this engine ?

Q2 - is it really ok to "T" in the +ve feed to the oil-cooler fan at the rad-fan wiring as I've seen on a few GTRs ?

Q3 - how many litres of oil do you think I'll need ?

Thanks a bunch !
rog.

[davefiddes]

I'd give serious consideration to fitting a remote oil filter rather than a sandwich plate. This should make oil changes a lot easier and the plumbing less of a mess.

[pb3]

A1 – Probably, for normal road use but a good idea for track. On the road I used to find that the oil was simply overcooled and ended up fitting the oil-stat to allow a min of 80DegC, rather than the typical 65DegC figure I would see.

A2 – IMO NO, why would you want the oil cooler fan on at the same time, the cooling fans probably come on around the 80+DegC mark (not sure what the typical Ultima is as I switch mine in two stages though my electronic dash). The oil temp can safely go to 110+DegC so why start cooling it so early. I switch my oil cooler fan independently at a much higher temp. Also be aware that the under clip temperature will rise, thus affecting the air intake temperature when the fan is mounted to suck air through the sidepod grill. Strangely enough it is probably better to pull the engine bay air through the oil cooler and push it out through the grill for that reason.

A3 – Depends on you entire setup, I buy 10 litres at a time and use about 7 to 8. That is with a 7qts sump, 6 US pint Accusump and the associated pipe work. Remember the oil cooler once filled will always have oil in it even during an oil change, unless you mount it upside down and I have never seen that done (no idea why).

I fitted a remote oil filter for the reason Dave suggested, also to feed the Accusump with filtered oil and provide a good place for an oil temperature sendor.