Serp intermediate OEM oil cooler take off
Discussion
Evening Gents,
I need to look into an oil cooler for my Griff. The oil got very hot on the Rockingham trackday and I ended up with a lot of blue smoke coming out the back of the car on downshifts.
I did fit an oil temperature gauge to keep an eye on the temperatures but for some reason the reading is completely out. On a motorway cruise this sits at 140 degrees. On the trackday it was maxed out at 150 degrees so I think there is something wrong there! I need to look into that.
I am aware the standard way to fit an oil cooler is to fit a sandwich plate take off on the oil filter and fit a shorter oil filter. I know the serpentine intermediate front cover on the TVR 500 engines have OEM take offs for an oil cooler, one of which I understand TVR used for the oil pressure sender. Does anyone know of anyone who has successfully used the OEM take offs for an aftermarket oil cooler?
Matthew
I need to look into an oil cooler for my Griff. The oil got very hot on the Rockingham trackday and I ended up with a lot of blue smoke coming out the back of the car on downshifts.
I did fit an oil temperature gauge to keep an eye on the temperatures but for some reason the reading is completely out. On a motorway cruise this sits at 140 degrees. On the trackday it was maxed out at 150 degrees so I think there is something wrong there! I need to look into that.
I am aware the standard way to fit an oil cooler is to fit a sandwich plate take off on the oil filter and fit a shorter oil filter. I know the serpentine intermediate front cover on the TVR 500 engines have OEM take offs for an oil cooler, one of which I understand TVR used for the oil pressure sender. Does anyone know of anyone who has successfully used the OEM take offs for an aftermarket oil cooler?
Matthew
Hi Howard, hope you are well sir. I am surprised to hear you are not racing anyomore. I loved the videos of you doing the hillcimbs, lovely sound and you were proper quick.
Would you mind sharing with me how you managed to utilise the OEM take offs? Did you get custom hoses made or modify OEM versions. I assume you had to relocate the TVR pressure sensor? Is there anything else I need to consider?
All the best
Matthew
Would you mind sharing with me how you managed to utilise the OEM take offs? Did you get custom hoses made or modify OEM versions. I assume you had to relocate the TVR pressure sensor? Is there anything else I need to consider?
All the best
Matthew
griffdude said:
Hello Matthew, still doing the hills & sprints but now in a SC MX5 which is proving very nearly as quick (slower on the straights but quicker through the twisties as I’m a bit braver/stupid now).
Sorry, I made a mistake, I used a sandwich plate but still managed to use the oil filter but it was very very tight. I ended up using a remote oil filter which is welded to the front chassis crossmember which was much easier.
Thanks Howard, Remote oil filter is a good shout and I have seen a few people do this. I am running out of room on my front crossmember so I think this may be a non starter for me.Sorry, I made a mistake, I used a sandwich plate but still managed to use the oil filter but it was very very tight. I ended up using a remote oil filter which is welded to the front chassis crossmember which was much easier.
jesfirth said:
hi matthew, good to meet you albeit very briefly at rockingham. my new AFM arrived last night so going to shove it on tonight - fingers crossed.
I have an oil cooler using the sandwich plate. as howard says getting the filter on is very tight but just about doable. the biggest problem is keeping the new filter full of oil while you manoeuvre it through the chassis rails to screw it on.
Hey Jes, pleasure to finally meet you at Rockingham. I am a huge fan of your sprint videos, very entertaining and great driving skill. Keep up the good work sir. I was going to send you an email to see how you got on with the AFM. I am gutted you did not get out on track, I was looking forward to seeing you out there.I have an oil cooler using the sandwich plate. as howard says getting the filter on is very tight but just about doable. the biggest problem is keeping the new filter full of oil while you manoeuvre it through the chassis rails to screw it on.
I wanted to try and avoid the sandwich plate for that reason but I am beginning to I think there is probably a reason no-one has used the OEM take offs!
Good luck with the AFM.
stevesprint said:
Matt
As its you, would you like to borrow these pipes.
Not all the oil flows though these pipes to the cooler but if good enough for a 2 tone Rangie with a trailer then maybe good enough for a TVR but I'm not so sure about your driving, especially at Rockingham. For road use you may still require an oil thermostat by-pass plus you'll also need a T connector to connect the 1/8 x NPT oil pressure sender to the oil pressure switch that has a different thread.
Rover V8 oil filters have a pressure by-pass valve and normally the smaller the filter the lower the pressure by-pass which means even less oil is filtered above idle. However Peter (Phazed) uses WIX WL7168 filters (recommended Sardonicus) are much better than normal and worth using with a sandwich block.
Steve
RV8 - I'm doing my bit for Global warming
You are a legend as always Steve, I would love to know what else you have squirrelled away! As its you, would you like to borrow these pipes.
Not all the oil flows though these pipes to the cooler but if good enough for a 2 tone Rangie with a trailer then maybe good enough for a TVR but I'm not so sure about your driving, especially at Rockingham. For road use you may still require an oil thermostat by-pass plus you'll also need a T connector to connect the 1/8 x NPT oil pressure sender to the oil pressure switch that has a different thread.
Rover V8 oil filters have a pressure by-pass valve and normally the smaller the filter the lower the pressure by-pass which means even less oil is filtered above idle. However Peter (Phazed) uses WIX WL7168 filters (recommended Sardonicus) are much better than normal and worth using with a sandwich block.
Steve
RV8 - I'm doing my bit for Global warming
A very kind offer indeed sir, please keep hold of them for the minute as I am still trying to work how this whole idea is going to work. As per usual I am after something that a lot of people have done, but slightly different.
I want to use the OEM take offs and I also want to fit the oil / water heat exchanger from the Speed Six cars have (or a Mocal unit) so I benefit from the oil heating up quicker and no overcooling in the winter.
I had a suspicion with the OEM take offs not all the oil passes through the cooler, you have just confirmed this for me so thank you. Ideally all I want all the oil to flow through so it gets cooled / heated quicker by the heat exchanger.
I am going to have to give this some thought.
Evening gents,
I really appreciate all your help with this, much appreciated. Peter & Steve I cannot believe you have gone the trouble of finding a serp intermediate cover and taking pictures, very kind of you indeed and very useful.
I genuinely was not expecting many replies to this thread, PH is a bit quiet now, this thread very much reminds me of 5 years ago PH.
Simon you are living the dream with the modine heat exchanger sandwich plate, if only they still made these!
I am a fan of the idea of using the OEM takeoffs but it looks like there is a reason no-one has done this in the past. Sandwich plate and stubby oil filter it is!
I think my root issue is twofold. The engine is original, never been rebuilt and is clearly tired now. I had a Carebont oil temperature gauge fitted so I could monitor oil temperatures, unfortunately the gauge or sender looks like it needs adjusting as it sits at around 140 on the motorway and pretty much instantly maxed out at 150 on the recent trackday. The sender is a boss welded into the sump so if anything it should read cooler than most. With the oil gauge not giving an accurate reading I was not able to keep an eye on the temps and I got a bit excited chasing other TVRs and clearly ended up overheating the oil. I wasn't ever out longer than 20 minutes but clearly this was too long. It has smoked a bit on the overrun for a few years now and like Alun has said a number of people have said valve stem seals. The smoke at Rockingham was a first though, an awful lot of it and ended up getting through 1.5 litres of oil that day.
I really appreciate all your help with this, much appreciated. Peter & Steve I cannot believe you have gone the trouble of finding a serp intermediate cover and taking pictures, very kind of you indeed and very useful.
I genuinely was not expecting many replies to this thread, PH is a bit quiet now, this thread very much reminds me of 5 years ago PH.
Simon you are living the dream with the modine heat exchanger sandwich plate, if only they still made these!
I am a fan of the idea of using the OEM takeoffs but it looks like there is a reason no-one has done this in the past. Sandwich plate and stubby oil filter it is!
I think my root issue is twofold. The engine is original, never been rebuilt and is clearly tired now. I had a Carebont oil temperature gauge fitted so I could monitor oil temperatures, unfortunately the gauge or sender looks like it needs adjusting as it sits at around 140 on the motorway and pretty much instantly maxed out at 150 on the recent trackday. The sender is a boss welded into the sump so if anything it should read cooler than most. With the oil gauge not giving an accurate reading I was not able to keep an eye on the temps and I got a bit excited chasing other TVRs and clearly ended up overheating the oil. I wasn't ever out longer than 20 minutes but clearly this was too long. It has smoked a bit on the overrun for a few years now and like Alun has said a number of people have said valve stem seals. The smoke at Rockingham was a first though, an awful lot of it and ended up getting through 1.5 litres of oil that day.
stevesprint said:
Matt
As I’ve been loosing sleep over why JE told me not to use the OEM oil cooler pipes I mentioned them while on the phone with Anthony (Precat) which prompted me to have another shufty amongst my old RV8 junk, luckily I found an off cut off my old oil cooler hoses which I now realise were internally 5/8 inch.
The external diameter of the OEM metal pipes are only 1/2 inch diameter and may explain why no one uses them.
Ahhh, that makes a lot of sense now. Thank you very much for your tireless efforts Steve, I can now put this one to bed As I’ve been loosing sleep over why JE told me not to use the OEM oil cooler pipes I mentioned them while on the phone with Anthony (Precat) which prompted me to have another shufty amongst my old RV8 junk, luckily I found an off cut off my old oil cooler hoses which I now realise were internally 5/8 inch.
The external diameter of the OEM metal pipes are only 1/2 inch diameter and may explain why no one uses them.
At least now I know the reasoning behind the sandwich plate design vs the OEM solution.Sandwich plate it is.
Thank you very much Steve, and thank you very much to everyone else who has contributed, much appreciated.
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