Mid-Engine Cooling

[jaykay]

[QUOTE=The Radium King;466261]

Originally Posted by flaps10

I installed the taller oil cooler (heat exchanger technically) in my S model when I had my engine apart. I see no reason why it wouldn't fit a non S car and could likely be done without even having to remove the intake manifold (keep in mind, I only own an S and don't know how different the intake manifolds are).QUOTE]

so, the 986 Boxster S oil cooler is the same as the one used on all 996 cars. also the same as the one used on base 997.1 cars. the 997.1 S model has a different part number - it appears to be a direct fit to the m96/97 block as well as taller ie, bigger volume) - is this the oil cooler you fit on your car? if so this is a very cool mod, and confirms that there is space under our intake manifold for it to fit (the 986 intake manifold isn't as tall as the other cars).

this got me searching and I found this ...

997 GT3 Water/Oil Cooler/Heat Exchanger on a M96/97 - Rennlist Discussion Forums

it appears that the gt3 oil cooler is the same height as the 997.1 S oil cooler, but that the adaptor would add an inch or two to the overall height. what's your take on this fitting?

to the original question, I think fitting a taller 986 S/996 oil cooler on base 986 cars is a standard mod done by spec racers all the time.

I have always wondered whether this thing actually provides oil cooling to any large degree. What is the differential temperature profile of coolant vs oil in there. I hope it's not hot coolant there I would think it provides some effect once the oil is already too hot.

[flaps10]

Some good discussion going here.

I'll double check the flow direction of my engine compartment fan. I remember hearing it running when I was standing next to the car once and put my fingers over it because I was curious about the flow direction, and thinking the result was odd.

Moving on..

I refer to the oil cooler in quotes below because it is technically just a heat exchanger. It is exchanging heat from the oil into the coolant which carries it forward and attempts to get rid of it. Sure, some heat radiates off the exchanger but most is carried off in the coolant. Truth is, we really don't want it just radiating into the engine compartment. We want it pumped overboard.

The oil cooled cars I've owned rammed massive amounts of air through the oil cooler at all times using the engine fan. And they worked damn good even in hot weather in the desert - assuming all of the cooling tins were in place. The quickest way to make me walk away from a prospective air cooled car is to see any tin shrouds missing. The air flow is intended to be very directional and with missing shrouds it tends to recirculate very hot air.

And to answer an early question, yes they ran a bit rich and that is what killed the air cooled vehicles in this country.

First I've heard of a tranny cooler on a manual transmission car. Do you have a transmission temp gauge? Are all three of the scoops attached to your triangular shaped belly pan, which serve to direct air at the transmission?