If it's March, can overheating engines be far away? (please don't answer if you live in New England).
Just in time for (California) hot weather, I've had a Setrab oil cooler installed and had it mounted in the wheelwell instead of where VS mounts their coolers - in the space in front of the engine compartment. I've had one of the VS Mesa coolers since I got my car.
While it was only 75 degrees today (sorry, New Englanders), the difference in cooling between the old setup and the new is dramatic.
That may not surprise most of you, but I've found something else that might.
I've mentioned before the fan I mounted over the eight-inch hole in the bulkhead that most of our cars have. When I had the Mesa cooler in that compartment, turning on this fan actually made the engine run hotter.
But now, that fan does seem to make a difference in oil temps, especially when sitting in stop and go traffic (I know, who drives a Speedster in stop and go traffic?).
I've read about others not seeing any difference with these 'bulkhead' fans, but this one seems to be helping. Before, when I shut down, the whole engine compartment was a lot hotter, especially the shroud, on top and over the internal oil cooler.
So, if this bulkhead fan is keeping the engine compartment cooler, it must be letting the engine fan draw in cooler air, too, no?
This is Sacto Mitch, SOC bulkhead fan correspondent, reporting live from Sacramento.
