Oil cooler

So what kind of cooler? Where/how is it mounted? What kind of lines and did you install a filter as well?

Setrab 19 row cooler and mounting kit that mounts to the rear body rails, very clean!

40 amp relay

180 degree temp sensor

AN8 connectors

mounted under drivers side rear fender along with the external oil filter

Tom

Congrats, Tom. Sounds like a huge improvement!

HUGE!!!! I always worried it was too hot. This is such a relief.

Tom

If you have any pics, that would be great!

Thanks.

Not the best pics but it’s best I can do without jacking the car up and I’m really into it with all the smoke here in Northern California.

Nice clean install, there!

IIRC, I got s similar temperature drop when I installed my 16-pass DeRale cooler.  They make one heckuva difference, for sure.  I went from kissing 210-215F on a hot summer day on an interstate down to about 200-205F under the same conditions (both runs at sea level).

Always nice to see a successful upgrade.

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Tom, the Maestro did a similar install for me about seven years ago and the temp needle hasn't been more than a touch past halfway ever since.

When I got the car, it would overheat if outside air was above about 95. When we put in a stroker motor and first tried using the original VS cooler (in the space in front of the engine compartment), that ran hot, too.

Now, the car always runs cool — even if I overheat above 85.

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@Sacto Mitch,  I just read the temperature hit 116 where you are.  That provides a nice opportunity to test your oil cooler.

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Michael, when it's 116 here, it's usually about 130 in the garage, and this is the only cooler I use then:

Full disclosure: this past week, we got outta dodgy Sacto for the worst of it, escaping to the balmy ocean breezes of the SF Bay for a few days.

I've mentioned here before that I drive the car in extreme heat when circumstances require, but never by choice. The Setrab cooler can handle it. Me, not so much.

@Gotno356

Tom, that oil cooler installed by Anthony looks like a sweet set-up. Great to be able to drive your Speedster in warm weather without the angst of overheating.

@Gotno356 posted:

Am I right to assume that this oil line in this picture is the lowest point in the rear of the car? Could it make contact with objects that could cause damage, like pavement on driveways or speed bumps? If it were made tighter to the exhaust, some insulation might be in order.

Jus wonderin.

FWIW, I achieved similar results when I replaced the Chinese shroud that came on my Spyder came with a Concept 1 replica Thing shroud kit. (Shroud, velocity ring, Type IV oil cooler, cooler ducting and Hoover bit)

https://store.concept1.ca/brand/Cooled-Fan-Shrouds/

I’ve never driven my Spyder in 100°< temps, but my acid test is an 18 mile 5%-6% grade called the Nebo Scenic Loop. The first time I took it up there, I was just about to pull over when I reached the summit. My temp gauge was fully in the white just below the red line. Once I’d installed the Thing shroud, it barely passed 12:00 high.

As I’ve posted before, the Samba geniuses postulated that motors <2L don’t really need external cooling. If you gots a bigger motor, you need bigger cooling. My (alleged) 2L proved that to be the case.

@Gotno356. Any chance you could post a parts list, including the mounting bracket, of your neat installation?

Many thanks!

If this isn’t very good. I can type it out. Let me know.

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@Lfepardo

Luis, Setrab has a series of 'universal' mounting brackets on their website that allow mounting in various configurations.

For my car, Anthony used one of those, but also had to fab up a few pieces, notably a deflector strip for keeping road debris away from the cooler.

It looks like he has done something similar on Tom's car.

Many of the Setrab pieces are designed to be mounted and plumbed several ways.

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Carlos, yes, they are at the lowest point, but I haven’t had an issue yet. I have never seen any scuffing from pavement or driveway, and they are in the same position as they were before when it was just the external filter. I don’t feel I can go any tighter with the exhaust right there. That is a good idea though. A tick tighter and wrap with exhaust wrap.🤔 Hmmmm.

Million thanks @Gotno356 and @Sacto Mitch

this may be the winter I tackle such a project.   After 9 years win this specific VS, it’s the first summer with consistent temps over 90F locally and car did reach 203F-205F a couple of times in traffic and stop/go commutes home.    I always feel better when my little engine oil temp settles between 185F-195F ( not because of any science,  It’s what I was thought once and never questioned).
thank you again!

Luis

203F - 205F especially in traffic is absolutely perfect.  Don't worry about a thing.

As far as getting hot, my personal mantra on aircooled VW engines is they're starting to get hot at 210F, Giving cause for concern at 215F and you might consider pulling over and stopping for a while at 220F.

'They'll actually tolerate about 10F more than that, but why chance a failure?

These are not water cooled engines that sit there fat and happy at 180 - 195F all the time.

Expect the temp gauge to swing up and down a bit dependent on load (hills) and ambient temps.

Million thanks Gordon!

de Nada, Luis!