Wheel well equipment versus road debris

The recent thread on wheel well inserts got me thinking. I have an external oil filter and an external oil cooler mounted in my left rear wheel well (flared model, lots of room). What are everyones thoughts on protection of these vital but vulnerable components? Sreen guards? Sheet metal shields? Gettum outta there?

I,m running a type 4 with RaceAir vertical cooling shroud (no provision for oil cooler).

I had an oil filter pick up a hit and start to leak slowly through the canister on my Eclipse; luckily I check the oil frequently because I drive it hard and caught it before oil got too low. But I would say this is a very rare occurrance.

If you cooler has a fan you can mount it with the fan side toward any possible road debris that might be thrown up (rocks, etc.) or mount some kind of deflector. If the cooler is mounted horizonally the chances of damage from road debris are probably very small.

David:

When I bought my used Roadster from IM, I asked Henry about the danger of damage to the oil cooler (rear wheel well, driver's side, behind the wheel), as I was considering putting a guard to protect it.

He said that there was no need for a guard, and so far everything is fine. It's an oil cooler with an electric fan attached.

Bob

David, my remote oil filter is behind the rear tire too. I found an aluminium sleeve with fins that slides over the outside of the filter that not only cools the oil, but protects it from stones. I think I bought it from Tweeks. Eddie

My oil filter sits near the back of the car. I built a shield for it, just to be on the safe side.
Hey Eddie, did you notice any increase in cooling with that Tweeks oil filter cover?
Ron

There is an oil filter manufactured by O-Berg that is very compact. It's size is roughly 6"x6" square, and only 1 1/2" in height. You can practically mount it anywhere with less risk of damage. The system is quite costly though compared to the normal Fram HP-1 system. As for protecting an oil cooler, try mounting it above the trannsmission, with cooling fans of course. Many performance VW enthusiasts choose this location for best possible protection. Out of sight, out of mind is my thinking.
(Message Edited 10/10/2003 6:16:29 PM)

Thanks for input from ya'all. That finned cannister from Tweeks sounds good for protection, but if there is an air gap of even a few thousands, the heat transfer is shot for any cooling effect. One more thought. Have you noticed that the thickness of the metal on oil filters (and aluminum beer and soda cans also) has gotten much thinner in the last few years? Probably they got a new alloy that draws deeper, but is it any stronger, or just cheaper?

Ron, I put the shield on when I did a few other mods, so I can't tell if it helped, But the seller said something like 10%. It also fits tightly against the filter, as there's a slit from top to bottom and a hose clamp contracts it against the filter. I will research the seller and price info, and post ASAP. Eddie

Glenn, I had a chance to buy a used O Berg, but didn't, because I've heard that the filter has to be cleaned much more frequently than the canister type. I've also heard that it does a much better job of filtering out smaller particles that would get through a canister type.
Ron