Cheap oil to water cooler

[Grafton]

Would it be possible to use the radiator from an automatic leggy and get a sandwich adapter for the oil filter and run the lines to the built in cooler in the radiator?

[rougeben83]

some foresters and basically every USDM turbo subaru come with an oil to water cooler...it's exactly how you described it. The only difference is the oil filter adapter gets its coolant from the coolant outlet (the thing you take off to change thermostat) on the engine block.

[Grafton]

right, i was looking into one of those $$$ around $300 just for the cooler part not including the other needed parts,
so the transmission fluid cooler could be cleaned out and used this way. might look into finding a radiator from an automatic...

[green97gt]

how would you get the oil from the engine out of the engine and into the lines for the cooler?

you mentioned sandwich adapter?

link?

[rougeben83]

right, i was looking into one of those $$$ around $300 just for the cooler part not including the other needed parts,
so the transmission fluid cooler could be cleaned out and used this way. might look into finding a radiator from an automatic...

new? You can get those oil to coolant coolers for pretty cheap from anyone parting out a wrx or something on NASIOC. What youre planning is an oil to air cooler.

[Patrick Olsen]

new? You can get those oil to coolant coolers for pretty cheap from anyone parting out a wrx or something on NASIOC.
If you go that route just make absolutely, positively sure it was a healthy engine. You don't want bits of their engine floating around in the oil cooler and then floating around in your engine.


What youre planning is an oil to air cooler.
No, what he wants to do would be an oil-to-water cooler. The tranny cooler is inside the driver side end tank and is cooled by coolant. That's a very common OEM setup with auto trannies.

As for the OP's question, NO, do not use the tranny cooler as an oil cooler. The tubing is too small and would pose a significant restriction to the oil system, which is very bad. Not to mention that the tranny cooler may not be designed to hold the pressure that the oil system sees.


you mentioned sandwich adapter?

link?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=subaru+sandwich+adapter

[Grafton]

^ thanks
i didn't know if those kinds of thing would be an issues i'm looking around for one from a used WRX or automatic forester and then i'll clean it out before i use it

[ouch1011]

As for the OP's question, NO, do not use the tranny cooler as an oil cooler. The tubing is too small and would pose a significant restriction to the oil system, which is very bad. Not to mention that the tranny cooler may not be designed to hold the pressure that the oil system sees.
[/quote]

What he said. I think our trans cooler fittings are like 1/4". Maybe 5/16" Can't remember. Either way, far too small for engine oil. Even the transmission doesn't run all of the oil it pumps to the cooler, it only sends a small amount. Most of the full-flow remote oil coolers I've seen (lots of Chevy trucks have them) run 1/2" lines. Also, the highest trans cooler pressure I've seen is 45psi, which is about half of what the engine oil pressure reaches. The transmission actually steps down the pressure to the cooler, most run in the 20-30psi range.

You would be better off getting one of the OE Subaru oil coolers. They should work well for an NA engine, they work OK for the turbos. But, as was said, if the engine was internally damaged, do not under any circumstances buy it. No matter how much you clean it, you'll never get the metal out.

[funnyceline]

Maybe you should go home depots and search for some air coolers there. There should be a cheaper unit there too. It is just a matter of perseverance in searching for a right one.