An engine oil cooler is a heat-exchanging device just like a car radiator, but its core purpose is to maintain the temperature of the engine by removing excess heat from the engine oil. The car engine oil is responsible for protecting other components from wearing out. As for the engine oil cooler, it travels around pipes in an engine to regulate the temperature. It can reduce the oil temperature by as much as 30 degrees. Engine oil cooler also assists in maintaining the right level of oil viscosity.
Engine oil coolers are beneficial for high-performance, high revving engines. However, if you are wondering if everyone needs an engine oil cooler, there are several things that factor in.
Let us go through the various pros and cons of engine oil coolers to figure out their worth.
Engine Oil Cooler Benefits and Downsides
Engine oil cooler extends the engine’s lifespan
Is it worth it to place an engine oil cooler in your car or not depends on a combination of factors? To simplify things, let us weigh out the pros and cons of engine oil coolers below to help you make a final decision.
Oil Cooler Takes Away the Heat
The most important engine oil cooler benefit is that it takes away the surplus heat from the engine oil. The engine oil needs airflow to take away the excess heat. Therefore, having more airflow is always better. Cooling also depends on the difference in temperature between air and oil. For instance, cooler air cools better than air that is warmer.
Engine oil coolers are small radiators placed in front of the coolant system of a car, giving the engine oil quick access to the cool fresh air coming from the cooling fan. These coolers lower the temperature of the oil as it passes through the coils. Keep in mind that an engine oil cooler will only work when the motor is operational or running. Among other things to prepare your car for warm weather, checking the engine oils is especially important. Lowering engine oil temperature has many advantages.
Engine oil coolers reduce the chance of engine overheating under harsh conditions
Other Oil Cooler Benefits
This is the biggest engine oil cooler benefit. Other pros of oil coolers include:
- Oil cooler cools the hot air at an exact temperature, as a result, the engines working enhances generally
- Oil coolers make sure the oil is cooled off properly before circulating it
- The oil temperature is controlled in the oil to the water cooler
- Installation of oil coolers is easy
- Oil coolers decrease the use of water-cooling systems that can be corrosive to the engine
- Oil circulation is controlled and efficient
Downsides Of Engine Oil Coolers
While cooling off the engine oil is a massive advantage, installing oil coolers may have some disadvantages, including:
- Oil may be flammable
- To operate an oil cooler extra oil is required
- When an oil cooler malfunctions, it has the capacity to force all the coolant out of the engine, increasing the risk of an overheated engine. This may lead to possible damage to the engine. If the leak is major, you are going to notice coolant on the ground or see steam gushing out from underneath your vehicle’s hood
Those were the major advantages and disadvantages of engine oil coolers. Please note that engine oil coolers do not lower the engine’s temperature; they only lower the engine oil’s temperature. The engine is only cooled off by the car’s cooling systems
Finally
Finally, coming back to the question of if an engine oil cooler is worth it? To put it simply, this depends on your classic car driving habits. For instance, if you drive your vintage car in short trips and in cooler climates and maintain it properly, you may not really need an oil cooler.
Having said that, if you live in an extremely hot climate or drive in rough terrains that want more engine power, it can be worth considering.
The starting price for engine oil coolers can be as low as $100 and go up to over $300 depending on the oil cooler type and application. Besides, if you feel your engine keeps overheating and you must spend lots of money on its repair and maintenance, maybe it is because of your car’s age or even a number of classic cars had the tendency to operate on the high end of the temperature range.
Thank you for explaining to us that oil coolers are used to cool the hot air and the oil before circulating it in the system to enhance the engine’s work performance. The oil coolers in my brother’s car seem to have been damaged recently, so he’s looking to have them replaced before our family trip next week. I’ll keep this in mind while I look for an auto service to contact for the oil cooler replacement soon.