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Offline berliner

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oil cooler
« on: April 18, 2015, 03:51:34 PM »
When I had my 2332 in the red bug,I had a remote cooler on it.It's going in the 64 Ghia,and I don't know if the extra cooler was/is necessary?I'm using stock tin and stock cooler.
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Offline Bruce

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2015, 05:43:27 PM »
How are you going to use the car?  Long road trips or just local driving?
I don't use an extra cooler on my car.  An oil temp gauge lets me know when to ease off. 
There's a lot you can do to avoid needing a cooler.  Proper gearing is most important.  I recall many years ago when I switched to a slightly taller tire, I saw 20º higher temps.
Proper oil viscosity is also important.  Using 20W-50 actually is the CAUSE of high oil temps.  5W-30 makes the engine run cooler.
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Offline berliner

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2015, 06:17:59 PM »
Mostly just running around locally,but I'll be taking it on the highway from time to time.Rear tires are very close to stock,a bit smaller,I think.To refresh your memory,Bruce, you put .89 high gear in trans when you rebuilt it.3.88 r p(All done at my request)   Thanks for reply  Mike
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Offline Geoff

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2015, 06:58:59 PM »
Mike, It really comes down to compression, gearing and stop and go traffic.

It's one of the best additions to a real Hot VW engine you can do. If I remember correct your engine has at least 8.5:1 compression. The cyl heads is where the heat is made and transfers from there to the rest of the engine... the oil temp needs to be regulated from there. a Oil thermostat and cooler are the best bet.

If you got stuck in traffic for 1 hour idling a few feet every minute with 8.5 or higher you will wish you had that cooler!!!
trust me!
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Offline berliner

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2015, 09:50:31 PM »
Thanks,Geoff;The cooler goes on!
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Offline josh

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2015, 08:33:15 AM »
Just make sure you put a bypass thermostat on too....if not, 90% of the time your oil will not come up to proper temp to evaporate out our wet coast humidity.
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Offline berliner

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2015, 09:03:49 AM »
I'll have to get one,as it didn't have one on the beetle.  Thanks
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Offline Bruce

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2015, 05:42:22 PM »
Karmann Ghias can tolerate taller gears than Beetles.  It takes less hp to push them through the air, so your gearing should be ok.
My suggestion is to build it without the cooler.  Then monitor your oil temps.  If they are high, you can always add the cooler later.  The main reason I don't use an extra cooler is for reliability.  My missing external cooler can't develop a leak and leave me stranded.
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Offline BUSDADDY

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2015, 05:59:29 PM »
Quote from: Bruce on April 20, 2015, 05:42:22 PM
My missing external cooler can't develop a leak and leave me stranded.
That's how I roll as well, no extra hoses means no extra places to dump all my oil out in the blink of an eye in the middle of nowhere. I tap the case for full flow so if I ever need to add cooling later it's not a big job, but the stock cooler usually does very well unless the engine is out of tune or sick. As others have mentioned hot oil isn't such a bad thing unless it's exceeding 250 degrees, too much cooling is far worse.
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Offline Geoff

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2015, 07:43:16 PM »
2332cc with high comp and just a stock cooler...... sounds like fun.     I wouldn't recomend it, I run them on all my  cars over 1835cc 8.5;1  1914cc w 8.2:1  2275 w 10.3:1 all but the 1914 have a fan as well. Hot days I'm very glad to have that extra cooling. I've never had a cooler leak and if you spend your money on good parts there's no reason you should have a leak. Quality fittings (A-N or other style) and braided hose are the way to go.

I agree a stock engine or one with low comp, a cooler isn't going to be needed. Mike didn't cheap out on the build of his engine and for a little extra work, installing one would be a good plan.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2015, 07:53:08 PM by Geoff »
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Offline josh

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2015, 08:04:13 PM »
ill play show and tell too......





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Offline Geoff

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2015, 08:09:45 PM »
Josh, Thats beautiful!
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Offline vwmike

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2015, 09:05:44 PM »



Glad to have a 96 plate cooler and electric fan, setup on a thermostat of course, because I hate easing off..... :)
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Offline Bruce

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Re: oil cooler
« Reply #13 on: April 21, 2015, 06:58:56 PM »
Quote from: BUSDADDY on April 20, 2015, 05:59:29 PM
Quote from: Bruce on April 20, 2015, 05:42:22 PM
My missing external cooler can't develop a leak and leave me stranded.
..... no extra hoses means no extra places to dump all my oil out in the blink of an eye in the middle of nowhere.....
True story.
I was visiting a friend in So Cal for Classic week.  On the Wed before the big event, as we were about to take his car out, there was an oil leak.  The cooler was to blame.  We got a new cooler in it and were good for the weekend. 
Then, the next year I was again in So Cal.  On the Wed before the big event, my buddy starts up his car for a drive, and AGAIN, the cooler starts to leak!
After that, it became a recurring joke for everyone to ask him how his cooler was before the Classic.

There are times when I really needed an extra cooler.  Two years ago leaving Yuma in early June when the outside temp was 107º, there was no way to drive to keep the oil temp down.  An oil soaked slipping fan belt contributed badly.
Most of the time, an extra cooler would be bad in my car.  It already takes a long time to get the oil up to proper operating temp.  I could put a thermostatic bypass in it, but that adds a whole lot more leakable fittings.  If I could find the mythical oil cooler that has a built-in bypass, I'd probably use that.
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