DREW, did any 3rdgen cars come equipped from the factory with an engine oil cooler that was in the radiator? I see this now on many GM vehicles. I worked on a 1997 Impala SS that had this type of set up.

Thanx,ANDYZ28

 

No. None came with a true bonafide engine-to-air cooler. All thirdgen "oil coolers" are the heat exchanger type -- from oil to engine coolant. It debuted in 1987.

 

How did the coolant come into contact with the engine oil? Was it plumbed to the engines radiator or the engine block some how? Sorry for being so thick, but I have never seen one.

Thanx,ANDYZ28

 

I've never taken either of mine apart, but I believe the way it works is that the coolant from the radiator is routed thru a plate between the oil filter and the block. Hopefully someone can verify this.

 

That's essentially it, Drew. The coolant is circulated to a heat exchange unit which is mounted between the oil filter and block. The engine oil also passes through this unit. Because the oil is much hotter than the coolant (when the engine is at normal operating temperature, the heat from the oil "exchanges" into the coolant thereby cooling the oil. In my opinion, the temperature differential between coolant and oil is nowhere near as great as ambient air and oil. That's why I believe a true bonafide oil cooler, the type that circulates oil through a small heat exchanger passing the hot oil temperatures into the air, works much more efficiently.

I recently removed my factory oil cooler and replaced it with an engine oil cooler from Hayden.

Willie

 

So really I would be well advised to abandon my oil to coolant idea? And do as willie has done. Just use an oil to air cooler? I was hoping to use a system that uses an oil cooler installed in the drivers side radiator end tank (like newer vehicles use) and then an oil to air cooler in series. Like I have done with my transmission cooler. It seemes to work very well. My trans temp rarely reacher 150 degrees. The only problem and maybe its not a problem at all. Is that this set up works so well that it is difficult for my engine to stay at operating temperature during the winter months. Overcooling I suppose. In the colder months I can drive 50 miles. Stop the car and place my hand on the transmission pan, and it is noticeably cool.

I would still like to see one of the factory 3rdgen coolers.

Thanx,ANDYZ28

 

Was there an RPO code for the Oil-Coolant cooler? I mean, was it an option or did it come on all cars?

 

KC4 : COOLING SYSTEM, ENG OIL

 

KC4 is the engine oil cooler, yes.