oil cooler mod

[Guy]

If I fit an oil cooler with the flow and return connections on the top instead of on the bottom as seems more usual, can I then increase the oil capacity by the amount the cooler holds ( about 750cc)?

[Jeff Tate]

How do you drain out the old oil at change time?
Also, adding a cooler will increase oil capacity slightly no matter wheather the lines are on top or the bottom.

[Guy]

Also, adding a cooler will increase oil capacity slightly no matter wheather the lines are on top or the bottom.

[Guy]

Also, adding a cooler will increase oil capacity slightly no matter wheather the lines are on top or the bottom.

I'm afraid I don't follow you on that??
Oil cooler has a bung at the bottom so draining it isn't a problem.

[redliner1973]

With your lines on top, yes, it will increase your total level, as it does not drain back into the sump when shut-down. With the lines on the bottom, it will not, the oil will simply drain back into the sump.

During operation, the same amount of oil will be flowing through the engine at any one time no matter which way the lines are.

[BigMattyD]

I think jeff tate meant that once the oil circulates into the cooler, it will stay there and not drain into the engine when it shuts off. As long as the input and output lines from the oil cooler stay immersed in oil, I don't think the oil will flow. There needs to be a way for air to get into the system to replace it.

If you fill up a 2 liter bottle with water, and turn it upside down, as long as you keep the mouth of the bottle under water, it will not empty. Once you bring it out of the water into the air, it will start to empty.

That type of thing.

Matt

[gsBert]

so im guessing you're also trying to fit a larger gsxr oil cooler on your bike...

keep me posted please.

[joe.d]

I put a larger cooler on my 1150, run the lines out the bottom, the oil level is up alittle but thats due to personal preferance, I didnt want the sump to run at a lower level

[RacingJake]

I don't think it would drop due to the oil pump on one side and the oil pressure switch on the other

[redliner1973]

Both of those will 'drain down' over time, as neither one is oil-tight. this is what I meant by more oil will be in the bike than what the sight glass shows, as some still stays in the cooler. With the lines down, however, it will drain past the pump and switch.

[focus frenzy]

Both of those will 'drain down' over time, as neither one is oil-tight. this is what I meant by more oil will be in the bike than what the sight glass shows, as some still stays in the cooler. With the lines down, however, it will drain past the pump and switch.

you would think so Tim, but it doesn't!
I changed my oil yesterday and also changed the lines to my oil cooler (original derale lines 25ish years old so they were pretty hard) the bike had sat for two days before draining (shame on me) and when I pulled the lines from the cooler, (lines pointed down, not up) it was full of oil.

the total amount of oil it took to re-fill with the oil cooler and lines drained (new filter also) was 4350cc or 4 quarts 18 ounces!!!

it also took a uncomfortable amount of time for the oil pressure to come up and the light to go out.

[joe.d]

My Oppinion is the light should go out right away

[focus frenzy]

My Oppinion is the light should go out right away

the oil has to pass up the cooler line through the cooler and back down again.

I had replaced the cooler lines so they and the cooler were empty.

I had never drained the cooler before so the light always instantly went out, and if you stalled the engine it would take a couple seconds for the pressure to bleed down and the light to come back on.

[DaveDanger]

Depending on which way the cooler tubes are oriented, it might not make any difference which way the inlet and outlet lines are attached regardless, Up or down. Unlike a water radiator which has tanks at both ends, and all tubes are open into the tanks, an oil cooler usually has the one tube snaking back and forth from inlet to outlet. If the tubes run vertically then there's no way for oil to drain out of more than the first and last tube in the stack, even if the inlet and outlet are both on the bottom. If the tubes are horizontal, one inlet/outlet nipple should be at the top, and the other at the bottom. This type arrangement could allow the entire cooler to drain its contents into the case... assuming there is a means for air to flow into the top of the cooler as mentioned earlier. All this aside, I think that if you check your oil level in the sight glass or dipstick within a minute or so of shutdown, you'll get an accurate indication of oil quantity in the case. I'll bet that you end up adding the slight additional quantity to your normal oil change, to make up for the cooler capacity.

[Buffalo Breath]

cooler

I always prefill the lines and cooler with a funnel and long hose by pouring oil in the return line down thru the cooler and pick up hose( its real slow going) then cover with my thumb till i get it down to the fittings, it cuts the time for the lite to go out and I also crank the eng. over for a few short bursts to get the pressure up before starting eng. up, i also soak the oil filter before I install a new one and also crank the eng. over before starting it, yes its messy and time consuming but it can be a long wait for that lite to go out, if you dont