[Review] Oil Cooler - Max Hondapower

[DLO01]

Disclaimer: The following is provided as a GUIDE ONLY, and neither myself nor Ozhonda take any responsibility for the outcomes of someone else doing the following. You follow these steps at your own risk!


This is no DIY its an overview and I just want to do a review on this oil cooler setup that I bought of Max-Hondapower trader cause I think this kit is tops. :cool: :thumbsup:
This is the kit here:
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59191

Its a 3 hose oil cooler kit comprising of Adaptor block, Cooler, and Remote oil filter block. The kit includes everything you need, even a new filter.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/DLO01/Misc/ResizeofIMG_9148-1.jpg

'Overall' it was very easy to install and in the end it probably too me 2-3 hours to fully do it all.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/DLO01/Misc/ResizeofDSC00930.jpg
Adaptor block ^^^: This is screwed on where the stock oil filter usually sits. Theres an oil out and oil in. Oil out is the one on the side and oil in is the one in the centre. Its just a simple screw in and your done.

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http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/DLO01/Misc/ResizeofDSC00938.jpg

Oil cooler ^^^:You need to take off your front bar and make some brackets to mount the cooler. Connect the hose #1 oil out, side hole from the Adaptor block to one side of the cooler.

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http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/DLO01/Misc/ResizeofDSC00940.jpg

Remote oil filter block ^^^: Mount the block with the bracket provided somewhere secure. Connect hose #2 from Cooler to this bock on the side hole 'in'. Connect hose #3 from block center hole 'out' back to Adaptor centre hole.

This can be placed where you like, with the bracket included and you can get the length of pipe to suit (filter to engine). I opted to go for a shorter return pipe but I bought a 90 degree fitting from Pirtek.

The filter block also has 1/8 threaded blanks for oil pressure and oil temp.
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You will need to add some oil to your car as you effectivly have increased your oil volume. After installation, during startup, make sure you get oil pressure and check for leaks. I opted to remove the spark plugs and injector clips and just cranked the engine over untill I got pressure.

Word of warning: Please do not install and run this or any oil cooler kit without increasing your oil pressure. I have run quite a few tests on oil cooler kits now and you can loose as much as 10psi and thats with a small 10 row cooler.

In conclusion, overall for the price and quality, this kit is very very well worth it. Quality is very good, adaptor blocks are excellent quality, fittings are excellent, cooler is very good, and it looks trick. For $360 I give it my thumbs up. :thumbsup:

[bennjamin]

Word of warning: Please do not install and run this or any oil cooler kit without increasing your oil pressure. I have run quite a few tests on oil cooler kits now and you can loose as much as 10psi and thats with a small 10 row cooler.


Very good point most people wont realise before purchasing a oil cooler kit.
Apart from this DIY posted by SKREMN
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47308

How else can you increase the pressure to match the increased volume ?

[DLO01]

Yes, that DIY by Skremn is very good. :thumbsup:

You will only 'loose' pressure by installing a oil cooler.

Its just a fact for example:
The further the distance you push along liquid the more pressure you will loose the further you go.

What can help with pressure loss:
Quality pipes,
Shorter pipes,
Not to wide pipes (inner diameter)
less bends,
Smaller cooler,
Quality cooler

[TEGNO1]

I was wondering the same thing.
Ive got an oil cooler 80cm thick by 800cm long by 80cm wide...huge
Do you think the pressure drop will be something to worry about.
Apart from a dry sump how could you increase oil pressure.
Can the standard honda oil pump keep up...i always thought it could easily.

[DLO01]

I was wondering the same thing.
Ive got an oil cooler 80cm thick by 800cm long by 80cm wide...huge
Do you think the pressure drop will be something to worry about.
Apart from a dry sump how could you increase oil pressure.
Can the standard honda oil pump keep up...i always thought it could easily.

Hey man, I take it you mean 8mm x 800mm x 80mm??

If your pressure is too low, you will loose VTEC.

If your pressure is too low, your run the risk or doing a bearing.

You may be ok, but constant high rpm, your running a risk.

And in regard to increasing oil pressure, please see benjamins post.

[TEGNO1]

Thats 80mm by 800mm by 80mm...
I thought the oil pump would attempt to keep oil pressure at its pre-set level.
Im gonna have to take care of that when i get to it.
See what happens.
What do you think a sufficient size would be for street/track and turbo.

[ACTI0NMAN-1]

our tegs dont require an oil cooler no matter what b series you have, unless you are turbo.

[TEGNO1]

Turbo yes
Track.....as much as possible

[Jase EK]

dean.. just wondering how did u increase your oil pressure? is there any other way besides SKREMN way ?

[DLO01]

Thats 80mm by 800mm by 80mm...
I thought the oil pump would attempt to keep oil pressure at its pre-set level.
Im gonna have to take care of that when i get to it.
See what happens.
What do you think a sufficient size would be for street/track and turbo.

Wow, that is huge!
It does not work like that. I am not exactly sure, but the releif valve must work at the source. As the oil is picked up, it will see it as normal pressure and start releiving oil because it sees it a normal pressure at the source. Problem is, your now pumping it through your new cooler & piping and by the time it goes through that, then to your motor, it has lost pressure.

I know this, because initially I had my Gauge sensors after the 1st pipe ie (as oil is picked up from the sump & before the cooler). It was reading 92psi. I then swaped some pipes around and had the sensors before the 3rd pipe ie (as the oil is going back in to feed motor & after cooler) and I was reading 82psi.


our tegs dont require an oil cooler no matter what b series you have, unless you are turbo.

Yes your right. Even for track you dont need a cooler in most instances. But it really depends on a few things. I know with the oil I use it was recomended by the manufacturer to maintain a Max temp range and for that you might need a cooler. Like a lot of things, it depends who you speak to - Different people, different opinions.


dean.. just wondering how did u increase your oil pressure? is there any other way besides SKREMN way ?

Jase, thats the only proper way that I know of. With the releif valve, your effectively tensioning the spring by adding some washers. The harder the spring, the harder it takes the valve to open, hence more pressure.


Have you thought about when your changing the oil??? With the filter mounted like that as soon as you loosen it the old oil is going to be coming out making quite a mess. Another POTENTIAL problem COULD be trapping air at the top of the filter casing because the internal piping doesn't go all the way to the bottom (in your case the top) Can it be mounted filter down with that kit?

Yeh, I have seen these sort of setups mounted the other way around. The good thing with mine is the pipe returning back to the engine is on a downward slope and although I did not take the filter out yet, I did remove one of the pipes to add my 90 fitting and not much oil came out at all. The air thing might be a problem. It can definatly be mounted upside down, but you'll need to make another bracket.

[Bludger]

very informative post. good work

[PaZzMaN-R]

our tegs dont require an oil cooler no matter what b series you have, unless you are turbo.

how can you say that?
whats your justification?
yeh they dont if you only run one lap and then cool down othewise oil temps just get way to high.

[DLO01]

Actionman is correct in what he is saying.

If you have a decent oil it will take anything to throw at it.

You only need a cooler if you are a serious serious track goer.

[TEGNO1]

Yes the importance of a oil thermostat.
By passes the cooler until certain temp is reached therefore apart from the weight it will not be used until needed.
Also important in warm up.
Some other points to consider...increased oil
oil sits in cooler when changing.

[Limo]

how much extra oil is required?

[DLO01]

With this setup - between half a litre and a full litre.

[czy_sol87]

nice write up dean, totally missed this one:D


Yes the importance of a oil thermostat.
By passes the cooler until certain temp is reached therefore apart from the weight it will not be used until needed.
Also important in warm up.
Some other points to consider...increased oil
oil sits in cooler when changing.

im seriously considering turboin my car by mid or end of next year, and i know this is one of the essentials i'll need once turbo, to run reliably.
does this kit have the oil thermostat TEGNO1 is talking bout?
will there be a problem if im running it in my NA setup on the street for a while before i boost it, or should it be fine running lower temp oil??

[DLO01]

Hey Czy_sol87,

Sorry missed this.

This kit 'does not' have a thermostat.

If your using your car on the St I would recomend getting a kit 'with' a thermostat.

It will be fine using the kit before you turbo it as well. :thumbsup:

[czy_sol87]

excellent:thumbsup::thumbsup:
thanks mate always good to know these things before u just go ahead and do something, then later find out it was the wrong thing

[BusterSonic12]

is it possible to add thermostat yourself to the kit?

i just bought the 2 hoses one, also just wondering if radiator thermostat is the same as oil cooler's thermostat?

[DLO01]

You sure can. Theres a number of universal oil cooler thermostats around that you can use. You'll need to source your own fittings though. And yes they are different to coolant thermostats.

Heres one for example:
http://perma-cool.com/Catalog/Cat_page14.html

Another thing you can do is just make up a cover to cover the cooler in winter times or when not on the track. Its a simple and easy solution. This is what I do.

:thumbsup:

[connorling]

You sure can. Theres a number of universal oil cooler thermostats around that you can use. You'll need to source your own fittings though. And yes they are different to coolant thermostats.

Heres one for example:
http://perma-cool.com/Catalog/Cat_page14.html


:thumbsup:

where do u put the oil thermostat on ur oil cooler kit??? i have the same oil cooler kit as posted.

[DLO01]

The thermostat 'bypasses' the Cooler. Ie, it will to be put in between both hoses.

So for example: When cold, the thermostat blocks the path to the cooler and in turn is open from one hose to the other. Because it blocks the path to the cooler, oil gets warmer, faster.

When the thermostat sees that the oil is hot enough, it blocks the bypass and opens the path to the cooler. Cooling the oil.

If you get a kit. You of course have to modify your pipes to get the thermostat to fit, and maybe get some fittings from Pirtek or something.

[connorling]

where can i get the thermostat????

[connorling]

hey man, can u whrite down the order of the hose????
according to u, engine block:OUT--->oil cooler kit-->IN of the oil filter relocation kit
OUT of the oil filter relocation kit--->engine block IN.
according to this web site: http://hybrid.honda-perf.org/tech/oilcooler/index.html
it is opposite to what u say.

[DLO01]

Yeh, it really does not mater, filter before or after cooler. The reason why I put the filter relocator after cooler going back to the engine is because I want to measure pressure going in to the motor/so I can see pressure drop from the cooler kit it just passed through.

Please note though that with the spin on adapter that the flow of oil is from the outside hole OUT and IN flow is to the middle. Not sure if this kit in this thread was labled correctly on the adaptor.

[connorling]

so comfused.
but if i put filter after the cooler, wouldnt any dirt or particles go to cooler, and block it?

[DLO01]

Nope. Tolerances are too big for things to get blocked. Filter in continuously filtering the oil anyway.

Its up to you how where you want to put it. :thumbsup:

[rossirider]

Does it really matter where you put the oil filter? I can understand that it will cool the oil faster if there is airflow hence lower temps but im just wondering how much it will affect the temps if say the the oil cooler was installed in the engine bay or just behind the front indicators.

[Bludger]

Does it really matter where you put the oil filter? I can understand that it will cool the oil faster if there is airflow hence lower temps but im just wondering how much it will affect the temps if say the the oil cooler was installed in the engine bay or just behind the front indicators.Any form of radiator for air/fluid should be and is meant to be installed where air will flow through it.

Its pointless having an oil cooler if you're going to install it in the engine bay.

[bennjamin]

Any form of radiator for air/fluid should be and is meant to be installed where air will flow through it.

Its pointless having an oil cooler if you're going to install it in the engine bay.

Having any type of radiator in the engine bay is better than simply not having one (IE hardline in the same placement) the fins act like a heat sink and will disperse excess heat from the liquid. Not that you would choose to put one in a void area of the engine bay tho !

[Bludger]

Having any type of radiator in the engine bay is better than simply not having one (IE hardline in the same placement) the fins act like a heat sink and will disperse excess heat from the liquid. Not that you would choose to put one in a void area of the engine bay tho !Yes, invest a few hundred dollars and install it into a place where it will reduce maybe 2 degrees????

good one....


hence my pointless remark.

[rossirider]

good points there guys. I'm the kind of guy that likes the clean sleeper look hence I don't want to install it in front of the radiator. The only place where I could think of us next to the radiator behind the front indicators somewhere. Any other suggestions?

[Bludger]

good points there guys. I'm the kind of guy that likes the clean sleeper look hence I don't want to install it in front of the radiator. The only place where I could think of us next to the radiator behind the front indicators somewhere. Any other suggestions?If you're inventive enough, you can mount it anywhere and give it a fan.......

but thats getting complicated.

[connorling]

i have installed the oil cooler, same one as shown here, but my oil pressure is reasonablely high, like 75psi at loading, 50psi at idle, normal???

but the oil temp stay 50 to 70( floor it afound the block, only go up to 70)
amazing

[DLO01]

Is your pressure reading when warm? Where is your pressure sensor located? Have you done the releif valve mod yet? Get a warm reading at idle and Max pressure.

[connorling]

warm reading:
25psi idle. 75psi at loADING.
TEMP : 50-75 DEGREE c

[DLO01]

Those figures are good and the stock readings, but...... Wheres you sensor located? If its before filter, before cooler you will get more pressure drop by the time it gets to your engine.

[ksl]

how much temperature can it be decrease when the oil cooler install?

[connorling]

how much temperature can it be decrease when the oil cooler install?

a lot, from max 110 down to 75.

Those figures are good and the stock readings, but...... Wheres you sensor located? If its before filter, before cooler you will get more pressure drop by the time it gets to your engine.

i put the pressure reading just before the oil goes back to the engine after the cooler.

[mooshie]

I wanted to clarify which way the oil flows. Is it out of the block on the outside and into the block on the inside?
Ie- oil return from the cooler goes through the middle of the spin on adaptor?

[DLO01]

I wanted to clarify which way the oil flows. Is it out of the block on the outside and into the block on the inside?
Ie- oil return from the cooler goes through the middle of the spin on adaptor?

Correct. Oil flows 'outside' of filter first then down the 'middle'. :thumbsup:

[mooshie]

Gonna have to get one of these me thinks. I only want the cooler and not the relocation kit.
Need to sort out where to put my turbo feed line. I was thinking put a T piece on the 'out' part for the aftermarket temp sensor andturbo feed and then run the aftermarket pressure sensor on the 'in'

Reckon I would be pushing it to use the cooler sandwich plate AND my existing plate to get the additional sensor holes?

Maybe I could get them welded...

[jords]

I Gotta quick question about the senders. Which is the best way to set them up?

My guess is that the oil temp goes on the hot side straight out of the block, before the cooler.
And the oil pressure on the return/filter side before it goes down the middle of the adaptor and back into the engine.

Can anyone confirm this??

[DLO01]

Yup! Thats the way to do it. Oil temp before cooler. Its at its hottest there as its just being picked up from the sump. So all good. :thumbsup:

And pressure after the cooler as it enters the engine. That way you can see if your getting stock pressure values going it to the motor. So all good there too. :thumbsup:

[jords]

Thanks again Deano.