FL5 Overheated on Track



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So happy with how this is turning out! Dual oil cooler set up is 95% complete, just need to receive the sandwich plate and link up the lines tomorrow.

The fitment of the various pieces is as good as I could have hoped for. Really looking forward to getting it fully operational tomorrow and then testing in this 100°+ weather. Only question remaining is should I do them parallel or in sequence?

Parts list:

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Found this site.

Choosing and Using Engine Oil Coolers - Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies


Installation Factors

There are just two general rules when it comes to mounting the cooler. (Remember, "all other variables being equal.")

  • Oil coolers require airflow to take heat away. More airflow is better.
  • Cooling depends on the difference in temperature between the air and the oil. Cooler air cools better than warmer air.
The airflow equation is a little complicated. As airflow velocity increases, the additional benefit decreases (the graph begins to flatten around 40 mph). The important takeaway is that your oil cooler needs to be exposed to airflow. The largest oil cooler will be ineffective if it's sealed in the trunk or mounted flat up against the firewall. Air must be able to get into the cooler, and it must be able to get out of the cooler. This is what carries away the heat.

In many cars, this suggests mounting the cooler near the radiator. After all, Detroit / Stuttgart / Tokyo spent a lot of time and effort to locate the water radiator where it would get the best airflow. It seems like a no-brainer to follow their lead. But that leads to the second point above.

Air temperature has a direct effect on oil cooler efficiency. Hot air does not cool as well as cool air. This is why we turn on the AC when we're hot, and not the heater. Mounting the oil cooler behind the radiator can reduce the efficiency of the cooler by as much as half. A better solution would be to mount the cooler in front of the radiator. The trade-off is that the efficiency of the radiator will be affected by the air coming through the cooler, but the effect should be much smaller because the cooler is typically smaller than the radiator. An even better option would be to mount the cooler next to the radiator (assuming there is room) or below the radiator (if it can be protected from damage).

The air temperature difference also means that if we run two oil coolers, they should be plumbed in parallel, rather than in series. If you run two coolers in series, the oil in the second cooler would be cooler (closer to the air temperature) than the oil in the first cooler, making it much less efficient. Another bonus to plumbing in parallel is that it has the same effect as adding more rows to the cooler: Less flow restriction for an even happier oil system.

Much more information about mounting oil coolers for maximum air flow with minimum drag can be found in Chapter Nine of Tune To Win by Carroll Smith.
Summary: Parallel
 

Rhorn

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I actually have the book referenced in that article. I'll attach a pdf of Chapter 9 which has everything about cooling and discuses oil coolers. (I'll also do the full book took) I have no idea who this guy is lol but this information is pretty relevant to the discussion, seems legit to me.

It was published in 1978 lol so the info is pretty old but alot of what that article says is based off of the information in this book. Doesnt seem like oil cooler technology hasnt changed much since then.
 

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I actually have the book referenced in that article. I'll attach a pdf of Chapter 9 which has everything about cooling and discuses oil coolers. I have no idea who this guy is lol but this information is pretty relevant to the discussion, seems legit to me.

It was published in 1978 lol so the info is pretty old but alot of what that article says is based off of the information in this book

I also noticed how BMW had their oil coilers facing the ground in the bumper area and used air being forced in through the bumper to cool them off. That could open up the radiator / brake cooling area again rather than blocking it off. Expend the heat out of the engine bay area as well.
 

Rhorn

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So happy with how this is turning out! Dual oil cooler set up is 95% complete, just need to receive the sandwich plate and link up the lines tomorrow.

The fitment of the various pieces is as good as I could have hoped for. Really looking forward to getting it fully operational tomorrow and then testing in this 100°+ weather. Only question remaining is should I do them parallel or in sequence?

Parts list:
Wow that looks amazing. Its really great that its separated so that it wont impede any airflow to the radiator. Also those vents on the fender are really ingenious. I believe you mentioned that you were going to do a secondary radiator at some time any ideas on where that will go?

Any reason why you went with the HEL sandwich plate instead of the GReddy?
 

siwelnosaj

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Wow that looks amazing. Its really great that its separated so that it wont impede any airflow to the radiator. Also those vents on the fender are really ingenious. I believe you mentioned that you were going to do a secondary radiator at some time any ideas on where that will go?

Any reason why you went with the HEL sandwich plate instead of the GReddy?
The secondary radiator is already on! Take a look at the pic with the bumper off and you'll see it right behind the crash bar.

11th Gen Honda Civic FL5 Overheated on Track 20240709_163927


Also went with hel because if I remember correctly (might be wrong) the greddy isn't thermostatic and hel is
11th Gen Honda Civic FL5 Overheated on Track 45deg-plate-c
 


Rhorn

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The secondary radiator is already on! Take a look at the pic with the bumper off and you'll see it right behind the crash bar.

Also went with hel because if I remember correctly (might be wrong) the greddy isn't thermostatic and hel is
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So with this are you going to connect your oil temperature sensor to it?
 

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I'm not in love of losing the brake duct, but I like the fans on the back of the cooler to help pull air through it
could cut a hole next to the intercooler and run a brake hose duct to the side of the wheel well?
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