A running car engine continually generates heat; if this heating is left to keep on rising can bring about the breakdown of your car engine. If you dream of having your car run for long without much wear and tear on the engine, then consider using an engine oil cooler. The oil cooler works on the principle that oil can easily penetrate all moving parts of the engine. In addition, the oil is viscous and has a high boiling point; thus, it can withstand exceptionally high temperatures.
The oil cooler helps regulate engine temperature by transferring the hot oil to the tube, where excess heat is released into the air through the radiator. Naturally, warm substances are lighter, so hot oil would rise, as it is also thin. The thinness makes it easy to reach all movable parts and collect as much heat as possible.
Once the oil is heated, it flows to the cooler (radiator), where it loses heat and gets thicker as it flows to the base of the radiator passing through several tubes or fins where it drops the high temperatures at the radiator before rushing back to the engine. The engine oil cooler circulates the oil through the pistons as the car engine is running, then to tubes where heat is lost and back.
Engine oil in automotive lubricates helps regulate the temperature of moving metallic parts of an engine or transmissions. The surfaces of such components produce friction, which generates heat; without a cooler, oil can prematurely break down, eventually causing engine wear and failure.
There are two forms of oil coolers, the fin and tube system and the tube and shell system. The tube and fin method is normally positioned in front of the car radiator, and engine oil passing through copper tubes is cooled down by air via the system’s fins. The shell and tube cooling system circulate liquid coolant or water around a set of tubes to cool down the heated oil.
Standard vehicles usually have no requirement for engine oil coolers as their radiators are adequate to supply the cooling demands of engines. However, oil coolers are generally installed on specialized automobiles, like racing cars, high-performance cars, towing trucks, and extra-large vehicles haul serious loads.
The Pros & Cons of Engine Oil Coolers
Engine oil coolers are the aftermarket addition to a vehicle. They take advantage of the science of the radiator and put it toward the engine oil to maintain it cooler over a standard vehicle’s oil source.
Function
Engine oil coolers move around the engine oil by having a maze of tubes that consequently cools it. As a result, temperatures can shift 30 degrees less than standard oil temperatures via cooler flowing air within the engine compartment.
Benefits
If a vehicle tends off-road or carries consistent hefty loads, an engine oil cooler can assist extend the engine life. In addition, keeping this oil cool prevents heating up during stressful lugging jobs.
Considerations
The downsides to engine oil coolers consist of difficulty of placement. The cooler can’t be connected to the back of the radiator but needs proper airflow to perform. However, attaching them back aside from the radiator is an option if space is accessible. Also, suppose the vehicle doesn’t haul hefty items off-road in diverse places. In that case, an engine oil cooler might be an excessive addition since the standard engine can calm the oil effectively in normal driving circumstances.
Got some important info. However, how do I know whether my vehicle require oil cooler or not? Is there any criteria that I can follow to figure out that? Thanks