When it comes to high-performance engines, maintaining the right operating temperature is critical. Overheating can lead to severe engine damage, reduced efficiency, and premature wear. One of the most effective ways to keep engine oil within optimal temperature ranges is through the use of an engine oil cooler. Proper installation and hose routing are essential to ensure that the oil cooler functions effectively, keeping the engine lubricated and cooled even during demanding driving conditions.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the key considerations for engine oil cooler installation and hose routing, helping you ensure a smooth and efficient setup that maximizes engine longevity.

1. Choosing the Right Engine Oil Cooler

Before we dive into the installation and routing process, it’s important to select the right oil cooler for your engine. There are two main types of oil coolers: air-to-oil coolers and water-to-oil coolers.

• Air-to-oil coolers are the most common and are mounted in front of the radiator or on the side of the engine bay to allow air to pass over them. They’re usually used in motorsport and street applications where cooling efficiency is critical but external coolant lines aren’t an option.
• Water-to-oil coolers are more commonly found in OEM setups, where engine coolant circulates through the cooler to transfer heat from the oil. These are more compact but often require more complex plumbing.

For most aftermarket applications, air-to-oil coolers are easier to install and offer excellent cooling performance for most performance builds. However, selecting the right size and capacity based on your engine’s power output and intended use is crucial.

2. Location of the Oil Cooler

The placement of the oil cooler is critical for its efficiency. Here are some key considerations for optimal positioning:

• Clear Flow of Air: Ideally, the oil cooler should be placed in a location where there’s a constant flow of cool air. This is typically in front of the radiator, where airflow is highest. If the cooler is placed too far from the airflow, it won’t dissipate heat efficiently.
• Avoid Heat Sources: The cooler should not be positioned near other components that generate a lot of heat, like the exhaust manifold or turbocharger. Placing it in a heat-absorbing location can cause the oil to warm up unnecessarily, defeating the purpose of the cooler.
• Accessibility for Maintenance: Choose a spot that makes the cooler and its connections easy to access for maintenance. This includes checking the oil lines and ensuring there’s room to clean or replace the cooler if needed.

3. Oil Cooler Mounting

Once you’ve chosen the ideal location, the next step is mounting the oil cooler. Most aftermarket oil coolers come with brackets and mounting hardware for easy installation. However, if you’re fabricating your own mounts, make sure the cooler is securely attached to prevent vibrations or movement that could damage the cooler or the oil lines.

• Secure and Vibration-Free: The oil cooler should be securely mounted with rubber grommets or isolators to minimize vibrations. Excessive vibrations can cause the cooler or lines to crack over time, leading to leaks.
• Allow Room for Expansion: Ensure there’s enough space around the cooler for airflow, as well as to accommodate any future upgrades or changes to the engine bay.
• Mount with Ports Facing Up: Although not an absolute requirement for proper operation, it is highly recommended to mount the oil cooler with the ports facing up. This ensures that the oil cooler does not drain back to the engine while not in operation, ensuring that oil gets to the engine internals quickly. If the oil cooler drains during engine off, it may require that the oil cooler fills completely before oil gets to the engine, meaning that for those crucial first few seconds of engine start it will not have any oil pressure.

4. Proper Hose Routing

The next crucial step in oil cooler installation is the correct routing of the hoses. The goal here is to ensure smooth oil flow while avoiding sharp bends, kinks, or unnecessary pressure drops.

• Use High-Quality Hoses: Choose oil-resistant, high-quality hoses that are designed to handle the high temperatures and pressures present in the engine oil system. Stainless steel braided hoses are popular due to their durability, resistance to abrasion, and heat protection.
• Avoid Sharp Bends: When routing hoses, avoid sharp angles or tight bends that can restrict oil flow. Excessive bends can cause the oil to move sluggishly, reducing the cooling efficiency of the system.
• Minimize Length: Try to keep the hoses as short as possible. Longer hoses increase friction and can cause a slight pressure drop, reducing the oil flow to the cooler. If longer lines are required, make sure they’re smooth and wide to allow for proper flow.
• Secure the Hoses: Use clamps or ties to secure the hoses along their route, ensuring they are firmly held in place to avoid rubbing against other engine components. This is especially important in high-heat environments, where friction can cause hoses to wear out faster.
• Insulate if Necessary: If hoses must pass near hot engine components, like exhaust manifolds or turbochargers, use heat sleeves or protective insulation to protect the hoses from extreme heat. This will ensure that the oil stays at a stable temperature and won’t be adversely affected by surrounding hot surfaces.

5. Oil Flow Direction

Most oil coolers are designed to flow in one direction: oil enters from the engine’s oil pump and exits through the cooler before returning to the engine. Double-check the cooler’s inlets and outlets to ensure that you’re connecting the hoses correctly. Improper flow direction can result in ineffective cooling, and in some cases, it could damage the cooler or engine.

• Engine to Cooler to Engine: Ensure the oil flows from the engine, through the cooler, and back into the engine’s oil system. This setup ensures that the oil is properly cooled before returning to the engine’s lubrication system.

6. Testing the System

Once the oil cooler is installed and the hoses are routed, it’s time to test the system for leaks and proper function. Check all connections and hoses for signs of leaks and tighten any fittings as needed. Start the engine and monitor the oil temperature with a gauge to ensure that the cooler is doing its job.

• Leak Testing: Before running the engine at full temperature, perform a dry run by starting the engine and checking the system for leaks. It’s crucial to catch any small leaks before they become bigger problems.
• Monitor Oil Temperature: After ensuring there are no leaks, run the engine at operating temperature and monitor the oil temperature. It should stay within the recommended range — typically between 180°F and 220°F (82°C to 104°C) for most performance engines. If the temperature rises significantly, it could indicate that the cooler is not installed correctly or the hoses are restricted.

7. Regular Maintenance

Lastly, it’s important to periodically inspect the oil cooler, hoses, and fittings. Over time, heat and pressure can take their toll, leading to potential wear and tear. Regularly check for signs of leaks, hose damage, or any obstruction in the cooler that could reduce its efficiency. Keep the cooler clean and free of debris to ensure optimal airflow.

Conclusion

Proper engine oil cooler installation and hose routing are vital to keeping your engine running smoothly, especially in high-performance or heavy-duty applications. By selecting the right cooler, mounting it securely, routing the hoses carefully, and ensuring everything is sealed and functioning correctly, you can significantly improve your engine’s ability to maintain an optimal operating temperature. This results in better performance, enhanced longevity, and a reduction in the risk of catastrophic engine failure due to overheating.

Whether you’re building a track car, a tow rig, or a high-performance street machine, investing time in the proper installation and maintenance of your engine oil cooler will pay off in the long run.

FLF is proud to introduce a new way for wholesale dealers to sell FLF products. We understand that the large breadth of FLF products can make it difficult to sell online and the task of maintaining a website and order fulfillment can be a very tedious task.

We’re here to help make things simple. Rather than worry about maintaining inventory levels, shipping, and pricing updates, we’re proud to introduce the new FLF Affiliate program. This will allow wholesale customers the ability to sell FLF products and receive a commission payout automatically.

The best part? We’ll handle inventory and shipping. You can use this opportunity to take advantage of our full warehouse and product catalog without the need to worry about stocking every single fitting in your shop. We believe this will be a great benefit to our stocking dealers as they will have an additional sales avenue without the need to maintain a full website.

Getting started is extremely easy!

Step 1: Log into your FLF wholesale account and click “Affiliate Dashboard” on the dealer tools menu at the bottom of the page.

Step 2: Click on the “Become a Dealer” button and your wholesale account will automatically be approved as an FLF Affiliate account.

Step 3: After activating your FLF Affiliate account, click on “Link Generator” to create the link that you can share with your customers and start earning sales commissions!

Of course, if you have any questions or need help with setting up your account, you can call us at 866-RACE-561 and we’ll be happy to help.

New product at FLF! Our Heat Shrink Sealing Tubes help to seal our Heat Protection Sleeves against the fitting or other component, helping to prevent heat or other elements from entering the sleeve and helps to keep things in place. Available in 1-foot roll sizes for any project, with longer bulk rolls to be made available soon!

New for 2024, the Street Killer shirt features super soft cotton and lets you rock out with a sick R34 GT-R. Show off your JDM pride!

Available in sizes from small to 2XL.

90 Degree Fuel Cell Bulkhead

Installing a fuel cell bulkhead in a tight space? These can help make it a little easier to connect your fuel system’s AN fittings if you’re height restricted!

AN Male Union with 1/8″ NPT Port Adapter
45 & 90 Degree Angles Now Available

New for our AN Union adapters featuring an NPT Port, you can now get this product in 45 and 90 degree angles to accommodate additional plumbing system solutions.

Major Revision to Banjo Bolts

We have revised our banjo bolt inventory to include a greater variety of sizes to accommodate additional plumbing solutions for our customers. Now included in our specifications are head diameter, overall and underhead lengths, and metric thread. Expanded standard thread banjo bolts will be made available soon for purchase as well.

G-thread (from Gas or Gewinde) is a 55 degree parallel pipe thread. These can have male or female thread and o-rings can be used for low pressure lines under static load.

G-threads are NOT compatible with NPS, nor are they compatible with any tapered thread such as NPT or BSPT. The angle, shape, and thread-pitch of the threads are different, and attempting to use or force the use of these threads can damage the fitting, requiring replacement.

According to the current G-thread standard, the specs are identical to BSPP (British Standard Pipe Parallel) and can be used interchangeably. If, for example, you have a G1/8 fitting, you can use a 1/8″ BSPP fitting in its place.

You may encounter G-thread fittings or threaded holes on some European vehicles.

BSPP to AN adapter fittings are available on our website under the BSP Adapters product category.

Dry break quick disconnect and fittings are vital components in motorsport applications. They allow for quick and easy fuel and oil changes during pit stops, reducing the amount of time spent in the pit lane and increasing the team’s chances of winning. But what exactly are they, and how do they work?

Dry break quick disconnect and fittings are a type of coupling system that allows for fast and easy connection and disconnection of fuel and oil lines. They are designed to eliminate spills and drips when disconnecting lines, which can be dangerous in a high-performance motorsport environment. They are typically made of lightweight and durable materials such as aluminum or stainless steel, and come in a variety of sizes and configurations to suit different motorsport applications.

The dry break quick disconnect and fittings system consists of two parts: the male and female halves. The male half is typically attached to the fuel or oil line, while the female half is attached to the fuel or oil tank. The two halves are designed to connect and disconnect quickly and easily, with no need for tools or special equipment.

The dry break quick disconnect and fittings system is ideal for motorsport applications where fast and efficient pit stops are essential. For example, in endurance races, where every second counts, a quick fuel or oil change can mean the difference between winning and losing. The system is also popular in drag racing, where speed and performance are crucial.

One of the main advantages of dry break quick disconnect and fittings is their ability to prevent spills and drips. This is particularly important in a motorsport environment, where a small fuel or oil spill can be dangerous. The system is designed to be completely leak-proof, meaning that fuel and oil will not escape when disconnecting the lines.

Another advantage of the system is its ease of use. With no need for tools or special equipment, the system can be quickly and easily connected and disconnected by pit crew members. This means that pit stops can be carried out quickly and efficiently, reducing the amount of time spent in the pit lane.

In conclusion, dry break quick disconnect and fittings are an essential component in motorsport applications. They offer a fast and efficient way to change fuel and oil lines during pit stops, while also preventing spills and drips. They are easy to use and can be quickly and easily connected and disconnected by pit crew members, making them an essential tool for any motorsport team looking to gain a competitive edge.

In motorsports, having a reliable fuel system is crucial for performance and safety. One of the most important components in the fuel system is the fuel filter. A fuel filter’s main function is to remove any impurities, such as dirt, rust, and debris, from the fuel before it enters the engine. This helps to protect the engine from damage and ensures that the engine is running on clean fuel.

Motorsport fuel filters are designed to handle the high-performance demands and harsh conditions of motorsports. They are typically made from high-quality materials, such as aluminum or stainless steel, which can withstand high temperatures, pressures, and vibrations. Some of the fuel filters are designed to be reusable, while others are designed to be disposable.

There are a few different types of motorsport fuel filters available, each with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. The most common types of motorsport fuel filters are paper element filters, reusable element filters, and foam element filters.

Paper element filters are the most common type of fuel filter and are typically the most affordable. They are made from a pleated paper material that is designed to trap impurities and debris. They are disposable, which means they need to be replaced when they become clogged.

Reusable element filters, also known as washable filters, are another popular choice for motorsports. They are made from a metal mesh or wire material that can be cleaned and reused multiple times. They are more expensive than paper element filters, but they have a longer lifespan and can save money in the long run.

Foam element filters are similar to reusable element filters but are made from a foam material. They are also washable and reusable, and can filter out smaller particles than paper or metal element filters. However, foam element filters can absorb fuel and can become heavy, so they need to be checked regularly and cleaned when necessary.

When choosing a fuel filter for motorsports, it’s important to consider the type of engine, the type of fuel, and the conditions in which the vehicle will be used. For high-performance engines, a reusable or foam element filter may be a better choice as they can handle higher flow rates and filter out smaller particles. For vehicles that will be used in harsh conditions, a filter made from aluminum or stainless steel may be a better choice as they can withstand high temperatures, pressures, and vibrations.

In conclusion, motorsport fuel filters are an essential component of a high-performance fuel system. They remove impurities and debris from the fuel, protecting the engine from damage and ensuring that the engine is running on clean fuel. There are a few different types of motorsport fuel filters available, each with their own set of advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the right one for your specific application.