When it comes to vehicle performance and life span, maintaining the right temperatures is key. Engine oil coolers are a straightforward addition that can make a significant difference in how your vehicle operates. Learn about the most important characteristics that engine oil coolers possess to improve your vehicle’s performance and longevity.
1. Heightened Vehicle Performance With Durable Materials
The composition of materials used in engine oil coolers is critical to their efficiency and strength, ensuring they effectively manage the thermal conditions within an engine. Aluminum is widely appreciated for its lightweight nature and excellent thermal conductivity. Copper has superior heat transfer capabilities, so it’s often used in the tubes of oil coolers to reduce oil temperature.
Stainless steel and titanium are valued for their strength and corrosion resistance. For drivers that live in humid, hot, and rainy climates, this material is ideal for enduring both the weather and chemical nature of engine oil and coolant fluids.
2. Protects Against Oil Breakdown and Overheating
High engine temperatures accelerate the degradation of engine oil, resulting in the loss of its lubricating properties and viscosity. The oil’s ability to protect engine components from friction and wear is quickly compromised.
Engine oil coolers mitigate this risk by maintaining the oil at the optimal temperature of 230–260 degrees Fahrenheit. The continuous operation steps in to provide a cooling effect that counters the heat generated during combustion and mechanical friction. Through heat dissipation, the oil will remain operating at the proper temperature and prevent the chance of costly repairs and replacements.
3. Offers Two Efficient Designs for Dissipating Heat
You can easily expand the life span of automatic transmissions by choosing the proper engine oil cooler for your vehicle. There are two highly efficient designs of oil coolers to choose from: air-cooled and liquid-cooled components.
Air-Cooled Oil Coolers
Air-cooled oil coolers operate using air to remove excess heat from the oil. They contain a series of tubes or channels through which the oil flows. The tubes are surrounded by fins that increase the surface area for heat dissipation using materials like aluminum to effectively transfer heat into the air.
They’re positioned near a constant source of airflow, like the front of the engine radiator. The simplicity of the design makes them easier to maintain without compromising on quality.
Liquid-Cooled Oil Coolers
Unlike air-cooled oil coolers that use air to dissipate heat, liquid-cooled oil coolers use a coolant fluid—usually a mixture of water and antifreeze—to absorb and remove excess heat from the engine oil. This process ensures the oil retains its lubricating properties and viscosity.
These oil coolers operate by transferring excessive heat from the engine oil to the coolant fluid. This fluid circulates through a series of channels within the cooler, absorbing heat before being cycled through the engine’s radiator to dissipate the heat into the atmosphere.
These components typically consist of a heat exchanger that includes a core with passages for both oil and coolant. The design ensures maximum surface area contact between the oil and the coolant for efficient heat transfer.
Automotive enthusiasts are always searching for ways to try DIY car repairs. With dedication and a great understanding of the most important characteristics of engine oil coolers, you’ll have the skill to upgrade your vehicle like a pro!