I'm switching from power steering to manual steering and have a power steering cooler that I don't need. Is it be possible or worth my time to try to use it as an oil cooler?
Why not? I have thought of using it as that, and any little bit of extra cooling is nothing but beneficial. It cannot hurt anything. But, of course, you would be better off using an actual oil cooler, like we used on old vw bug engines. Much more cooling surface area.
It hasn't got enough capacity to cool your oil to any appreciable amount. It you want an oil cooler then buy one that is big enough to make a difference.
I use one on my EFI 302 off a Ford F250 with 351w. It mounts to the block on the oil filter pad, then the oil filter mounts to the cooler. Then 2 hoses come out and go to a fitting mounted in the middle of the lower rad hose. Engine coolant, fresh from the radiator, flows into the cooler on the block, then out to the water pump. Works great, and the engine temps went down when I installed it. Got it from the junkyard. I don't think tranny cooler or PS cooler lines are big enough to flow the oil. Remote oil filter lines and oil cooler lines are twice the size to flow the volume needed. Small lines would probably starve the engine for oil as a bottleneck.
Power steering coolers are also mounted on the low pressure side of the power steering system and good oil pumps are capable of providing 100-120psi oil pressure. I wouldn't risk it personally. Trans cooler with sufficient line size ie: 1/2" or bigger, would be a better choice but I would advise a customer to use an actual engine oil cooler. I use a Mustang sandwich style oil cooler from a late '80's police interceptor. I don't monitor oil temp but the hot idle pressure increased by 5-10psi and the coolant temp didn't rise at all. plus it warms the oil quicker.
Here's another oil cooler from the junkyard http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/OilCooler.htm http://www.corral.net/tech/powerplant/coolertips.html
I've seen these before,not just for BMW's,but any filter. I never researched them,but it looks like a plausible idea! http://www.bmpdesign.com/product-ex...tegory_id/48/search_year/1986/search_model/12
When I use an oil cooler I want one that will actually lower the oil temp. Putting a water cooling jacket at the base of the filter isn't going to cout it and a finned aluminum cover is almost that bad. Think about it; do you want to have oil that is at least 180 - 190F? That is the minimum temperature of your water! Get a large oil cooler (they look like transmission coolers but a bit stronger) and place it in front of your radiator where it will get cool air. You only need the oil to get hot enough to remove moisture from combustion and condensation. Once the engine gets to 120F that begins to happen.
the water that is used in the oil coolers described above comes from the cold side of the radiator. your temp gage is reference to the hot side of the cooling system. i have no idea how much the radiator cools the coolant but im sure it is alot lower than 180 degrees. with that being said i personaly like the air to fluid coolers more. lots of newer full size trucks have air to fluid oil coolers on them. it shouldnt be very hard to find one in the salvage yard. the viscosity of the oil recomended for the motor is based on the expected operating temp of the oil and the motor so it might be a good idea to drop down to the next lower viscosity oil when you put the cooler in.
Especially if you change your oil regularly. fluid to air coolers actually cool the oil too much in the cooler seasons for normal driving. Even most newer factory heavy duty (towing) trans coolers are routed through a thermostat and the radiator to maintain an optimum temperature. Oil that is too cold isn't much better than oil that is too hot.
On a street car, long periods of idling would be where you see oil heat up, engine going sour, extreme hot weather. I wouldn`t use one, heck here in Pa. we need heaters!
Great point. I run a 160 stat, so the engine side coolant gets that hot, then goes to the radiator. What comes back has to be MUCH lower, and that cooler water is what runs through the oil cooler.
