Plumbing Oil Cooler/Remote Oil Filter 1

[spdingtkts]

Does anyone see any type of problem plumbing an engine so that oil exits the block, goes through a remote oil filter assembly, then out of the filter into a cooler and then back into the block?

The hose size used will be -10.

The engine is a GM 6.5L Turbo Diesel used in a 99 Suburban.

Thanks.

 

[patprimmer]

Running all the oil through a filter and cooler can result in very high oil pressure when cold, possibly resulting in broken oil pump drives or blown oil canisters.

A thermostat controlled 3 way valve between the filter and the cooler that diverts oil past the cooler is a good idea.

These are were available as oil cooler thermostats, but it is to long since I bought one to remember the source.

Regards
pat pprimmer@acay.com.au
eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[spdingtkts]

Are you saying that the two plumbed in tandem would cause this while the two plumbed independently would not?

 

[patprimmer]

I never plumbed them in parallel, as that would bypass to much oil from the filter.

I think it is desirable to have 100% of the oil flow go through the filter, but after that, a controlled amount only should go through the cooler. The cooler bypass can be pressure or temperature activated, as there will be a direct relationship between temperature and pressure.

I plumbed pump output directly to a full flow filter, then to a "T", one arm from the "T" to the cooler, the other arm to bypass the cooler To a "T" between the cooler and the main gallery on the block. The cooler bypass line had a temperature sensitive valve built in so that it closed when the oil was hot, thereby forcing all the oil to the cooler. When the valve was open, the oil could go through both the cooler and the bypass, but as the cooler is quite restrictive, the vast majority of the flow was through the cooler bypass.

Regards
pat pprimmer@acay.com.au
eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[spdingtkts]

OK

I plumbed it this way because the block's oil filter boss is cracked, which is common for these engines. My friend bought the engine cheap with 200 miles on it to replace his blown engine. The guy he got if from welded the crack and said it was good to go - you know, the old "I have welded a million of those and never had a problem deals."

Well I put the engine in and low and behold once it was under pressure it leaked.

So I installed pipe plugs in the return holes and came out of the block, into the filter, through the cooler and back into the engine via the stock return port for the oil filter.

I also removed all the stock bypass valves as I was afraid running through both the filter and cooler might cause the bypass valve to hang open. I figured if there were any issues I would rather deal with it on the outside with an external bypass.

It has 25 lbs of oil pressure at an idle and it goes right up to 70 (or higher) when revved up.

 

[patprimmer]

70 is OK

If you start dead cold middle of winter and hit 150# is when the trouble starts.

If the driver understands and keeps the revs real low until it warms up a bit all is fine, but when someone else drives it and revs it dead cold, that's when you have a serious problem.

Lighter weight synthetic oils also help in this regard.



Regards
pat pprimmer@acay.com.au
eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[spdingtkts]

Those figures are with the truck sitting in a "heated" garage, not outside in the cold of MA. The garage temp was about 60 degrees and the truck has been in for seems like forever.

The owner lets the truck warm up before he goes anywhere.
He has always run synthetics, but like a 15w50. I spoke with him and he is going to run a 10w30 from now on.

Even with the 10w30 and letting the truck warm up, do you think that there will be a lack of flow problem when the engine is first started up cold, especially in the winter?

 

[evelrod]

I plumb all my oil heat exchangers this way. I always go to the filter first then the cooler. In the event of problems (?) it keeps me from buying a new cooler.
I have used this system in Colorado on a 289 Ford with no problems (10W-30 Castrol) and that is the way my stock Dodge diesel is plumbed. If it's too cold I doubt that the diesel would start unless you have it plugged in, at least mine had problems in sub zero weather at 12,000ft.

For thermostats and bypasses, any good speed shop should have access to what you need.
I use the internet to do much of my ordering these days.

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com

They are very reliable. I know mail order can be tricky if you don't do it a lot so, I do reccommend them.
part # 1226-10AN $93.69

Rod

 

[spdingtkts]

I would guess that something thermostatically controlled would be the way to go.

It would bypass the cooler until the oil got up to temp.

I looked a the part you suggested evelrod and it would be along the lines of what I would need. However, I wonder if there is someone who makes a 3 port setup as it would be easier to plumb.

 

[spdingtkts]

By the way, he does plug the truck in during the winter months.

 

[evelrod]

I don't know. Plumbing the t stat is pretty simple. From the filter 'out' to the tstat --- tstat to cooler---cooler to tstat and ---tstat to main oil gallery. Failure mode is 'open' should that occur. There are units available with a pressure tap for warning light, pressure switch or, whatever.

In addition, I would reccommend a quality 5W-20 (I am not crazy for synthetics in a diesel, generally) if it's really cold consistantly with a high flow rate filter. It does no good to have a 5 or 10 micron filter if the oil just goes through the bypass.

Rod

 

[spdingtkts]

He just uses the regular AC Delco oil filter.

 

[spdingtkts]

And how cold does it get in CO?

 

[patprimmer]

Thanks Rod

1225 looks exactly like the one I used.

Regards
pat pprimmer@acay.com.au
eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[evelrod]

How cold? Cold enough for me to move to California.
How cold? Cold enough for the tires of my Caddy to freez to the street.
How cold? Cold enough that I had to put a Coleman stove under the pan of my little red Ford to warm the oil up enough to get it to crank over.
How cold? Cold enough, I reckon. Heck, I did not even have a fan, much less an oil cooler!

My step brother used to drain the oil from his truck and put it under his bed at night---in Antarctica!!!

Rod

 

[TOHCan]

And don't forget that most oil pumps have a built-in high pressure bypass to prevent popping a filter when cold.

 

[spdingtkts]

I sent him the link to Pegasus and he ordered one yesterday.

Looks like I am going to be making up more hoses.