HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT (BEST) OIL COOLER FOR YOUR  APPLICATION

By Jean Genibrel

Do you want (need?!) an oil cooler on your passenger car, truck, motorhome, Jeep, off-road vehicle, street rod, or race car? But how do you know which cooler is the right one for your application?

Best is Not Always Right

As a consumer, you want the best goods your money can buy. But the best is not necessarily what is right for the application you have in mind. The best should also mean “right for the application”.

WHAT IS THE RIGHT COOLER FOR YOUR APPLICATION?

“Universal” needs not apply! At AppliedSpeed.com Purpose-Made only gets the job!

The right cooler is the one that is purpose-made for its application!

NOT NUMBER OF TUBES

Most oil cooler manufacturers and dealers sell “oil coolers”. AppliedSpeed.com, in their Oil Cooler Category, offers application-specific oil coolers. So, if you need an oil cooler for your 450-horsepower muscle car, AppliedSpeed.com, on its website, displays oil coolers that match the horsepower output and usage of the car, like racing, cruising, towing, or just street use.

The Right Oil Cooler is The One That is:

1. Purpose-made for your application, such as for the engine, transmission, gearbox, differential, and power steering.

2. A cooler from a manufacturer that uses the effective cooler surface area for your easy comparison.

3. Of the proper construction for your application that includes strength and effectiveness. The correct construction for all applications for efficiency and durability is the Stacked Plate design and the presence of internal oil turbulators. Other critical factors include fin design, brazed welding, and large port dimensions.

4. Of adequate surface area and port dimensions to keep the temperature within an acceptable range, and to limit pressure loss, because the number of tubes is meaningless!

5. A cooler from a well-established manufacturer with extensive experience in cooling products and fluid conveyance like Earl's Performance and B&M Racing.

6. When chosen properly the right cooler will be of adequate dimensions to properly cool the fluid and to minimize pressure drop.

EFFECTIVE COOLING SURFACE AREA COMPARISON, NOT NUMBER OF TUBES

The “Effective Cooling Surface Area” of an oil cooler is probably the most important factor in comparing the cooling ability between oil coolers.

PROPER CONSTRUCTION OF THE RIGHT COOLER

The right cooler should be of the best construction and design.

• The cooler’s fins are designed to maximize heat transfer

• The suitable cooler is also available as a fan pack for low-airflow locations.

• The effective surface area of the coolers should be listed for a simple and accurate comparison between coolers.

• Effective Cooling Area Square Inches - 42.38 sq. in.

  Automatic Transmission Cooler Applications - Pick-Up Trucks and SUVs - Midsize Cars and Light Towing - Campers - Race Cars and Muscle Cars up to 400HP - 10,000 to 15,000 lbs. Loaded

  Differential Cooler Applications - Race Cars up to 250HP - Vehicles up to 15,000 lbs. Total Weight

  Effective Cooling Area Square Inches - 42.38 sq. in.

  Engine HP Range -250