so i have been thinking about installing an oil cooler in my mini because i tend to do alot of highway kilometers and im not exactly using a long diff ratio so by the time i get to my destination my oil pressure drops to around 40psi (ish)

i have browsed around the forum but couldnt find any definitive answers

but someone mentioned that they are a waste of time unless its gonna take a beating at the track.

the engine is under 6000km old its a 1310 with a stage 2 cam(not sure on the exact specifications) highcomp pistons, extractors, twin su's, etc. not sure on the exact on the exact diff ratio but it sits at around 4000rpm at 100km/h

so should i install the oil cooler or is it a waste of money and time?

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i like it loud

How hot is your oil now?

Now that Sir is an inspired question and one that 99% of people with an oil cooler won’t be able to answer.

Surly the highway driving would provide enough air flow to keep the engine at a good operating temperature (if everything was working correctly).

If the oil pressure is dropping to a dangerously low level it may be worth investigation why.

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WD40'll fix it!
If it don't, use a big hammer!

yeah i dont know how hot the oil is, maybe i should get an oil temp gauge before the oil cooler. nothing should be wrong with the engine cause its new, but i may just double check the pressure relief valve to be sure cause i cant think of what else it could be

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i like it loud

Just to clarify, once the car is norm temp, what is the idle and highway pressure at the beginning of your journey.

..and what are those readings at the end of your journey.

If you mean it drops to 40 psi at highway speed that doesn't sound too good.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Did you build the engine yourself?

If you didn't go see the engine builder and tell him what’s happening and see what his opinion is.

It could be as simple as the Ol' ball bearing in the oil spring trick.

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WD40'll fix it!
If it don't, use a big hammer!

Please forgive me for disagreeing.

If your oil pressure is dropping off as the engine gets hot (and recovering when the engine is cool) you will benefit from an oil cooler...

Cheers, Ian

it drops down to 40psi when i get into the 50 zone after about an hour on the highway. before hand its around 70-80psi if i dont go out onto the highway

the car is in with the engine builder at the moment cause i keep blowing out the uni joints so he is upgrading the driveline to those pot joint ones which i have no idea about and i dont have the time or expertiese to change the output shafts on the diff. so i asked him to look into it while he's got the engine out

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i like it loud

Other engines with higher power output cope without the addition of an oil cooler. It has been stated that the oil temp is unknown. Surly if the engine has no issues an oil cooler is not needed.
Adding a cooler is only masking the symptom of a different issue. Yes a cooler may keep the pressure up but you really need to know why it is dropping in the first place.
It’s like complaining that you are cold at night, sleeping with an extra blanket and then realizing that your roof is missing.

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WD40'll fix it!
If it don't, use a big hammer!

the sump is partially covered with a full metal sump guard as it only sits 86mm off the tarmac at the moment on the std cones, but i will be keeping the sump guard on their after i fix up the suspension anyways. could that possible be contributing to the problem? as in not having much air flow around the sumps cooling fins?

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i like it loud

The plot thickens.

I'd say that would make a difference to the cooling.

You may want to consider adding an oil cooler.

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WD40'll fix it!
If it don't, use a big hammer!

what grade of oil are u running?

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A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damn...that was fun!"

get the hole saw out and go to town adding "speed holes" into the sump guard...

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Here am I sitting in my tin can far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do...



“A turbo: exhaust gasses go into the turbocharger and spin it, witchcraft happens and you go faster.” - Jeremy Clarkson

i just remembered it then cause i saw a picture of it, thought it might be worth mentioning

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i like it loud

You already have an oil cooler

The big finned sump.

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You're so square
Baby I don't care