Should I consider installing an engine oil cooler? I know that some Corvettes have them from the factory? I'm not sure which ones and if there are better aftermarket versions available.

What is your take?

GM did away with the coolers with the LT1 and require the synthetic oil that does not breakdown from heat as easily.
For a daily driver it woulld be a waste of money and just another possible leak point.

I agree with Andy somewhat and don't think you'd see any problems at an AutoX without one.

At the track, it may be different since you're out there for 20 - 30 minutes.
PM, Jon (Spectator) and see if he uses one because he runs his LT1 to the max.

The easy installation will require a sandwitch adaptor which will lower your oil filter 1 1/2 to 2 inches, might be a consideration with headers.

Or you can put an adapter on thet requires relocation of the oil filter.

For DD, you need to add an adjustable thermostat, some are good, some don't work very well.

Some aftermarket are constructed much better than others, of course the price goes up.

I have a new, never installed one with the oil filter adapter that I'd part with very reasonable. I'd have to check if it fits an LT1, I know it fits all SBC's.

If you had a C5, I'd say it's a must for the track.

Probably not needed for AX.

Sustained 3000 + rpm will heat the oil.

If its a driver & track car you will want the thermostat sandwich adaptor.

I installed an engine oil cooler with a T-stat operated cooling fan mounted in front of the radiator.

However, I have a SBC 400, which tends to run hot. My thinking is I will have better control of engine operating temps if I can monitor and cool the temp of both the major engine fluids.

The oil pan has a temp sender, with a gauge inside, and a T-stat set to turn on the cooler fan when oil temps reach 195. I originally had this cooler and T-stat set up for my transmission fluid but not once did the fan ever turn on. I still run a cooler for the transmission fluid, along with the fan cooler for the engine oil.

A little clarification on the "oil cooler" for earlier C4s. It was the oil filter housing that had coolant running through it. It was more of an oil heater than oil cooler.

Hoses ran across the front of the engine, from the waterpump area (I don't remember the start point, but it had to do with the heat), to the housing, through and out, back into the block, where a knock sensor would normally be expected to go.

If anything, it added about 6 leak point for the coolant!

As an aside, we have an add-on trans oil cooler for the Jeep. No leaks and does seem to help keep the trans fluid a lot nicer over time.

Autox'ed for years w/o one.

I've done track events w/o one, but after seeing 250 temps on the oil I'm having one installed for the supercharged engine.

HPDE yes, AutoX no.

Quote:

GM has other priorities. It was probably cheaper to throw fancy oil in there and cross their fingers until the warranty expired, than to keep buying oil coolers.

I'm on the fence about these oil filter sandwich thermostats, because the temp rating is too low.

There's a Derale rated at 180F I believe, but the ports are small and restrictive, and the design seems cheap.

Then there's a nice billet Earl's unit, but it's rated at 160F which seems way too low for a street car.

From the consensus I have saved myself another headache for now. It was a thought, as I am planning the engine installation etc. I just ordered my oil pan and was thinking about the cooler. If I ever venture into road racing then perhaps I'll consider a DeWitts radiator with the built in cooler.

I think that's the way to go, but keep it simple until you have a need for it, its not like you won't see it coming. The Dewitts for your year I believe fits the oil cooler in the hot side of the radiator. This is good for a street car IMO, tempering the oil against the coolant temp leaving the thermostat. It will still give you a good 40F temperature difference and function more like the old factory coolers during warmup but with more capacity. Plus it leaves space for the trans cooler in the cold side.

I had them put the EOC in the cold side of mine because there's no where else to put it on early vettes and I didn't like the idea of an air cooled unit, or making room for one.

If I didn't already have an aftermarket radiator, that's what I'd do.