After my last track event with the oil temp alarm coming on with oil temps approaching 300*F (which I think partly might be due to a TSB issued by GM a while ago) but still with tracking the car in the FL summers I figured I couldnt only benefit from an oil cooler. People have told me that it's just another failure point or another place for oil to leak, but I'd rather have something go wrong with the oil cooler or have a little leak than toast a motor due to high oil temps.

GM must have known this car would have oil temp issues because there is a in/out oil port built into the side of the block, right above the oil plate, and comes with just a block-off plate from the factory.

I decided to go with a smaller sized Mocal cooler, Aeroquip AN fittings and Aeroquip Star Lite -10AN hose. Katech Performance (who builds engines for the Pratt & Miller - ALMS C6Rs, SCCCA WC Camaros, Corvettes and the new CTS-V) makes a beautiful -10AN oil cooler adapter for the CTS-V, so I went with that.

I figured it would be a fairly easy install; the most difficult would be figuring out where/how to mount the cooler, and I've never worked with AN lines before, but it seemed fairly straight forward...

I built a bracket to mount the mocal oil cooler bracket to the back of the front bumper since it is angled. That turned out pretty good, and I love how easy the cooler is to access; right behind the grille which takes 2 minutes to access.

My only issues were clearance for the fittings coming off of the adapter plate; there wasnt much area to run the lines, and I could only angle the fittings a certain way because of such little amount of space. I ran the IN line on the inside of the motor mount and the OUT line on the outside of the motor mount. Just as a precaution, I wrapped the lines near the engine/motor mount and exhaust manifolds with DEI cool-tape.

Another thing I noticed is these Aeroquip fittings do not screw on all the way. What I mean by that is the socket (which you insert the hose into first) does not screw all the way onto the fitting itself, as you can see some threads are exposed in the pictures. I think this might be due to the new design of the Aeroquip fitting; it does not have that "space" underneath the threads on the fitting, the hose actually clamps between the threads inside the socket and the nipple. I tightened the shit out of it, and I just simply could not get it to thread on any further.

Here is the type of fitting I have, notice how the hose secures between the threads and the nipple:



Im not too worried about it though; it's not leaking at all, I just dont understand how some of the other fittings can sit flush with no threads showing when a hose is installed. I think it just may be the design...

I am not too impressed with the mocal cooler though; the AN fittings on the top look real cheap, and I've aleady noticed a slight weeping between the male AN port and and the base of the Aeroquip fitting. I had to put the white plumbers thread tape on the AN port on the cooler to get it to stop leaking. From what I have SEEN, the Setrab coolers dont come with AN ports at the top, just the threads so you can add your own. I would have rather purchased high quality Aeroquip fittings for the ports on the cooler and think that would prevent any leaks from poor build quality/tolerances.

Other than the slight weep, which I think I've fixed, the car runs great. During normal driving my oil temps would be anywhere between 235 and 245, and I've noticed that my temps are at 201-213 now, and around 70mph the oil temps will stay right at 204ish. I cannot wait to test it out on track; I am already noticing a huge difference.

Anyways, here are some pics:

 

Sweet pics!

Good move on staying away from stainless braided...I regret having them. I'm always isolating them to keep from destroying everything they touch.

I understand you should get a fingernails width on the hose side of the AN fittings.

Keep an eye on your water temp now that you're superheating the air going to the radiator. This is a huge concern on my car...not sure about yours. I have to mount my cooler low and parallel to get clean air to the radiator.

A failure of the fitting is usually not just a weep, it will pump your oil out at 60psi...more than a garden hose. Just happened to a guy at Road Atlanta when I was there last week. What a mess it made to his car AND the track. He was using push on fittings...glad to see you're not.

I also have to adapt my AN fittings to the oil cooler...I have a Tru-Cooler setup.

Are you running a thermostat on the oil cooler?

 

I absolutely LOVE the Aeroquip star lite hose, it is so simple to use and cut!

I havent heard any issues from guys about superheating the air going to the radiator on the CTS-V. The cooler is about 5 1/2 inches tall and the radiator is absolutely MASSIVE on this thing, but it will be something that I monitor.

Also, in regards to the fittings, I simply couldnt use any more force at all on these hoses, I was cranking like hell and it wouldnt go any further... but theyre not leaking at all so im not too worried.

 

Nice write up. If oil is going to leak it will do so under pressure.

You should add it to your blog entries and/or share it in the GM Tech section.

 

Oh, and no, I'm not running a thermostat on the cooler (yet). I am considering adding one in-line, but the only one I can find is by Mocal. I'd like to find some other options.

Also, I saw you are instructing at Sebring on 4/30, I will be running that weekend as well! Im going to try to do both days if possible.

 

thanks! not a bad idea, i think i will do that.

 

Might have to pull out due to a BMW event at Starke...we'll see.