External oil cooler - Setrab or ? air cooled Westy

[jimeg]

I'm wanting to install an external oil cooler on my 82 AC Westy.

The Setrab looks like the best performer. It also has a fan, which makes sense to me for when I'm stuck crawling on I-5 in the summer.

After a few hours of Samba searching, my conclusion for best cooling performance is a Setrab with fan located up front.

Am I missing anything? Is this the one, and is the front the ideal location? I saw Tencentlife's unit too, which looks like it is for water cooled engines....?? No fan though. Maybe not necessary? I'd rather spend a little more on a quality set up, but at the same time I don't want to spend more than I need to.

Thanks
-Jim

[Randy in Maine]

They are normally mounted just forward of the transaxle. Mounting up front is a lot of hose to deal with.

[netcruzer]

If you add an external oil cooler, does it take longer for the engine to reach normal operating temp?

I've read a lot about how important having a working thermostat/flaps are, in order to get a fast warmup and avoid startup wear. Would adding an external cooler cause longer warmups and potentially more long term long warmup damage?

I'm curious, as I'm also a recent AC owner, with everything stock and no gauges... so I'm totally in the dark as to what temps everything is running at start, idle, load, etc.
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'82 Air-Cooled Vanagon Westfalia

[jimeg]

I would install a thermostat that would bypass the cooler until the oil reached temperature. Much like a water cooled thermostat. That is my understanding. There are certainly more qualified people on this site to explain it, but I believe this is how it works.

[Zeitgeist 13]

There's no way I would run an oil cooler without a thermostat. Here's an interesting option I'm exploring, which is the stock Volvo 740 turbo setup. It includes a sandwich plate with internal thermo. I picked up the complete package w/hoses for $17

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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH
'01 Weekender --> full camper
NEAT, no ICE.

[bignut]

the volvo sandwich looks like its the way to go, will it fit the aircooled motor?
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Tim Ding

[jimeg]

The price sure is right on that Volvo set up.
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1986 Root Beer Syncro Tin Top....so many plans.

Here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=578490

[Zeitgeist 13]

At this point I still have no clue whether it will fit any application other than what it was intended for originally. Theoretically it should fit most engines with a spin-on filter, assuming the sandwich plate and hoses won't interfere with adjacent peripherals.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH
'01 Weekender --> full camper
NEAT, no ICE.

[wildenbeast]

Some of this info may help;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3...mp;start=0
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- Bill, '93 Eurovan Syncro Weekender (2.5 manual ACU)

[a914622]

[Zeitgeist 13]

Yeah, now that I think of it, your Caddy was probably the inspiration that prompted me to pick up the Volvo setup. Of course, you also inspired me to recently buy my 944 steering wheel, too. Thanks!
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH
'01 Weekender --> full camper
NEAT, no ICE.