DY8

I am looking to participate in Sprint racing / Hill climbing in 2009 with the rx8 (they might be different names in the States, but it's basically a series of short circuit - low - gear racing) and was wondering if anyone had uprated their oil coolers to aid in maintaining a good engine temperature and prevent overheating.

Along with this I'll be fitting a roll cage etc but wondered if there was info on the above I have searched, but there seems to be little info on this subject.

Merci!

Jimmy

Red Devil

You could just get some larger capacity setrab coolers to go in the OEM locations

http://www.setrabusa.com/index2.html

DY8

cheers, I had been looking at Setrab along with Mocal. Mainly wanted to know if there was a "tried and tested" recommendation

Thanks for the reply

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

the coolant temps is more important than the oil. Get the coolant under control and the oil will be taken care of.
OD

darnellm

iTrader: (1)

rotary engines are 1/3 oil cooled so I would not ignore the oil temps
I agree that the water temps are the more critical ;however keeping the oil temps low will help the water temps. Mr Tremblay told me this in person last week.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

oil can go safey over 230F. coolant cannot and mantain engine longetivity.
True oil also serves as a coolant for this engine. But that oil is not asked to cool as much if the coolant temps are under control.
If you can keep your coolant under 200F you will not have any oil temp problem. If you cool the oil to much and the coolant is still hotter than it needs be then thats a problem.
Work on the primary problem--not the secondary. Just a little friendly suggestion. Accept it for what it is worth to ya
OD

09Factor

Is this statement still true if the bypass plug on the oil coolers fail to open?

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

How would you ever know if the bypass stuck?

S

09Factor

Thats a loaded question Stealth.

1. would be elevated oil temps with the coolant temp staying the same.
2. Removing the bypass plug out of the oil cooler(s) and examining the wear marks on the valve shaft.

I noticed the oil temp gauge was showing a higher temp than normal and the coolant temp stayed @ 200-205.

It takes a 7/8 wrench to remove the valve plug.

Removed the plug and looked at the wear markings on the shaft.

I heated a mug of water to 200 degrees and in serted the valve body. it only opened 2mm. Let plug cool off and tried a mug of water @ 230 degrees 2.2 mm of opening travel.

I matched the wear marking on the shaft to the measured travel and they matched.

Now on the shaft there were 2 distinct were marks. One being newer this would be the max travel of 2.2mm. The other was 6.7mm in length and was the older.

I have pics but they didn't capture the wear marks well.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

well thats a horse of a differant color.
If the oil is not flowing through the coolers --course it will heat up. I think some race teams report increase of temps on track of 40 degrees if they lose a cooler.
What is the spec on the oil bypass's?
Good ?
OD

Nubo

Unfortunately, the OP is talking about a situation where the engine is making a lot of power, but not travelling very fast. Since the oil coolers are passive, they won't be getting much airflow.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

or you could do what i did .
Turn one of the oil coolers into a second radiator .
During recent testing after fitting a turbo we did some full on acceleration runs through the gears - water temp went from 83C (thermostat opening temp) to 85C and quickly came back to 83 after letting off the throttle .
Admittedly this was at coolish ambient temps - 18C . Will do some better tests soon but initial results were very promising ......

09Factor

Very good use of the other cooler.