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DIY: Improve OIL Cooler Air Flow Up to 10-15%

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Old Jul 23, 2009 | 04:40 PM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by stanknasty56
wow thats a pretty cool diy mod, wish i would of known of this when i was putting on my new rotors, too bad they dont make small fans we could just put behind the oil coolers, that would be bad ***
go over to https://www.fluidmotorsports.com/ and check under RX-8 and then under Radiators and Cooling - there be Fans!
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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 12:58 AM
  #52  
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Originally Posted by SARRAS
go over to https://www.fluidmotorsports.com/ and check under RX-8 and then under Radiators and Cooling - there be Fans!
try this one..

link for fans..

beers
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Old Sep 2, 2009 | 01:21 AM
  #53  
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AU DIY: Oil Cooler Air Flow Modification No.2

6 months ago I changed my Oil Cooler Inner Fender Vents by making holes Larger (see thread).
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=168650

However, still not happy with the restriction of Air Flow I did this to vastly Improve Air Flow through my Oil Coolers.

I bought another new set of OEM Black Plastic Fender Vents to keep and use only for Winter, so my car is back to stock at the moment...(it is Winter here going into Spring).

With the Original (modified) set I removed ALL the Plastic Molded Step Ribs which left me with a very large hole matching the actual size of the Oil Coolers mounted in the front of car.

I locally purchased some Aluminum Screen mesh for $3.00, and cut 2 pieces to lap over the hole on the inside of the liner, I then slightly bent the mesh so it was in the same "curved" form or shape to the original.
It is important you fixed the mesh so the "Diamond Pattern" is VERTICAL, it is too hard to bend if Horizontal.

Using 10 Pot Rivets and 10 small washers for each side I fixed the mesh to the plastic liners very firmly, the end result can be seen.

So, will it work, IMO it has to be far better than original.

Once Summer arrives I will swap over to my new mesh liners, when temps reach about 77F or 25c.
Very easy to remove the 9 Black quick clips and 3 screws, each side.

I won't be using these during Winter because of road water and too much cold air.

Sorry, I cant give you Test results yet, but stay tuned.

IMO this is the best outcome to lower oil and help engine temps for Summer.
Having said that Oil Cooler Fans would be ideal for long periods in traffic or when stopped.

I will see how this goes, but it will throw far more hot air out than any fan, provided you are moving.

The cost..
$112.00 for the two new liners, $3 for the mesh, Rivets and Washer I had in stock.

Swoope (Scott) this one is for you...mate...
Attached Thumbnails DIY: Improve OIL Cooler Air Flow Up to 10-15%-1.jpg   DIY: Improve OIL Cooler Air Flow Up to 10-15%-2.jpg   DIY: Improve OIL Cooler Air Flow Up to 10-15%-3.jpg   DIY: Improve OIL Cooler Air Flow Up to 10-15%-4.jpg   DIY: Improve OIL Cooler Air Flow Up to 10-15%-5.jpg  


Last edited by ASH8; Nov 10, 2009 at 02:15 AM.
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Old Sep 2, 2009 | 01:28 AM
  #54  
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Forgot to add..

You can position the Vertical Diamond Mesh, so the "Curved" side of the Diamond is shooting hot air flow out towards the wheel opening and not towards the engine bay....another plus..
See 5th pic..
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Old Sep 2, 2009 | 01:31 AM
  #55  
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Cool, this plus fluidmotorsports oil cooler fans should be quite a combo.
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 02:21 AM
  #56  
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Ooooh I like this... nothing like free mods
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 08:10 PM
  #57  
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Paint them black and they'd be super stealth. Good job, I'm actually considering doing this since I only drive my car in summer.
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 08:28 PM
  #58  
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Very Good!!!!
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 08:33 PM
  #59  
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interesting - you will need to be careful the mesh does not clog over time or else you may get the opposite effect ...
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 09:08 PM
  #60  
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Yo ASH8 I got some info coming for for ya.
I took off my right side liner. My left one is still on. I parked my car and will hit the oil coolers with a infrared gun thermometer to see what the numbers are. Care to take a guess at the different heat numbers?
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 09:09 PM
  #61  
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Thumbs up

Originally Posted by Wind Dance
Cool, this plus fluidmotorsports oil cooler fans should be quite a combo.
+1 I cant wait to get some fluid ftw!
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Old Sep 21, 2009 | 03:05 PM
  #62  
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Where did you get the extra set of liners? I assume the dealership for a premium?
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Old Sep 21, 2009 | 03:11 PM
  #63  
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check with Paul @ Mazmart or www.onlinemazdaparts.com
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Old Sep 21, 2009 | 03:11 PM
  #64  
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Ash: nicely done mate! Paint those guys black and you'll be all set.
just make sure to keep those clean so they don't clog up
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Old Sep 21, 2009 | 05:28 PM
  #65  
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Considering they are only for Summer and I will be replacing them with the OEM's for Winter, any "debris" and I consider there will be little would clearly seen when I swap them over after 7-8 months.
It would go a long way before it came close to the restrictive air flow of Originals.

Thanks Jedi
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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 03:18 PM
  #66  
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Originally Posted by @!!narotordo
Yo ASH8 I got some info coming for for ya.
I took off my right side liner. My left one is still on. I parked my car and will hit the oil coolers with a infrared gun thermometer to see what the numbers are. Care to take a guess at the different heat numbers?
Hot!...what were the numbers mate...
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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 10:01 PM
  #67  
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Originally Posted by ASH8
Hot!...what were the numbers mate...
Numbers would be good to see however, all that screen mesh seems to add up to covering at least 60% of the total area. Imagine pushing all the screens strips together so it forms a solid piece. How much is left for an opening then? I suspect the numbers will be similar or worse with the diamond style screens.
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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 10:09 PM
  #68  
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I'd be more interested in air turbulence. I don't know if it affects airflow, since it's after the coolers, but meshes are more destructive to airflow than open ducts.

On the note of area, the stock slits are TINY. I'll try to take a measurement when I can get time off to work on them.
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Old Oct 19, 2009 | 01:01 AM
  #69  
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Originally Posted by KRMRX8
Numbers would be good to see however, all that screen mesh seems to add up to covering at least 60% of the total area. Imagine pushing all the screens strips together so it forms a solid piece. How much is left for an opening then? I suspect the numbers will be similar or worse with the diamond style screens.
It is 55% according to maker, better than the 15% the original factory vents.

Imagine pushing all the screens strips together so it forms a solid piece.
HUH?

Anything has to be better than the OEM for Hot Summer Weather..
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Old Oct 19, 2009 | 01:15 AM
  #70  
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Originally Posted by JinDesu
I'd be more interested in air turbulence. I don't know if it affects airflow, since it's after the coolers, but meshes are more destructive to airflow than open ducts.

On the note of area, the stock slits are TINY. I'll try to take a measurement when I can get time off to work on them.
Ideally you can have an Open Duct, But what about small stones,sticks and rocks from wheels, it would damage and destroy cooler fins in very little time.

"destructive to airflow", possibly if mesh is placed on top (ON) coolers themselves..like at the front, at the rear they are 3 inches (gap) away from coolers.

The openings I cut are larger than the original OEM slits, more to the size of the actual cooler, so yes ideally no liner or covering would be the best, but as I said what will protect coolers.

This is the best and only compromise.

When the single cooler (FC RX-7 and earlier rotaries) was under the radiator there were no restrictions for exit air and engine fan assisted, BUT, the coolers were smaller.

Hope to have some temp numbers soon, weather has been very cool here so these are still not on.
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Old Oct 19, 2009 | 01:32 AM
  #71  
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Originally Posted by ASH8
Ideally you can have an Open Duct, But what about small stones,sticks and rocks from wheels, it would damage and destroy cooler fins in very little time.
Well I've been missing my whole lower mud guard for over a year now and that cooler works just fine.
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Old Oct 19, 2009 | 01:46 AM
  #72  
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Originally Posted by Flashwing
Well I've been missing my whole lower mud guard for over a year now and that cooler works just fine.
Well really, did I say the cooler would not work fine with out it?

The "Mud Guard" is there for a reason
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Old Oct 19, 2009 | 01:50 AM
  #73  
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Originally Posted by ASH8
Well really, did I say the cooler would not work fine with out it?

The "Mud Guard" is there for a reason
I agree! In this case it's job was to be fodder for the shredded tire I hit coming back from Sevenstock last year.
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Old Oct 19, 2009 | 01:56 AM
  #74  
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Got ya!
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Old Oct 19, 2009 | 08:04 AM
  #75  
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Thanks for the info Ash. I am planning on doing your original modification (cutting the slits wider), especially because I have difficulty finding good wire mesh around me.
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