Heat exhanger removal, any ill effects?
Moderator: RichardW
Heat exhanger removal, any ill effects?
My mech suggesting removing the heat exhanger (HE) where oil filter is attached to. This is because my XTD engine is stressed when going uphill, oil temp up to 130C and coolant temp to 102C. He thought removing the HE will stop the coolant heating up the oil and vice versa. My argument is the coolant should cool down the oil if its heated too high instead of the other way around. Perhaps the HE is for colder climates whereas in tropical weather it's not needed? I thought of installing a small radiator as an oil cooler just behind the main coolant radiator. That should cool the oil down a bit but is removing the HE necessary?
- fastandfurryous
- Posts: 1388
- Joined: 07 Jul 2004, 17:57
- Location: On the road, travelling at high speed. Meep Meep.
- My Cars:
- x 4
I think someone has got this all rather wrong. The Oil/coolant heat exchanger is absolutely essential on a TD engine. During engine warm up it uses coolant heat to get the oil up to temperature faster than it would get there on it's own. Once up to temperature, the Exchanger keeps the oil temperature between 10 and 20 degrees hotter than the coolant, and hopefully no hotter (as it begins to break down at high temperatures.
If you remove the oil cooler, the coolant will probably run at exactly the same temperature (as this is determined by the thermostat) and the oil will be even hotter, probably far too hot. The only engines to come without the oil cooler are the early low-power 1.9D engines, and even these can get their oil a bit on the hot side.
I think you have some other problem: A blocked radiator maybe? the beginnings of head gasket failure? siezed thermostat? Maybe even just an airlock in the coolant. The Heat exchanger is there for good reason. Leave it there!
David.
If you remove the oil cooler, the coolant will probably run at exactly the same temperature (as this is determined by the thermostat) and the oil will be even hotter, probably far too hot. The only engines to come without the oil cooler are the early low-power 1.9D engines, and even these can get their oil a bit on the hot side.
I think you have some other problem: A blocked radiator maybe? the beginnings of head gasket failure? siezed thermostat? Maybe even just an airlock in the coolant. The Heat exchanger is there for good reason. Leave it there!
David.