Ten minutes into numerous thirty minute track sessions my 05 JCW/S chrono pack oil temp read steady @ 275 F. Never rising higher, and returning to normal @ 225F on the cool down lap. Yes, that's a wee hot for my tastes. I'm ready for a cooler

 

Actually, this topic has been addressed in other related threads. Check out this particular thread from our local BMW CCA website for some data and an example of a track proven oil cooler installation for MINI: http://www.bmwpugetsound.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=31542

If you have questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them.

Hope this helps,
John Petrich in Seattle

 

As always, nice write-up John. I love the simple, but effective oil t-stat! Curious, how much volume did this add to the system? Stock is 5 quarts, actually, just a tad under...

 

Tony,

Hope that you are recovering from the heat and Nana's death.

The oil volume in the cooler is a little less than 1/2 quart extra but the oil in the cooler doesn't drain with an oil change. So, I continue to fill with about 4 3/4 or so quarts after each oil change.

In truth, I cannot get the oil temperature to exceed 220 degrees F even on an 80 degree F track day. Sure seems to function as an effective oil cooler.

Hope this helps,
John Petrich in Seattle

 

I was wondering if that was the case... Thank you John.

Life is finally starting to return to a sense of normalcy, but not quite yet. Visiting a high school buddy in your neck-of-the-woods (Seattle) in three weeks, and then the wife and I are catching a ferry boat to Victoria. We heard it is beautiful.... can't wait!

Glad that you have an effecitve oil cooler for your track days! I have a feeling that M7 might have something interesting some day soon, but with a spin to it . Thanks again for sharing!

 

funny, this was about a few years ago, what ever happened to the oil cooler idea?

 

i bought one thru madness (just the adapter and a couple of fittings. i got a better setrab then they were offering thru hrp. same cost .better hoses too . it's going on tomorro. got the 613 . should drop more than 30 degrees easy. gonna get the m7 lower thermostat too . then it's either m7's dfic or grs . need help comparing the two . anyone done a comparison?

 

With Dr. O, I did some testing on the GRS and stock IC's, and hood scoop combos. I actually just removed my GRS, and the DFIC is going on in the next hour or so... I'll have some data and impressions...

 

wow!! a full service forum. let's see.... gonna need some pizzas from around the u.s. for comparison..snap!! damb! guess the data will have to do. sounds good waitin' to hear .

 

Sorry to bump a old thread anyone make a Oil Cooler for the R56 ... all the kits I seem to find are for the R53?

 

Wow...a Zombie thread is back from the dead, its alive, its alive!

Dawn of the Thread

 

Yea didnt want to start a new thread and have someone tell me to search

 

Yeah I don't think they are made for R56. And even for R53 there was only afew kit made: Moss (Cobalt), MINI Mania, and MINI Madness that sold them as a kit. Some others but you had to gather the bits like: oil cooler, hoses, clamps, and stuff individually.

 

I just installed a great oil cooler kit made by Sneed's Speed Shop in Pfafftown, NC. It's complete with adapter plate, hoses, fittings, large cooler and instructions.
http://www.sneedspeedshop.com/MINICooperParts.html

 

That is a great oil cooler. I installed the RMW one couple weeks ago which costs a bit less than the one above.

 

I have put my Oil Cooler on and I have an oil temp gauge and I was amazed. After a bit of spirited driving, not too much as it isn't tuned properly yet, My oil temp gauge was just sitting at 80 degrees Celsius. Yeah I live in Australia. It didn't budge from it. This is around 176 degrees Fahrenheit!!!! This isn't a proper test but a very good indication that they work and work well. I also noticed that the temp gauge of the actual car was sitting lower than normal so as I have taken the heat exchanger away from the system and have the oil cooling via a proper cooler the Coolant isn't getting hot from trying to cool the engine oil down.

To top it off, I thought I would just do the old touch test. Damn, I could hardly hold the inlet side but I could hold the outlet. So I will be wrapping the outlet side soon with a heat shield so no heat transfers. I wanted mine to look stock so all I did was use the Mini Madness Adpator plate so I could put my oil Temp and Pressure gauge in, Ran 2 hoses up to the under side of the window cowl, installed a Mocal Thermostat, and then ran the hoses to a modified Auto Transmission Oil Cooler. The bolt straight up if you don't have an Auto. I just got the Inlet and Outlet pipes cut off and welded some larger diameter ones on. I will post pics soon.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Unless you track the car and notice oil temps north of 240, an oil cooler would probably do more harm than good (especially if it doesn't have a thermostat). 225 F is the sweet spot for most oils. Above that, heat starts taking its toll and below that, your loosing power due to the fluid being thicker. 176 F is pretty darn cool for oil. What were your temps before installing the cooler? I drive in Florida heat and have never seen above 230 on the highway (215 after I switched to Redline oil). Oil temp is highly related to rpm. Even in 100 degree heat, it'll start dropping at a red light.

 

That's why I installed the cooler. I'm a DE instructor and run about 10-12 events a year. On-track oil temp. has been consistently running 260-265F at the filter which means it's way hotter in the sump. I just installed the cooler and took it for a test ride to check for leaks and normal temp. It stabilized at 200-210F w/o incident in a normal timeframe. In the Winter, I'll just stick a piece of cardboard in front of the cooler if it doesn't warm up...but I bet it will.

 

mocal thermoststs.

 

Which p/n MOCAL did you use (push-on or AN threaded) and where did you locate it?

 

 

i used push on and it was 180 degree , hich i'll prolly change to 200 at some point , i think pegasus but it's been a while . you could just google mocal .
they're big , like 4 x4 x 1 but will fit on passenger crush tube .

 

They offer one for the R56????

 

oil is oil so if you know the line size they'll fix you up . you just gotta know which is delivery and which is return . disable the ign. and fuel . on a 53 it's a relay , and have someone crank it for you and the one that pisses oil is delivery . just remember to use push on hose if using push on fittings . try "think automotive" in u.k. ot/2 is all for a part #

 

So which thermostat model and temp opening point spec do you recommend Kapps? From this I am guessing you would say keep the thermostat closed until ~215F or something like that. Also, I would think that placement of the thermostat is critical. The closer to the source of the heat the better, meaning NOT at the cooler, but at the adapter plate or as close as possible.