http://www.protegefaq.net/BKoilcooler/
This is a factory Modine water cooled oil cooler. This oil cooler comes on all L3-VDT engines (CX-7/MazdaSpeed3/MazdaSpeed6) as well as all the Mazda5's L3-VE in the US and Canada. When Mazda entered the Mexican market in 2007, they decided to equip the Mexican-spec manual transmisison non-turbo 3s with the same oil cooler due to Mexico's hot weather. Not surprisingly, Mazda also equipped the European version (also manual tranmission only) with one also when the minor change occured in late 2006 more than likely due to engine problems found in the 2004-2006 3s lacking an oil cooler because of high speed driving in Europe. Of course, Mazda didn't leave out the Middle East also and so Israeli and GCC versions also got an oil cooler with the minor change updates in the 3 (also manual transmission only). I have no idea why only the manual transmission models got the oil cooler but not the autos, perhaps Mazda believed people would drive a manual harder than an automatic.
Just speeding on the highway is enough to get the oil temperatures to 230+ degrees (typically since I don't have a oil temp gauge), which is not good for the oil and decreases oil life. Installation of this oil cooler brought the temperatures down to about 185 degrees at the oil filter after driving around for 40 mins (in about 80 degrees ambient temp) and pulling into my driveway. Regardless of numbers, the oil filter is no longer scalding to touch after the engine is warmed up on the driveway. I can now touch it without instantly burning myself!
Used with synthetic oil, I hope this oil cooler will increase the longevity of the engine and also the durability of the oil.
Since my car is an auto, I wrote this how-to with only pics of that. But I am working on getting pics from a manual, so please hang tight! The how-to also converts your oil filter to a spin-on in the process if you haven't done so. You can still choose to retain the cartridge BS if you somehow love it.
This is a factory Modine water cooled oil cooler. This oil cooler comes on all L3-VDT engines (CX-7/MazdaSpeed3/MazdaSpeed6) as well as all the Mazda5's L3-VE in the US and Canada. When Mazda entered the Mexican market in 2007, they decided to equip the Mexican-spec manual transmisison non-turbo 3s with the same oil cooler due to Mexico's hot weather. Not surprisingly, Mazda also equipped the European version (also manual tranmission only) with one also when the minor change occured in late 2006 more than likely due to engine problems found in the 2004-2006 3s lacking an oil cooler because of high speed driving in Europe. Of course, Mazda didn't leave out the Middle East also and so Israeli and GCC versions also got an oil cooler with the minor change updates in the 3 (also manual transmission only). I have no idea why only the manual transmission models got the oil cooler but not the autos, perhaps Mazda believed people would drive a manual harder than an automatic.
Just speeding on the highway is enough to get the oil temperatures to 230+ degrees (typically since I don't have a oil temp gauge), which is not good for the oil and decreases oil life. Installation of this oil cooler brought the temperatures down to about 185 degrees at the oil filter after driving around for 40 mins (in about 80 degrees ambient temp) and pulling into my driveway. Regardless of numbers, the oil filter is no longer scalding to touch after the engine is warmed up on the driveway. I can now touch it without instantly burning myself!
Used with synthetic oil, I hope this oil cooler will increase the longevity of the engine and also the durability of the oil.
Since my car is an auto, I wrote this how-to with only pics of that. But I am working on getting pics from a manual, so please hang tight! The how-to also converts your oil filter to a spin-on in the process if you haven't done so. You can still choose to retain the cartridge BS if you somehow love it.
