Oil filter relocation / cooler

[turbo740]

Hey everyone,

I don't really post much on this list but I thought this might interest a few people.
During my next oil change, I'll be taking measurements for hoses/adapters to do an oil filter relocation (we all know this is a necessary mod and I haven't seen a kit offered yet so I've decided to make my own.) My main question is:

Do you Mazda engine guru's think it's necessary to add an oil cooler while I'm at it? It's kind of a non-issue since it could be added on later but I'd like to know what you think.

Also, if anyone knows of a kit that will work, I'll scrap this whole idea and buy it. I hate working with -AN fittings and hoses in the cold NJ winters anyway. (The garage is full with the V8 Volvo wagon project.)

Thanks for your time.

Mike

 

[TheMAN]

the water cooled oil cooler from the msp works

 

[turbo740]

Thanks. I'll check it out. N/M

n/m

 

[KYREDP5]

Why is this a <u>necessary</u> mod? The oil filter isn't <b>that</b> hard to get to.

 

[twizyours]

Why is this a necessary mod?

It can help keep the filter cooler buy relocating it and then you also wouldnt have to get on the ground to change the oil.

Driver FX offers a flexalite adapter:
http://www.7453217467431.com/main/new_mmy.jsp?affID=DFX&bmUID=1038186383468

I think mazdamotorsports has a oil cooler adapter too.

I want to put a oil cooler on my car too. Not water cooled one, but one where I mount cooler in front air dam to cool oil. I think I will see if I can get the oil cooler of my probe GT. If I can next oil change I will see if it fits. It is water cooled but would be good info. I belive the F2 might have same size fitting. I cant remember but when I was in autozone I believe they had sam part# for the mobil oil filter for Protege and Probe.

 

[Sir Nuke]

hi turbo and Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to our Club. There are TWO BIG fridge'S in the corner with anything you can think of in them...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have.

make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom don't care....and take it easy.

oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!!

as for the oil filter relocation...well every time I change my oil I have the whole car up in the air anyway as I rotate the tires at the same time...and seeing as how I am right there to drain the oil too....its not that big a deal for me....as for the oil cooler...unless you have or are going to add some component that is going to be producing a lot more heat and adding to the wear and tear on your lubrication system...I personally don't see the point.

 

[twizyours]

Well I took off the water cooled oil cooler of my porbe GT and I dont think it will work, but will still check next oil change. It wont even work on a Non Turbo F2 and the reason is that the turbo F2 uses a longer shaft than the non turbo and since the proteges filter is like 2 inches I am pretty sure the shaft isnt long enough but I will check. An adaptor that has its own shaft is probally going to needed.

 

[YAK Motorsports]

I agree with the other guys. Unless you have done something to the car to increase the temps or are going to be running on track, I don't see the need of relocating the oil filter.

Other then that, why would you want to introduce that many additional points of failure in your oil system? An oil cooler or relocation kit, not properly installed, can cause some serious damage with just a tiny failure.

 

[turbo740]

Explanation of need...

Thanks for the welcome Nuke and everyone else. Now, for the explanation.

It's not that I'm too lazy to crawl under the car to change my oil. It seems to me that cooler oil, under any conditions, will tend to last longer before breaking down. I'm not terribly worried about it now since I use synthetic oil. I do feel, however, that there's got to be a reason why Mazda felt it necessary to use a water cooled oil cooler on the 1.8DOHC engines from the earlier Protege/Escort GT.

ALSO...

In case nobody drives in New Jersey, it's like taking your car to the track on a daily basis. Driving conditions tend to cause the need for rapid departure from on ramps and merging in "circles" the likes of which many other drivers never experience.

ALSO...

If you have viewed my other post, I'm looking into a way to adapt a nice, low-boost, forced induction sytem to the car. Small turbos have been discussed and I'm considering that route but I'm also beginning to make the "plugs" and molds for my composite prototype positive displacement supercharger setup. The way I'm looking at it, the supercharger housing would fit best underneath the stock location of the intake manifold, which would require a relocation of the oil filter and necessitate a cooler.

Thanks for all of the ideas and opinions. Everything's appreciated whether in agreement or not. Looking forward to more and more as I post on the list. Have fun.

Mike

 

[TheMAN]

the only reason why the oil cooler was on the BP was because of the GT-X/GT-R. The later BP powered pros and the BP powered miatas didn't have them.

 

[turbo740]

Good info on the BP engine. Thanks.

My final reasoning on this whole thing...I can pick whatever filter I want without worrying about whether or not it will fit in the given space or on the factory threads! That in itself is enough of a benefit to me to spend the $75 to put a relocation/cooler kit together. At the local parts store, a ford or chevy V8 filter is cheaper, more available, and has a larger effective filtering area.

Judging by the 0% failure rate on all of the -AN fittings/hoses on the trans and oil cooler in our project El Camino, I'd say that parts failure or improper installation is unlikely.

I'm hearing a lot of reasons why it isn't necessary, but no really good reasons as to why it's a "bad" idea.

 

[YAK Motorsports]

If you have the experience with the AN fittings, then go ahead and do it. Like you said, cooler oil is going to last longer then hotter oil.

I don't think it's a "bad" idea, to relocate, besides the obvious that it does introduce additional points for things to breakdown. But if you're doing all of the mods that you have listed, I'm sure a real working oil pressure gauge is going to be included in that. So you should have no problems!

Are you stuffing a Ford 5.0 in the volvo???

I always thought a volvo with that engine would make a GREAT tow vehicle for the race car!

 

[YAK Motorsports]

I don't think anyone has a kit put together yet. If you do this, would you mind listing the parts that you used, and where you got them from. I'm sure it would help others out as well!

 

[turbo740]

I'll definitely keep you all posted as well as hit you up for some answers to my questions along the way. Thanks again for all the input. I'm still 2000 miles away from the next oil change but I'll probably start gathering parts now.

Oh yeah, my Volvo conversion is based on a Chevy 350 with Accel DFi electronics and Tuned Port Injection. In hindsight, I should have done the Ford swap due to simplicity but it's going fairly well with the Chevy. Check out a cool 5.0 swap car at <A HREF="http://www.fullspeed.to/thebox">The Box</A>

 

[turbo740]

UPDATE:

Okay, here's the lowdown on parts gathering.

-I'm using one of the smallest SETRAB oil coolers since I don't think any bigger will be necessary. Check out the performance sites on the web to get one for about $70 or scavenge one from an old turbo Volvo like I did (be sure to flush it)! You can also use the B&M, Earl's or other cooler. I prefer the "stacked plate, flow through" style as opposed to the "tube & fin". Just a matter of preference in this case as I think the demands put on the cooler won't be as high as in most performance applications.

-TD Performance 20x1.5 engine adapter and 3/4x16 filter adapter for Ford PH8A filters or equivalent. (Would have gotten the relocation kit but I think the 30" straight hoses and straight fittings will limit my options on location and I'll still need hoses to route the cooler.)

-Earl's -8 Perform-o-flex hose (Cheaper than Aeroquip and more readily available). Various Earl's -8 AN fittings still to be determined. Not sure if I'll want 0,45, or 90 degree fittings until I mock it up on the car.

I don't forsee the complete installation being done until a few weeks into the new year. I'll be sure to post a full parts list and pics when it's done.

Thanks for all the input! Have fun.

Mike

 

[pingdum]

This sounds like a damn good idea to me. If only because it will increase the oil capacity and that's always a good thing. I could imagine putting an oil cooler from an old Bug in the lower part of the grill on the 5. That would be bad-ass.
I'll wait until the warranty is over, but then............