DIY Oil Cooler Question

[mug23]

So the JHM oil cooler kit is bit expensive and I like to DIY my own oil cooler kit. I have a question in regards to the oil ports on the engine block. It looks of course JHM machined a custom plate to install the AN fitting. I called and asked if they can sell just that block and they said, it would quit expensive as they need to take it out of a kit which I can understand.

My question is, I like to tap the 2 oil ports on the engine block to accept an 8AN to 10AN ORB fitting. I measured the opening and the 8AN orb fitting seems to be perfectly size to use a 1/2" npt tap I believe it is what 8AN thread pitch is? Correct me if I'm wrong on that. Now, once I tap the 2 opening, I can install the orb fitting and therefore, use AN fittings to a oil thermostat and now to the an oil cooler mounted in front of the radiator. I can get all the parts on Amazon for fraction the cost of the JHM kit in which should be doing the same function. What you do you think if this? Also, I have been using the Amazon oil coolers for my endurance race car that we do 8 hours races a day for 2 days with practice and quali with success at a fraction of the cost on top brand name oil coolers.

Does anyone know the flow direction of the 2 oil ports on the engine block so I can have the correct oil flow direction because the thermostat is directional of course?

[Zolli]

Yep you can do this. I think the most recent guy to do it was IdiotAvant on this forum. Worth a search. Or maybe he did it with the power steering system.... anyway, largely the same idea.

Interestingly, there already is a factory-installed onboard oil temp sensor, yet inexplicably this information is hidden from the dash display. I have a VFIZ (worth checking out, it’s fantastic), which enables that and a ton of other information to be displayed in the dash screen. In case you wanted to forego the directional sensor, because I don’t know the flow direction at the oil cooler.

[mug23]

Yep you can do this. I think the most recent guy to do it was IdiotAvant on this forum. Worth a search. Or maybe he did it with the power steering system.... anyway, largely the same idea.

Interestingly, there already is a factory-installed onboard oil temp sensor, yet inexplicably this information is hidden from the dash display. I have a VFIZ (worth checking out, it’s fantastic), which enables that and a ton of other information to be displayed in the dash screen. In case you wanted to forego the directional sensor, because I don’t know the flow direction at the oil cooler.

I basically cut off the backing plate on the OEM cooler so now it is about 7.5mm thick with with all the OEM holes. I can now use this plate and weld a 10an bung onto the plate just like JHM's plate. All I need to find out is which hole the oil flows so that I can correctly connect it to the thermostat which is very important for street car. My race car don't have a thermostat on my oil cooler.

Can anyone tell me what the flow direction is on those two oil holes on the engine block?

[mug23]

Here's a picture of the plate. The weld on bung is coming soon.





Once the bung is welded, I will post more pictures.

[Daves1stAudiS4]

Couldn't you just run the lines off the Oem cooler to an external cooler? or would that cause too much flow restriction etc..obviously your going to need to add another quart or two

[mug23]

Couldn't you just run the lines off the Oem cooler to an external cooler? or would that cause too much flow restriction etc..obviously your going to need to add another quart or two

I don't see how you can run the lines off the OEM cooler as those two lines are for coolant, not the oil. The oil circulates inside the cooler. I need to have the oil to run to the new oil cooler that will be mounted in front of the radiator. I found someone that does make a thicker aluminum plate that has the taps for the AN fittings but the plate itself is about $170 shipped which is not too bad. However, I think by using the OEM plate here shown in the picture above and weld a 10 AN bung onto the 2 openings, it should work just the same. The only issue that I'm bit worried is how thin the plate is and from the heat, will the plate warp and not sealed onto the engine block in which cause oil leaking?

[Atomic Avant]

I don't see how you can run the lines off the OEM cooler as those two lines are for coolant, not the oil. The oil circulates inside the cooler. I need to have the oil to run to the new oil cooler that will be mounted in front of the radiator. I found someone that does make a thicker aluminum plate that has the taps for the AN fittings but the plate itself is about $170 shipped which is not too bad. However, I think by using the OEM plate here shown in the picture above and weld a 10 AN bung onto the 2 openings, it should work just the same. The only issue that I'm bit worried is how thin the plate is and from the heat, will the plate warp and not sealed onto the engine block in which cause oil leaking?

What about welding aluminum plate to the face of the OEM plate to add mass and rigidity.

[Rilla]

https://www.forgemotorsport.com/Audi...uct--2007.html

[Daves1stAudiS4]

Oh, well I feel dumb. Makes sense now. I just don't understand why there is so little offered for these in aftermarket. The plate should be fine just seems steep in price since you have to source everything thing else to do what you want.

[mug23]

https://www.forgemotorsport.com/Audi...uct--2007.html

I'm not understanding how that part can fit onto the block on the S4 V8? Is the RS4 oil cooler different than the S4?