Oil Cooler Mod - any success?

[Cammo]

Because my bike runs fairly hot during the races early on in our season

How hot does it run?

In hot weather (35°C+) my water temp was usually around 90°C once out on the track. This was with standard radiators (thermostat removed, no fan).

Temp usually rose to around 100°C on the cooldown lap/pit entry but I never felt it was a problem.

[RoninZX-10R]

Cammo, during the race it'll usually run around the 90°C mark (mine doesn't have temp marking on my gauge, so I'm assuming redline is close to 100°C?). It sounds like mine runs similar temps to yours. I'm still running the thermostat but do not a fan.

With the thermostat removed did it take noticably longer for the engine to warm up, or not really a big issue?

[RoninZX-10R]

CMSMJ1, thanks for the photos, that makes a lot more sense now. Did the side mounted radiator get enough airflow in that position?

The only thing I'm not sure of (well there's a lot of things I'm not sure of, but that's for another time!) is if the radiator was mounted up higher just below the instrument bracket, would the oil pump struggle to push the oil up to the radiator at all?

[Cammo]

With the thermostat removed did it take noticably longer for the engine to warm up, or not really a big issue?

I don't have anything to compare it with, all my track bikes have had the thermostat removed.

I always warmed it up in the pits before hitting the track, it never took long.

[CMSMJ1]

CMSMJ1, thanks for the photos, that makes a lot more sense now. Did the side mounted radiator get enough airflow in that position?

The only thing I'm not sure of (well there's a lot of things I'm not sure of, but that's for another time!) is if the radiator was mounted up higher just below the instrument bracket, would the oil pump struggle to push the oil up to the radiator at all?

No worries - it got "some" air - and I always felt it was better than nothing. There was more oil volume and the rad did some work - so for me, I am sure it was a benefit.

Ref the pump - indeed, that is something to mull over - the clever way to sort it is to find and fit a UK or NC24 oil pump and drill the cases.. I also have a 24 pump...but never got it sorted as missing a couple of the internal pipes (I think) and too scared to drill my cases...lol

I never ran a fan (have not done so for a long time now) and have ridden this bike on the road, trackdays and ACU test days - with the rad I had to stop due to overheating only once in Germany - was 30+ and had to go slow and stop at some traffic lights at a village...the bike needed water pouring on it from a fountain!

[RoninZX-10R]

CMSMJ1, thanks for all that info. I've just cleaned my radiators (didn't realise how much crap was stuck in the fins!) and removed the thermostat as done by Cammo, so I'll see how things go next time at the track. Hopefully the temperature is a little more controlled.

[VtypeV4]

I've considered a similar mod using an air oil cooler (wasn't aware of the water one) but couldn't really see anywhere to put one even if I could find one small enough..

[CMSMJ1]

I've considered a similar mod using an air oil cooler (wasn't aware of the water one) but couldn't really see anywhere to put one even if I could find one small enough..

In the nose where the standard one goes on UK bikes?

[VtypeV4]

I guess I learn something new everyday, I knew the headlamps were different amongst other things but didn't know about an oil cooler.. An air cooled one I assume?

[VtypeV4]

Just read the sticky on the other page, please ignore the above..