Oil Filter Cooler

[Lil Foot]

I posted this in the Backhoe Rebuild thread a while back:
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5482&highlight=filter+heat+sink&page=8 post #77
Many years ago, there was a product available at virtually any auto parts store that was essentially a slip-on flexible, finned heat sink for oil filters, as shown in the pic below. They were cheap ($3-$4) and came in several sizes for various oil filters. I thought I might put one on the PH8A oil filter on my B670, but, alas, they are apparently no longer made. I have found similar products to fit Harley oil filters. (too small & $30-$90) I don't know how effective it would have been, but it probably would not have hurt, and might have actually shed a few degrees. My question is- does anyone know where one might find one of these without mortgaging my place in the mountains?

 

[Lil Foot]

Having had no luck finding one, I went another route. I found two pieces of extruded aluminum heat sink for $20. I machined one of them to fit the PH8A oil filter for the B670 backhoe. As any experienced machinist will tell you, it was a PITA, but it turned out great. Next time I mount the hoe & do some work, I'll try it out, with some temp readings without & with the heat sink. Should be interesting.

 

[Lil Foot]

For those not familiar with the B670, filter setup looks like this:

 

[FTG-05]

$25 here on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACK-ENGIN...T-ALUMINUM-KIT-EF-EG-/200856308300?rmvSB=true

 

[Lil Foot]

Yup, found those also, but they are for filters less that half the size that my backhoe uses.

 

[billrigsby]

Having had no luck finding one, I went another route. I found two pieces of extruded aluminum heat sink for $20. I machined one of them to fit the PH8A oil filter for the B670 backhoe.

Nice work!

$25 here on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACK-ENGIN...T-ALUMINUM-KIT-EF-EG-/200856308300?rmvSB=true

Yup, found those also, but they are for filters less that half the size that my backhoe uses.

I wonder if any of these will fit a L1500/175 filter?

 

[Lil Foot]

I wonder if any of these will fit a L1500/175 filter?

I don't know... I suppose you could look up the specs for the filter for your tractor, then look up the the specs for the filter for the vehicles mentioned, and see if they are the same diameter & similar length.

 

[William1]

Most of those clamp on filter fins do very little. If you really want to control oil temps, then the best route is an actual cooler.
Depending on available space, sometimes you can uses a filter mount connection. You remove the oil filter, install a base adapter. These are typically about 1" think (hence space available requirement) and have two ports.
http://www.enginebasics.com/Engine Basics Root Folder/oil cooler basics.html
For example:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ear-510erl?seid=srese1&gclid=CMWEyK_i8MsCFcYehgod-aIKew
Once installed, the oil filter spins on the end. To the ports you connect a couple of hose which you route to an actual cooler.
http://www.mishimoto.com/mishimoto-transmission-coolers-oil-coolers.html#2
Or
http://www.amazon.com/70264-SuperCo..._6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1459628266&sr=1-6

The good ones have a thermostat bypass so until the oil is hot enough, nothing flows through the cooler. You can then bump up the effectiveness with a fan (or fans) also thermostatically controlled.

 

[Lil Foot]

I agree, a full blown oil cooler would be more efficient. I have no oil overheating problem, just trying to shave a few degrees off oil temps to extend life of oil & seals.
I could plumb a full size oil cooler in the return line at the base of the filter, but then I'd have to mount it somewhere; close it would be in the way, or I'd have to run lots of hose to mount it farther away, but then it would probably be exposed to damage.

But a word of warning on those spin-on oil filter adapters- years ago, several of us with Toyota Tacomas put them on our V-6s, and they constantly came loose, dumping the oil. No amount of tightening, loctite, or other measures seemed to work to keep them tight. I finally gave up & removed mine, but soon after that a buddy had one unscrew a high speed while towing, & lost his engine.

 

[William1]

Understandable possibility.
You'd want the hoses to be led away from the mount in a manner that would tend to pull it tight and not in a direction to encourage loosening. A extra fix would be to safety wire the adapter on. I have used dozens of them in cars and never had one loosen. I also loctite the threaded portion that attaches to the engines.
I've thought about adding a cooler to my BX for the HST but there really is no room for the cooler except externally to the tractor and I know I damage it being careless. I am the kind of guy that needs to be tethered from dangerous things.

 

[Lil Foot]

You'd want the hoses to be led away from the mount in a manner that would tend to pull it tight and not in a direction to encourage loosening.

Now that you mention it, I think that was exactly the problem- where it was located did not allow for the preferred routing.