jwbbuck

I blew up my sea water impeller (forgot to turn on the garden hose for 5 seconds) so I took the oil cooler out to make sure it wasn't plugged. After an hour of hanging upside down in the bilge and all the bruises, swearing and blood, I think I'll upgrade the cooler, now, and avoid a repeat contortsionist exhibition.

How big do I need to go fo a 530 h.p. 502 running in relatively cool lake water (never over 70°F)? I have an integral p/s oil cooler.......so the new cooler will need to be a combo p/s and engine unit. Last season, I would only see 40psi hot WOT and 10 hot idle with conventional 50wt.

Here is a pic of the current one.

offthefront

iTrader: (1)

I would question your pressure ...40lb at WOT is low ...some say no ..but I run 55-60lbs at WOT and about 30-40 at idle .....also running in a cool lake like that seems you would need to look at installing a Thermostat for the oil cooler .....you would have too cool oil temps ... you need the oil to be a flashpoint to vaporize any moisture in the oil .... .02 ...

mopower

I used a Merc HP500 cooler on mine and left the combo cooler in place for the P/S cooler.
My 540s never see over 250* and rarely over 220* at normal cruise 3000 rpms.

jwbbuck

mopower,

thanks for the photos. So, the HP500 uses a 2"x17" or 3"x17"? I can't tell from the pic. A big thermo cooler and hoses / adapters / clamps to plumb it and you could easily hit $600-700. Cool oil is cool, but damn. I'm hoping to get away with a 2x18 combo. Without changing to AN hoses, it doesn't seem that easy to adapt the 1" NPT to 1-1/4" slip on.

stingray69,

I use McMaster-Carr and Graingers for fittings, but neither has what it would take to get from 1"NPT to 1-1/4" slip-on without using about 3 or 4 adapters on each end of the cooler. that sux. maybe cutting / brazing our own fittings would be the way to go.

mopower

Just ran downstairs and checked 2x17. I got twins and if I remember correctly , it's been 2 1/2 years , I think I paid about $800 for two coolers. Then throw in some push lock hose and fittings , more 1 1/4" water hose , some clamps and I was probably around $1100 or $1200

So you say you want a fast boat , huh

jwbbuck

mopower,

thanks again. huge help. From what you've said, I should be able to live with a 3"x22" w/ p/s cooler from Eddie Marine. I can stick with the slip on 1-1/4" hose and switch to braided AN hose for engine oil. thanks, Buck

PatriYacht

The Eddie Marine 3 x 21 cooler w/ps is about 240.00. 3 x 18 oil cooler only is about 200.00. Best deal out there and works well too.

jwbbuck

patriyacht,

thanks, i'm trying to get the right size cooler so I can avoid the need for a thermostat and not run too cool. the lake water is 50°F now and it'll be august til it break 65.

PatriYacht

These coolers do a lot of cooling. I wouldn't use them without a thermostat. If they can hold your oil to 220 at full throttle, think what they could do at an extended idle. I know of 2 instances where friends spun bearings early in the spring when the water was cold and their oil wasn't warm enough.

Btw, you were flirting with disaster with that small cooler. Get an oil temp gauge and at least a 2 x 18 cooler.