Water flow vs oil flow...
05-15-2023 | 10:52 AM
#1
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From: Perdido Key, Madison, NC
Water flow vs oil flow...
From what it looks like (to me...BUT please correct me if I'm wrong), my oil flow (remote oil filter) is going in the same direction as my water flow in the oil cooler/heat exchanger...AGREED?
I am only running 600hp out of Gen V 489 CIDs. As mildly as I run, I do not seem to have any high temperature (oil or water) issues. That being said, as I pickup my game I will probably also pick up my speeds/stresses.
Can anyone guesstimate the % increase in efficiency (decrease in oil temperature) I would get if I went through the trouble to reverse the oil flow through the heat exchanger?
Thanks,
Tom
I am only running 600hp out of Gen V 489 CIDs. As mildly as I run, I do not seem to have any high temperature (oil or water) issues. That being said, as I pickup my game I will probably also pick up my speeds/stresses.
Can anyone guesstimate the % increase in efficiency (decrease in oil temperature) I would get if I went through the trouble to reverse the oil flow through the heat exchanger?
Thanks,
Tom
Last edited by F14A water jet; 05-15-2023 at 06:42 PM.
05-15-2023 | 11:51 AM
#4
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From: Orlando, FL
Isn't an oil cooler still a "heat exchanger" in the technical definition? Its function is exchanging the heat contained in the oil, with the (cooler temperature) water flowing through it.
05-15-2023 | 01:50 PM
#6
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From: Virginia Beach
Tom, you didn't say here what your current running temps are (and I cannot remember from our chat the other day), but I'd just watch your gauges. If you're running on the pins for a good stretch and you're staying under 250, I'd say you're in good shape. Should you run it in the opposite direction of water flow? Sure, the diagrams recommend it. But if it's staying under 250, I'm not sure I'd be inclinded to bother with it.
What are your temps running WOT for a good stretch (say a couple miles or so)?
What are your temps running WOT for a good stretch (say a couple miles or so)?
05-15-2023 | 03:04 PM
#7
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From: Chicago, IL
I had to go back into my history and find the article i read last week about this very thing....they say best is counter flow or against the flow of one another for best exchange......so oil will flow into or against the flow of water going through heat exchanger:
Flow Direction
Flow Direction
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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
-Wally
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
05-15-2023 | 05:48 PM
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From: Bradenton, Fl.
Good topic to know right? I spent a few hours calling around because I was curious.
I called Mercury Marine and they're no help. Even if your engine is out of warranty. Mercury Marine won't tell you how to configure anything other than factory. Or even tell you about specifics about the factory configuration. Won't even tell me if you could run engine oil, instead of power steering fluid, through the heat exchanger. Told me to call a dealer. That's when I said, it was your engineers that came up with the flow direction and parts needed.
Called four heat exchanger manufacturers. All said their information is proprietary. But did say running the oil countercurrent (opposite of the cooling water) did reduce oil temperature.
I called Lenco who probably makes the coolers for Mercruiser. A gall answer the phone and I asked to speak to an engineer or technician. She said you're talking to them. She was delirious. Said that the oil goes around and around...
I called Lucas oil. I asked to speak with their technician or engineer. Once again I was told you're speaking to them. Asked what's the optimum temperature your oil should be running ( marine oil). He said 145°f. That seemed a bit low to me.
What I did find was very interesting on MOTORTREND's web site. In parts it says engine oil should be 220° f to burn off deposits and accumulated water vapor. Said that race engines run best with high temp engine oil with cold cooling water makes the best power.
http://www.motortrend.com/how-to/eng...l-temperature/
I called Mercury Marine and they're no help. Even if your engine is out of warranty. Mercury Marine won't tell you how to configure anything other than factory. Or even tell you about specifics about the factory configuration. Won't even tell me if you could run engine oil, instead of power steering fluid, through the heat exchanger. Told me to call a dealer. That's when I said, it was your engineers that came up with the flow direction and parts needed.
Called four heat exchanger manufacturers. All said their information is proprietary. But did say running the oil countercurrent (opposite of the cooling water) did reduce oil temperature.
I called Lenco who probably makes the coolers for Mercruiser. A gall answer the phone and I asked to speak to an engineer or technician. She said you're talking to them. She was delirious. Said that the oil goes around and around...
I called Lucas oil. I asked to speak with their technician or engineer. Once again I was told you're speaking to them. Asked what's the optimum temperature your oil should be running ( marine oil). He said 145°f. That seemed a bit low to me.
What I did find was very interesting on MOTORTREND's web site. In parts it says engine oil should be 220° f to burn off deposits and accumulated water vapor. Said that race engines run best with high temp engine oil with cold cooling water makes the best power.
http://www.motortrend.com/how-to/eng...l-temperature/
Last edited by AmiableDave; 05-15-2023 at 05:52 PM.
05-15-2023 | 06:51 PM
#9
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From: Perdido Key, Madison, NC
Tom, you didn't say here what your current running temps are (and I cannot remember from our chat the other day), but I'd just watch your gauges. If you're running on the pins for a good stretch and you're staying under 250, I'd say you're in good shape. Should you run it in the opposite direction of water flow? Sure, the diagrams recommend it. But if it's staying under 250, I'm not sure I'd be inclined to bother with it.
What are your temps running WOT for a good stretch (say a couple miles or so)?
What are your temps running WOT for a good stretch (say a couple miles or so)?
I rarely run WOT for more than a few minutes/miles...that may be part of my issue/concern. Oil temps (at the remote oil filter in) stay around 180-210 and I've only seen 230 once for a minute or two. Water temps run 150 but I have seen 180-210 on rare occasions.
Last edited by F14A water jet; 05-15-2023 at 06:53 PM.
05-15-2023 | 07:02 PM
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From: Orlando, FL
Good topic to know right? I spent a few hours calling around because I was curious.
I called Mercury Marine and they're no help. Even if your engine is out of warranty. Mercury Marine won't tell you how to configure anything other than factory. Or even tell you about specifics about the factory configuration. Won't even tell me if you could run engine oil, instead of power steering fluid, through the heat exchanger. Told me to call a dealer. That's when I said, it was your engineers that came up with the flow direction and parts needed.
Called four heat exchanger manufacturers. All said their information is proprietary. But did say running the oil countercurrent (opposite of the cooling water) did reduce oil temperature.
I called Lenco who probably makes the coolers for Mercruiser. A gall answer the phone and I asked to speak to an engineer or technician. She said you're talking to them. She was delirious. Said that the oil goes around and around...
I called Lucas oil. I asked to speak with their technician or engineer. Once again I was told you're speaking to them. Asked what's the optimum temperature your oil should be running ( marine oil). He said 145°f. That seemed a bit low to me.
What I did find was very interesting on MOTORTREND's web site. In parts it says engine oil should be 220° f to burn off deposits and accumulated water vapor. Said that race engines run best with high temp engine oil with cold cooling water makes the best power.
http://www.motortrend.com/how-to/eng...l-temperature/
I called Mercury Marine and they're no help. Even if your engine is out of warranty. Mercury Marine won't tell you how to configure anything other than factory. Or even tell you about specifics about the factory configuration. Won't even tell me if you could run engine oil, instead of power steering fluid, through the heat exchanger. Told me to call a dealer. That's when I said, it was your engineers that came up with the flow direction and parts needed.
Called four heat exchanger manufacturers. All said their information is proprietary. But did say running the oil countercurrent (opposite of the cooling water) did reduce oil temperature.
I called Lenco who probably makes the coolers for Mercruiser. A gall answer the phone and I asked to speak to an engineer or technician. She said you're talking to them. She was delirious. Said that the oil goes around and around...
I called Lucas oil. I asked to speak with their technician or engineer. Once again I was told you're speaking to them. Asked what's the optimum temperature your oil should be running ( marine oil). He said 145°f. That seemed a bit low to me.
What I did find was very interesting on MOTORTREND's web site. In parts it says engine oil should be 220° f to burn off deposits and accumulated water vapor. Said that race engines run best with high temp engine oil with cold cooling water makes the best power.
http://www.motortrend.com/how-to/eng...l-temperature/
Crazy that it's so difficult to get good info as you experienced. I wonder how much is to protect them from liability vs. fear of divulging trade secrets?
Last edited by DrFeelgood; 05-15-2023 at 07:05 PM.
