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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Oil Cooler - 1275 engine

Howdy midgeteers:

After a late Fall high speed run along the hills & dales of Western NY, I am becoming more convinced about the long-term benefits of installing an oil cooler for my 1275 engine. Based on the gauge readings, and the downright chilly Fall temps as a proxy for an oil cooler - I definitely observed higher oil pressure (at cruising speeds) plus higher idle oil pressure at the red lights on the way home. And the water temp was way down based on the colder air and it was having a definite impact on oil temps & pressures...

Here is my need: does anyone have any decent pics of the routing of the hoses and how each hose connects along the side of the engine? I think the connections at the oil coller end are less confusing...

Also, any concerns or warnings for buying a used cooler from eBay? It seems like the "new" prices from Vic Brit and Moss are a bit high and maybe I can improve on that a bit. Anyone assemble their own system from component suppliers? Any specs to be aware of regarding the type/style of hose and fittings? I assume that the oil pressure on my guage would be the upper limit for the bursting strength for the hoses. And speaking of hoses...braided steel covering or standard hydraulic rubber?

Thanks for any thoughts and warnings...

Mike P.
Buffalo, NY
Mike Pelone

I have fitted a cooler this year as I was experiencing the fall off in pressure you describe. I fitted a 10 row one and that seems fine. Thought the 13 might be a bit too much.

Bought a second hand one off Ebay but didnt like the look of it so went for a new one. Worth it I think.

John
John Payne

I wouldn't recommend buying a secondhand cooler, as you don't know what's in it.

When I blew the engine in the race car, I fitted a new cooler as I couldn't be sure I would get all the small pieces of metal out of it.
Dave O'Neill 2

I bought a factory cooler from a '73 that I found at a breaker 4 years ago. We put the cooler and hoses in a hot pressurized parts cleaning tank and I have used it ever since. Last year I upgraded to braided hoses. !Caution! the first braided hose got too close to the + terminal of the coil. Oil was everywhere!! and I was closer to cooking my '72 than I ever wanted to be. The factory used a bracket similar to the heater intake hose bracket to keep the oil cooler hoses close to the inside of the fender (wing). I now use snap ties.
Phil
Phil

Another concept to consider... Contemplate fitting an oil thermostat between the cooler and the engine. When the oil temp is low, it bypasses the cooler and sends the oil directly back to the engine. When the oil temperature goes up, it routes it through the cooler. Avoids the issue of the oil never getting up to temperature which can also be bad for the engine.
They are available in threaded or clamped configurations.
David "thermostatically controlled" Lieb
David Lieb


All good thoughts...but any pics available?

Mike P.
Mike Pelone

Yes pics here!


Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

During my training as an aircraft engineer, one of the exam questions was always, what to do with an oil system after an engine failure, and as well as all the other procedures, the correct answer about oil coolers was that they should be scrapped, as it was impossible to check that metal debris was cleaned out.
So I would always go for new.

Dave
Dave Barrow

I found that adding an oil cooler reduced oil consumption and had a definite stabilizing effect on oil pressure.

Mine came with a plastic cover that I install when temperatures run below freezing.
Glenn Mallory

Sorry Mike, only 1500 pics here, but:
1.out to the thermostat


Richard 1979 1500

2. Down the rabbit hole...


Richard 1979 1500

3. And below/in front of the radiator...
(Night time picture) Hope these help, 1500 not withstanding.
R


Richard 1979 1500

This thread was discussed between 18/11/2008 and 24/11/2008

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