oil cooler question

I plan on getting an oil cooler for my automatic tranny Subaru. This would just be used when I do some light towing or do some small trail off roading. I was wondering if they made an oil cooler that would only operate when the oil temperatures got too hot.

I don't think this applies to all all oil coolers, but the 2nd gen RX-7 oil coolers are thermostatically controlled and are relatively huge for a factory unit.

I have an extra one with lines. If your interested pm me.

Any of the coolers sold for British cars can be used with a thermostat. If fact its recommended.

Thanks, I'll consider it. At what temperature does the it start allowing oil in to cool?

While there are thermostats available, believe it or not you should use a cooler ALL of the time. Transmission fluid life is dramatically increased with lower operating temperatures.

spitfirebill wrote: Any of the coolers sold for British cars can be used with a thermostat. If fact its recommended.

Can you give me a few examples. Or a few photos with an aftermarket thermostat attachment would be great too.

http://mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29833&SortOrder=5

Click on "more info" by "thermostatic control unit" There are pictures and diagrams.

Although I'd just have it open all the time myself.

The Brown Stig wrote: While there are thermostats available, believe it or not you should use a cooler ALL of the time. Transmission fluid life is dramatically increased with lower operating temperatures.

Just to clarify, is the oil cooler for the engine oil or the tranny fluid?

If it's a tranny cooler just mount it in series with the existing radiator oil cooler, on the side coming from the transmission to the radiator. Oil way too hot and it gets cooled down before going into the rad, oil still cold and it gets heated up by the rad to operating temps. Same as what you have now but with the capacity to shed more heat if needed.

I just checked the FSM and the RX-7 oil cooler thermostats open at 149F / 65C.

oldopelguy wrote: If it's a tranny cooler just mount it in series with the existing radiator oil cooler, on the side coming from the transmission to the radiator. Oil way too hot and it gets cooled down before going into the rad, oil still cold and it gets heated up by the rad to operating temps. Same as what you have now but with the capacity to shed more heat if needed.

Sounds like a good idea. I was mainly concerned with overcooling during the winter times. There are days when it gets below zero.

You can always put a cover on it.