Hi Guys, I really want to eliminate the engine oil cooler on my 1996 F350 4x4 Crew 460 so I don't have coolant leak into the engine oil and trash the motor. I know that eventually happens. Ford no longer sells the cooler and it was $1400 when they did. Whew! Long Coolers Inc. was the original part manufacturer for Ford. Some guys added an external Air to Fluid cooler but I am not big on routing the hoses under the belts to get in front of the radiator. Is this oil cooler REALLY NECESSARY?? The truck was built to be a heavy duty work horse. However I use it as a daily driver and don't pull backhoes or toy haulers. Mostly a hunting truck and spare daily driver. Only 100,000 miles on a 15 yr old truck. So, has anyone else eliminated the cooler altogether?? Is it really necessary?? Any thoughts at all?

 

Its only really can be called nessacary if your beating on the motor. The high heat of working a truck, combined with the higher T-stat temps cooks the oil. Greatly reducing its life span. So like you say just a fancy driver I can't see how it could fail, but if you do tow something heavy. Just change the oil alot sooner. So if you think it is close while towing lets say a travel trailer. Pull over and get it changed.

Or if you have no leaks I would consider Synthetic. Becouse its carbon chain make up is better for high heat, high stress situations.

 

The one thing that kills motor oil is HEAT. The oil cooler helps keep the heat down. Why the hell would you want to eliminate a motor life extending item like the oil cooler? You gonna get rid of the radiator too?

 

if you're not towing (or working the truck)
you should be ok without it.

is your oil cooler an Air to Water cooler? (coolant leak into the engine oil)
I'd consider throwing a regular Air to Oil cooler on since you've got the lines

you may not NEED the extra cooling
but anything to keep the oil cooler will help keep it from breaking down
and protect your engine better
same goes with Transmission fluid
I've got the fluid going thru the factory cooler in the radiator, then going thru an external cooler, then back to the tranny

I'm kicking around the idea of adding an engien oil cooler to my truck

 

Is the factory air>oil cooler no longer available? I have it on my 89 and it even angles the filter so filters changes are a snap!

 

@Bear: LOL, straight to the point. My reason for making changes is that other guys are losing their stock water to oil cooler and coolant is dumping into the block and wiping it out. Ford no longer sells them and neither does the aftermarket. Therefore the only choice is adding lines and going with an air to oil cooler, which I am not thrilled about, but I have decided that will be my ultimate change for all of the obvious reasons. Keep the oil as cool as I can. Especially in Phoenix, AZ. For now I reinstalled the stock cooler until I gather the air to oil kit. Good news, my oil leak went away!! The oring on the cooler was dried out and leaking. Thanks for your reply!

 

@Bobby, see my response to Bear. The factory and original manufacturer coolers are no longer availabe. I did a ton of research on this. I was determined to find a warehouse full of them somewhere. ROFL......

 

Ahhh.. well that sure changes things a bit. Maybe a trip to the pick and pull?? The 89 set up (not sure what other years had it) seems bullit proof to me and after 22 years still never an issue. My truck is 95% tow use and has yet to ever even get warm. The offset filter location even allows clearance for a longer filter if you so choose. Just a thought for ya to get away from your current set up and still use a "stock" cooler.

 

I have to agree with Bear on this. Go to Summit Racing or Jegs they have a variaty of oil and traney coolers. I don't see the problem of runing the hoses??
Just use enough clamps to locate them properley and you will be good to go.
Bill

 

Thanks Bobby. I will look into that 89 version.

Thanks Wildebill. That will probably be my final decision but the hoses will be longer and wisely routed as you suggest. I don't need an issue off road.

 

Im not sure when Ford changed the design on the oil coolers on the big blocks, but the early design is air cooled, as opposed to the later design where the engine coolant is used to cool the oil. IMO using engine coolant for a oil cooler is completly worthless.

 

Wow I just threw out an entire setup for an air-to-oil cooler off a '90 model because I figured nobody would want it. I did not know about the problems with the later design.