Oil cooler or Twin Fans or Both?

[PhilNW 44]

Standard 1.9 engine targa/road rally car. Recently did a targa on a very hot day and after some of the tests engine temp seemed to be on the limit even with temp controlled single fan on full speed.

Any people's thoughts as to most effective way of keeping temp a bit lower.

Edited July 17, 2019 by PhilNW

[petert 588]

13 row oil cooler and a single fan is enough for me. The radiator needs to be completely shrouded however.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

How old is the radiator, reason I ask is I’ve had issues with cars running hotter than I’d like in the past, on a couple it was the radiator furred up inside through use of hard water over the years. A new rad cures all the issues straight away. Gti standard rads are not expensive so maybe worth a try if you don’t know the history or it’s been on a long time.

I’ve also found the surface tension reducing additives definitely do help, water wetter, millers super cool, etc.

[PhilNW 44]

Rad relatively new and soft water area so don't think internal furring an issue

[steve@cornwall 100]

Could ignition timing be too advanced? Cooling system may just cope in low ambient temperature, 

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

43 minutes ago, steve@cornwall said:

Could ignition timing be too advanced? Cooling system may just cope in low ambient temperature, 

Advanced ignition you would hear the engine pinking it’s head off, it’s retarded timing that makes them run hot, but also makes them very sluggish. If it’s a rally car I’d hope that the timing is set up to give as much forward propulsion as possible!!

[PhilNW 44]

No problem with forward propulsion for a standard engine just thrashing it in hot weather is pushing it's limits from a heat perspective with no oil cooler and only a single fan

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

Are you running an oil/coolant heat exchange? If not what oil cooler are you using if any? 

Standard cowling and fan or aftermarket? 

I’m guessing it’s got a sump guard? 

[PhilNW 44]

No oil cooler standard fan and sump guard 

 

Just wondering whether oil cooler and or twin fans will have best effect 

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

In your scenario if you’re happy the cooling system is tip top and engine running correctly I think twin fans or a bigger rad is the way to go. 

I’m sure most would agree though that cooling isn’t normally an issue especially with a standard engine and twin fans could possibly be just masking an issue elsewhere. 

 

I found my oil temps were hideous with a sump guard and standard oil/air  cooler. Fitting a 13 row cooler made a huge difference. 

[boldy205 75]

I'd be looking at a oil temp gauge, see if it's that getting hot. If not then look at the airflow over the rad. 

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

I think I’d try the oil cooler first. It certainly can’t do any harm to a rally car being used hard. 

After that more radiator, the turbo diesel rad although hard to get hold of is significantly thicker and holds a lot more

water.