M42 Oil cooler

[totheredline]

So Ive done a little bit of research on the topic but I really cant find any definitive answers. Looks like most people just run a IE oil cap. I'm on a budget though, and I'd rather not pay $250 for the cap.

Is there anyway to modify the oil filter housing to route oil through a cooler?


I saw this picture on another thread. Could I use this port to feed oil through the cooler and then into the sump?

[bmwman91]

If you did that, you would basically be using the cooler as a bypass for the rest of the engine. And then you would need a new engine. I have only ever seen oil coolers for the M42 use a custom cap, or a block that is installed between the filter housing and timing case.

Are you planning to do some hard track driving with the car, or run a beefy turbo? If not, I don't see why you would need an oil cooler.

[totheredline]

Well then... that probably isn't a very good idea....

Are you planning to do some hard track driving with the car, or run a beefy turbo? If not, I don't see why you would need an oil cooler.

Yes. High rpm and Hard tracking in the southern heat. Cooling issues are the LAST thing I want to worry about. My previous car was a nightmare when it came to keeping cool during autocross sessions. ( typical e46 -_-). I wanted to over engineer the cooling system on this car.

I have seen a plate that goes in place of the oil filter housing that allows you to run an inline oil filter /oil cooler via lines and fittings. I'll post a picture of it when I get to a PC.

[totheredline]

Whoever used to make these is no longer making them. I dont think it would be too too hard to make one on my own though.

[TobyB]

I did a very similar thing for the M10 by silver- soldering fittings to a plate.

Worked fine. For a race car.

The thing, though, is that then you get to engineer the whole system-
filter, cooler, plumbing, backflow valve(s) etc. And it's surprisingly tricky
to get exactly right the first time.

Not that you shouldn't try, just that you probably will end up doing it more
than once. So don't weld it all solid on the first go- round!

fwiw
t

[bmwman91]

Why not make an interposer between the timing case and filter housing? Switch to an m44 oil filter housing and get an extra clean oil outlet to seal the interposer to the case, and then just route the dirty oil through the cooler before the filter.

[totheredline]

I ended up going with a used cap and an m20 oil cooler. The m20 cooler should provide plenty of cooling.

[freeride53]

I ended up going with a used cap and an m20 oil cooler. The m20 cooler should provide plenty of cooling.

pics please!

[totheredline]

They haven't come in the mail yet but when Ill be sure to post pics of the setup when its done. Should be a pretty straight forward and easy setup.