Oil Cooler Thermostat

[RobertK]

I recently rebuilt my oil filter/cooler housing and when I put it back on the first time oil poured out where there oil cooler thermostat was. I used all new seals so I couldn't figure out what went wrong.

In a hurry to get my car back on the road I removed the oil cooler thermostat and put it back together without it. So far no leaks and the car runs fine. I guess what I'm getting to is I want to know if there are any known problems to running my car without the oil cooler thermostat?

[arsevader]

I recently rebuilt my oil filter/cooler housing and when I put it back on the first time oil poured out where there oil cooler thermostat was. I used all new seals so I couldn't figure out what went wrong.

In a hurry to get my car back on the road I removed the oil cooler thermostat and put it back together without it. So far no leaks and the car runs fine. I guess what I'm getting to is I want to know if there are any known problems to running my car without the oil cooler thermostat?

Cooler oil...

[RobertK]

Cooler oil...

This might sound stupid but.. are there any side effects I should be aware of???

[arsevader]

This might sound stupid but.. are there any side effects I should be aware of???

I wouldn't think so. It'll allow all the oil to pass through the cooler all the time rather than when the thermostat opens.

[NC325iC]

theres a thermostat?!

[arsevader]

theres a thermostat?!

Yeah, it's in the oil filter housing on the 'i' cars.

[PeaveyBassist]

It will keep your oil from heating up quicker. Cold oil = higher oil pressure. Not really a good thing but if you keep the rpm's down for a long time it might be ok. I don't even know if the oil would get all the way up to temp if the thermostat was open the whole time. You should probably get that fixed.

Will

[AdamF 88iS]

Oil doesn't lubricate at it's full potential if it's not within it's operating temperature range. Too hot AND too cold are both no good.

[RobertK]

I live in the south so I would think that the oil being to cold shouldn't be a problem.

[PeaveyBassist]

I live in the south so I would think that the oil being to cold shouldn't be a problem.

That has nothing to do with it. As Adam said, oil needs to be just the right temp. Too cold or too hot is baaaad. And thats oil temp, not ambient temp.

Will

[RobertK]

Spoke to a BMW mechanic friend about it. His remark was that it shouldn't be a problem it will just take a little longer to warm the oil up.

[AdamF 88iS]

I live in the south so I would think that the oil being to cold shouldn't be a problem.

Operating temp for oil in the motor is 200-210*F. I don't think being in the south would have much to do with that.

[Gus]

did you crush the copper washer? i have done this before...a new one not expensive

[RobertK]

did you crush the copper washer? i have done this before...a new one not expensive

No.. actually the replacement one is now made of aluminum.

It was leaking from the thermostat housing though I'm begining to think that I might have just punched the rubber gasket. I tried the C-clamp method ofinstalltion but that was a nightmare.

BTW.. what is the correct way to reinstall the oil cooler thermostat. When I took it apart the first time it looked as if someone had already tried to rebuild it and did it wrong because the spring was loose and had no tension on it.

[AdamF 88iS]

If the spring was loose they probably left the piston out of it.

It is a common leak, there is a new plug and circlip design avalible from the dealer to fix it.