How to Install Engine Oil Coolers

Your car’s engine oil cooler acts as a radiator of sorts for the oil system in the car, keeping the oil at the optimum temperature for the car. Oil that is not cooled properly can cause permanent damage to the engine. As the car’s engine runs, the heat that is generated burns the motor oil and can cause sludge and other residue to build up within the engine, causing performance problems for the engine. While the engine’s oil filter helps to reduce such a sludge build-up, installing an engine oil cooler can greatly improve the performance and life of your engine. This is particularly true for engines in high-performance vehicles, which can burn more motor oil at even higher temperatures, increasing the risk for oil-related engine damage.

Step One — Double-Check Your Parts

Before beginning the installation of your engine oil cooler, be sure that you have all necessary parts and accessories for the oil cooler kit and all of the required tools. This is not a job to begin without having everything needed, including a new filter and fresh motor oil.

Step Two — Drain Your Engine’s Oil

When are you are ready to begin, remove the existing oil filter from the engine and drain the oil pan of all of its oil.

Step Three — Locate and Remove the Existing Oil Cooler

If you are replacing an existing oil cooler, you will likely notice it in front of the car’s main radiator, towards the front of the car, just behind the grill. Using your socket wrench, unbolt the old oil cooler from the inside of the car’s frame.

Step Four — Prepare the Frame for Its First Oil Cooler

If you are installing an oil cooler in a car that does not have one, you will need to drill the appropriate mounting holes into the frame or cross-member in front of the main radiator. If you are buying an aftermarket oil cooler, your kit is going to come with brackets and other accessories to help in mounting the cooler to the car.

Step Five — Mount the New Cooler

Attach the new cooler to the car, using your socket wrench to securely tighten the bolts.

Then run the proper oil lines from the engine to the oil cooler, and from the cooler back to the oil filter. Make sure you have the proper length of oil tubing, and mount the tubing in place where appropriate so it is not loose in the engine bay.

Step Six — Replace the Oil Filter and Motor Oil

Install a new oil filter, and proceed to fill the oil pan with the appropriate amount of motor oil.

Step Seven — Check the Engine Oil

Start up the car and let it run for a few minutes, allowing the engine to warm the fresh motor oil. You should then check the oil level of the car again, as the addition of the oil cooler may require additional oil to reach the “full” level.