Oil cooler upgrade

[gerickson]

I am trying to educate myself on GM's 6.5L 98~2000 oil coolers. I

[cruzer]

In my reseach for my 92, I found that B&M made the cooler for GM. B&M has regular pipe threads
and it fits in the stk bracket. Its a plate design which is supposed to be the best. Who really knows. The kit came w/the sandwich design adapter that goes between the oil filter and blk. I didn't use it because my lines go into the blk.
I went to a local hydrolics shop and had stainless/teflon lines made. They were able to adapt the stk ends from the blk to the ends of the line, and AN to pipe threads to the cooler. I got the cooler from SUMMIT. The lines cost about $110.

[StephenA]

Hey Cruzer,
I have a 92 as well. Could you tell me the mods you find are most important for this year of truck? How do you like the high flow injectors? Did you have to upgrade IP to the 300+ hp kind?
What's the mileage on your truck? OBD1 spits out no codes for the engine, right? What prompted you to do the oild cooler mod -lines leaking? How has it effected oil temps?
Thanks, Stephen

[cruzer]

StephenA, When I 1st got the truck in 95 I put a banks stinger exhaust system on it. It helped alot but I would still have to make a run on the hills of KY pulling about 7000lbs,& it slowed way down on some of them & it would downshift alot. Last fall I cracked a piston. I believe it was heat related from a trip out west,months B4. My temps were higher than previous yrs. When researching a rebiuld thru TDP. I knew heat was not going to be a factor in the future and more power was a must. The 6.5 the way it was, was not enuff for me. I did my reseach for power and set a budget. It was getting more power! All my upgrades were done at one time & I strongly recommend them. My power is awsome. I run 70-75 mph w/minimal speed fluctuations, & it no longer downshifts at all on the same trips(4L80E &4:10's). I'm running a DB4911 turned up about 1/8turn, max boost set 13-14psi,EGT's 950* A/T. New rad and cooling, stk 20" fan & clutch it rarely goes over 200*. Cooling maintenace is a must.

Your engine has mechanical injection and does not have a computer to make it run. IMHO That's a good thing. No FSD,PMD,PMS. The computer controls the tranny.

As for the oilcooler,upon removal of 1 of the lines it twisted, plus I read a lot about leaky lines. STK was not an option. I didn't want to use the old cooler on a new motor. Don't know oil temps, I know it's set up stk.

All in all,it beats $30-35k for a new truck. I had about 135k on truck when motor went. W/no motor my truck was worth $1500. $1500+my budget would have purchased a 150k+ rode hard, wore out truck. I knew what I had. Thanks TDP, and all its members.

[ 09-03-2003, 01:51 PM: Message edited by: cruzer ]

[StephenA]

Hey cruzer- thanks for the detailed reply! I didn't see this till now, cause it posted the week my hard drive crashed. Sounds like quite a truck.
I have the same philosophy about mine- a new truck is 30 or 40k, and has for me been like writing with a gold pencil.
By the time I get my 92 finished, I'll know it like the back of my hand & be able to service most of it myself. What peace of mind & wallet!
Thanks for sharing your mods & experience.
Stephen

[Hubert]

"In my reseach for my 92, I found that B&M made the cooler for GM. B&M has regular pipe threads"


Cruzer is the B&M model number 70266 rated for 28GVW the cooler you used. It is suppose to be 11x8x1-1/2 with 1/2 NPT connection. About $65-75 from various race discount rags.

I have also read Tru cool made the cooler for GM.
TRU-M7B 8x11x1-1/2 w/ 1/2 NPT $65-75 various sources

Both appear to be bolt up to OE brakets. Anyone know for sure.

Alternatives are perma cool and other high performance but will require more fab work to mount.

Anyone know which is the better choice?

[bbudus]

I personally skipped the stk stuff and went with the DSG oil cooler. Read the review on it on this site. Thought for a hundred bucks more I will go with it. I have been nothing but impressed by this unit. I would highly recommend. I no longer worry about oil temps or those stupid factory oil lines. Damn them anyway :mad:

When my motor went the lines had only been on for about 50k miles. Both ends and both lines were leaking already.

Bbudus

[Kennedy]

http://www.thedieselpage.com/reviews/dsgoilcooler.htm

[rjwest]

My oil temp is running around 225 max ,
( Measured at the Oil line prior to cooler )

Conditions: 65mph / OAT 90Deg with my Truck Camper,

Should I try to lower the temps ??

Trans is much cooler with big pan ( 180 max )

[cruzer]

Hubert, I don't recall the actual dimensions other than they were about the same as stk, and the same dimension of the bigger B&M trans cooler that you mentioned. Those dimesions sound about right. The engine oil cooler comes w/the hose,
hardware, and adapter for the engine. I purchased it from Summit racing. When i checked into coolers, I got the impression the plate designs were better and Summit was way cheaper than GM's, plus I needed new cooler lines and dealing with AN/pipe fittings were easier than metric. If I were doing it again I would consider the unit John Kennedy mentioned, if the $$s would allow.

Good luck, Ken

[mhagie]

For an oil cooler try Summit racing B&M #70274 $89.95 add to that Lubrication Specialists oil line kit @ $175.
Do the math you have basically the same kit as DSG for less $
you have to fab the mtg brkts but you save enough money to lessen the pain. :D
Merle

[GMC Hauler]

You can get the same specs cooler from Makco (http://www.bulkpart.com/) . It is the same dimensions, same plate stacked design, and same number of plates as the DSG cooler. The part number is H7B. The cooler cost me $73.50 with shipping.

Now, you can get the hydraulic lines done at a local hydraulic shop, or get Greg's lines at Lubrication Specialist. A local hydraulic shop will cost $60-80 dollars. I know an excellent shop in Washington state if anyone's interested.

I wanted to go with the DSG kit, but cost more than I was willing to pay. As Merle stated, you do have to fabricate the brackets for the cooler yourself.

I'm getting ready to take mine down and put on the new lines. I have been waiting for the oil filter adapter o-rings from GMPsrtsDirect.com, and they finally shipped (only took a month).

If you don't want to have a hydraulic shop make the lines, go with Greg's lines.

[trdwlr]

I have 95 2500 chev, xtended cab with 6.5
turbo. The oil cooler lines are leaking at the
steel too hose joints. Been thinking too cut off
at joints and flaring the ends and then add braided hose between . trouble finding hose and fittings any suggestions

[G. Gearloose]

steel? your generous.
Why put braded lines on ends that are held on by a 10-cent wire clip? Best get real hydro fittings.

[bbudus]

What kind of warrenty on lines and cooler if they fail and engine grenades? I just put 7k in this engine, not going to take too many chances with having to do it again.

Bbudus