Crash bar oil cooler on an ultra?

[wayzalot]

Would I get much cooling benifet from a crash bar used as an oil cooler on an 1999 Ultra with lowers?  Does anyone have instructions. Would this adaptor and some hose be all I need? http://www.horsepowerinc.net/products/oil-cooler-mounting-bracket/  Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[bogiediver]

I attached a PDF with a way to do what you've asked for (part 1 to this post, part 2 in the next, to comply with the max file size limit)

I choose not to do it because I didn't think the oil pump would be able to push the oil around the crash bars effectively, and I have a high flow pump...

I'd suggest talking to a good wrench you trust to get their opinion...

I was not the author, nor do I know or have any affiliation with the author - just something I came across when i was looking for an oil cooler.

-bogie



[attachment removed after 60 days by system]

[bogiediver]

Part 2 of the pdf...

[attachment removed after 60 days by system]

[Phu Cat]

How clean is the inside of any crash bar? 

PC

[hotroadking]

IT's been discussed a ton on HTT, do a search and you'll find several threads

I've often wondered how clean the inside was, and when drilling if you could guarantee you got all the metal
shavings out of the engine guard, maybe the filter would catch them who knows.

You have to watch the oil level on first starts after changes  how long the engine would run pumping oil into the cooler before it has an adequate volume to flow properly. I bet you'd have to watch the oil level drop on first time start as that bar has to hold at least 1 if not 2 qts of oil.... Also would the pump have enough pressure to completely fill the bar, in other words how much oil is getting over the top, is the bar full and it has no air pocket or can the input side, keep up with the oil the pump is pulling out of the bars on the exit....

Guess it works nobody's ran a engine dry... at  least nobody has admitted to it LOL

Other thing is draining oil, you'd have to put a drain on each side to fully drain or, pull the adapter fittings to drain the oil out of the bar.

Imagine it would work, as many have said, but still, cleanliness, cleaning, draining.

[wayzalot]

Very good points mentioned here.  IF I did it I would, after taping the fittings I would high pressure wash the inside of the crash bar.  I think I should go with a conventional HD or Jagg cooler.  Just seem to be drawn to do it yourself retro fit Mcguyver stuff.   

[JimB]

In my past shop owner days...Ive had customers that wanted to do the crash bar cooler route. That was until I showed them a crash bar that I had cut open, its full of rust, slag & metal debris.

If anyone wants to use the crash bar as a cooler, I highly recommend a very serious acid wash inside to remove the crap thats inside.

Personally, Id prefer the cheapest oil cooler on the market thats designed as a cooler vs using the crash bar.

Im sure some will disagree

[dblbad107]

I have been running a crash bar cooler for 13 or 14 years now. After drilling & tapping I used a steam cleaner to blow the crud out. There is a lot of crud too. If you make sure the crashbar is ahead of the oil filter inlet it will catch what you didn't get out. I just ran it 10 miles or so then changed the filter then again at 100 miles. No problems except you'll need a thermostat cuz the engine oil will not warm up in winter....trust me i found that out. When changing oil just pull the lines off the fittings & drain crashbar. Oh I also powdercoated the bar black.

[classic]

any idea where you can accuire "The thermostat used is a Lockhart DP-180.'?

[PosseRider]

I have used one also for the past 3 yrs. 55,000 miles. It works well. I used a  Jagg offset filter adaptor w/thermostat. Clean the guard out well as has been stated. It will add between 1- 1 1/2 qts. I like the fact that there is no cooler "hanging around" !!!  Guys have been doing this for years. Costs less than $20 to do the bar. If ya want the offset w/thermostat about another $100. I got mine on ebay

[wayzalot]

Another thought,  at the cost of mobil 1 Vtwin oil, can I afford 1 1/2 more quarts of oil at every change? With more oil can you go longer between changes?  Is there any problem with the pump pushing oil up the crash bar? Does it drain back when sitting?  So many questions   

[Glenn W]

Another thought,  at the cost of mobil 1 Vtwin oil, can I afford 1 1/2 more quarts of oil at every change? With more oil can you go longer between changes?  Is there any problem with the pump pushing oil up the crash bar? Does it drain back when sitting?  So many questions   

I'd just run some cheap Rotella in the crash bar and good  synth. in the motor................................................



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............................I'm sorry, couldn't help myself. I'll stop now 

[Phu Cat]

Classic, Hate to think how much that thermostat would cost and it'll probably fail when you need it most.  Just install bypass with a manual valve in it.

PC