Oil Cooler Rubber/Braided

[lolsteve]

Thought I'd ask in the XU section due to track car folk

For an oil cooler is there much difference in terms of durability/installation ease/cooling for using between rubber or braided lines.

Rubber is the cheaper of the two (obviously) but recently tried fitting a turbo oil feed line that had been switched to a braided one and it was a bit of a c*** to fit, enjoyed springing about instead of just fitting nicely. 

How many rows would be suggested for a 1.8L N/a engine?

Are the universal kits on ebay any good / a world different to the mocal stuff

[miles]

Kit's I would avoid as the hoses I find are never right, Buy a take off a Cooler (Setrab) as mocal ones seem to be going thru a bad batch and leaking, then measure up the lines and get some made, getting some swivel joints help instead of fixed fittings but add's to the cost

[lolsteve]

Cheers for the heads up on the Mocal coolers. I'll look into it a bit more but was just having a gander last night, there are some premade kits available but as expected for that luxury you pay an extra premium

[Eeyore]

ive got a 13 row one although many say you have to have 16 rows for a 6. If you arent having overheating issues atm id go with the 13.

[lolsteve]

'6 run pretty hot though so can imagine you'd need more than for a 1.8
In terms of overheating/oil temps I have no idea on what's going on, don't have a oil gauge. Been meaning to read with an obd reader but always forget so 13 has to be better than none

[7057sam]

My lines where rubber where fine until the fans rubbed through them so probably going go braided if the the ones I got for free with the cooler are t long enough

[lolsteve]

So apart from the fan rubbing through they were fine then. Might get the rubber as a first attempt then upgrade to braided down the line if it all works well

[impotentials]

Braided look pretty, rubber do exactly the same thing for less money.
all depends on how you like the looks.

[Matt]

What do you need to fit an oil cooler? I see them on eBay dirt cheap! Is it a case of you get what you pay for with a cooler?

[allye]

Don't forget to mount them on rubber bobbins.

The only issues I've heard of with rubber is as above, poorly routed or secured.

[miles]

Get proper fittings, no hose clips etc, Rubber is fine if good quality, the braid just goes over this anyway so gives a extra layer of protection. As said kit's are pretty crap really as cooler location is set by the hoses

[Stef205]

i use hose from my local eagle plant cheap strong and crimped both ends

[lolsteve]

Going to be ordering this soon with the thermostat upgrade.
Don't fancy 2 hours of FCS session with overheated oil

http://www.mattlewisracing.co.uk/product.php/1137/0/

In terms of the cooler there's a motamec 13 row on ebay for £38 which looks the same as the mocal

[7057sam]

I got a second hand 19 row mocal for 30 on ebay the other day but probably new would be like 100 ish

Matt

You need a sandwich plate lines and cooler and extra oil as the cooler will take some.And bolts/threaded rod to make up a mounting point,if you have slimline fans you mount where the old twins where.

[aaron6]

I chose braided lines to help avoid a leak due to chafing. They were not too expensive. I just popped to a hydraulic center and had them knock them up while I waited.

[7057sam]

YAh Brought some braided yesterday 31 inches may be abit tight hopefully it's long enough