Oil cooler on a VIS

Yes, I know, it's not a turbo- why does it need it?

Well, it probably doesn't, but in the interests of longevity and kindness to general underbonnet parts through slightly lower temperatures, I'd be interested.

Has anyone ever done this and is there a complication in adding the lines- would I for instance, need a different oil filter housing to incorporate the pipes..?

Is it even possible on the VIS??

It already has an oil cooler (or heat exchanger) fitted, not as obvious to the eye as a turbo but it's there. It forms part of the block you screw your oil filter on to, has a couple of coolant pipes coming off it.

I'd personally make sure your radiator and water cooling is 100% first before modding this, you'll find this will make a big difference (most noticeable with oil pressure when car is hot) especially if your rad is on its way out. The rads last about 7-8 years in the VIS from experience before they are shot.

Jim I seem to remember one of my first 20v n/a having a failed oil cooler and the oil ending up in the expansion tank. So it had came as a surprise to me too that they even had a cooler.

Although I was getting a lower mileage engine put in that coupe from another 20v I had at the time.

Thanks for that team.

What a fool- I was just down now having a look at it (I've got the front bumper off) and it's hard to perceive a difference in 'forward depth' between the radiator visible above the bumper foam and the radiator below.

What I mean is- oil coolers are usually smaller and I was trying to work out if I had something underneath which was present above.

But, just now I spotted metal tubing going in on the NS, at the bottom of one of these, which was too small to be coolant hosing.
Or is that the AC condenser?

I had a new radiator just the year before last actually (and water pump and thermostat and cabin heater matrix)

There isn't an 'issue' as such- I'm just always thinking about little things to aid mechanical sympathy, you know?

Hangon- is it the case then, that the oil cooler isn't a 'forward facing radiator type matrix' then..? But part of the lower crankcase hardware..?

Thanks for your help...

If memory serves me correctly and it might not be (my memory that is) but it certainly didn't look like a radiator type matrix at all...

I've just been searching for it now but cant find anything regarding 20v cooler

It doesn't look like a radiator or air con matrix, it's a metal block that the oil filter screws in to. Have a look at your filter and work back towards the engine block, couple of coolant pipes go in to it.

Have you got a copy of Eper, can't cut and paste unfortunately?

Thanks Rosso
- yes non VT info, is a bit scarce!

Actually Wal, despite it being mentioned all the time, I have no idea what Eper is!

I'll need to lie down in front of the car then- as I can't even see the oil filter!

To think as well, that when I had the VT (16 years ago) I used to pore over the cutaway diagram in the brochure looking at the engine detail- it's different when it's in the car!

Eper is the Fiat group parts catalogue for all their cars, it breaks each model down in to its component parts so you can identify and order parts.

If you do a search online you'll find it, got a download of it years ago and found it extremely useful.

Oil cooler conversion from vis to 20vt style is easy I did mine last year.

you need oil cooler and pipe work from 20vt including the cooler mount and ducting from the 20vt, holes will need cutting in the front bumper where the slats are if its an original non turbo bumper also the oil sandwich plate from 20vt and thats all you should need if i remember rightly.

what id like to try next is keep the original heat transfer set up but add the oil cooler set up aswell just to see any difference.

there are some pieces also in ebay for oil cooler conversion
keeping the original heat exchanger, i would use that kind
of conversion easy reversible

http://www.ebay.it/itm/OIL-COOLER-ADAPTER-SANDWICH-PLATE-3-4unf-9070A-/200605400002?hash=item2eb5037bc2:g:p8kAAMXQCZ1TdOP5

Thankyou all for this this team- I shall have a look now...