Help & FAQs    Search BCF    Members    Groups    Events Calendar
Resend my activation email : Register : Log in 
BCF: Bike Chat Forums


Oil & water radiator differences

 Reply to topic
Bike Chat Forums Index -> The Workshop
View previous topic : View next topic  
Author Message

stirlinggaz
World Chat Champion



Joined: 22 Jul 2007
Karma :
PostPosted: 17:29 - 12 Jan 2019    Post subject: Oil & water radiator differences Reply with quote
Hi all,
Another stupid question but what exactly is the difference between an oil coiler/radiator & a radiator intended for water cooling?
They are both sealed & if they have similar amounts of cooling fins do they do the same job?
Could they be interchangeable?

cheers,
GAZ
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

WD Forte
World Chat Champion



Joined: 17 Jun 2010
Karma :
PostPosted: 17:49 - 12 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Basically, surface area.
They're both heat exchangers where the hot fluid loses heat
as it passes through an area cooler than the engine
Coolant heat exchangers tend to be lerger and often fan assisted
as the engine carries more coolant than oil

Interchangeble?
mmm, yeah ,kinda, in way
BUT
Oil pressure is higher then coolant pressure so an oil cooler would serve as small radiator better/safer than a small rad as an oil cooler.
you're looking at roughly 100psi vs 12 psi
I wouldn't do it.
____________________
bikers smell of wee
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Riejufixing
World Chat Champion



Joined: 24 Jun 2018
Karma :
PostPosted: 17:52 - 12 Jan 2019    Post subject: Re: Oil & water radiator differences Reply with quote
stirlinggaz wrote:
what exactly is the difference between an oil coiler/radiator & a radiator intended for water cooling?
They are both sealed & if they have similar amounts of cooling fins do they do the same job?
Could they be interchangeable?


They both do the same job of cooling liquid, but (I assume) an oil cooler is likely to be able to handle a higher pressure but a lower flow rate. ICBW. I'd sort of doubt that they're interchangeable.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

MCN
Super Spammer



Joined: 22 Jul 2015
Karma :
PostPosted: 20:21 - 12 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
WD Forte wrote:
Basically, surface area.
They're both heat exchangers where the hot fluid loses heat
as it passes through an area cooler than the engine
Coolant heat exchangers tend to be lerger and often fan assisted
as the engine carries more coolant than oil

Interchangeble?
mmm, yeah ,kinda, in way
BUT
Oil pressure is higher then coolant pressure so an oil cooler would serve as small radiator better/safer than a small rad as an oil cooler.
you're looking at roughly 100psi vs 12 psi
I wouldn't do it.


The oil is probably cooled on it's path back into the sump so it will not have much pressure in it apart from some resistance due to restrictions of the tubes.

Cooling systems are (for argument sake) pressurised but the pressure in the cooling system is for a different reason
____________________
Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

stirlinggaz
World Chat Champion



Joined: 22 Jul 2007
Karma :
PostPosted: 10:09 - 13 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi all,
& thanks for the replies.
So in THEORY could an oil cooler system be used as a water coolant system?
Providing the rads were of very close volume/size?

cheers,
GAZ
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

MCN
Super Spammer



Joined: 22 Jul 2015
Karma :
PostPosted: 10:38 - 13 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
stirlinggaz wrote:
Hi all,
& thanks for the replies.
So in THEORY could an oil cooler system be used as a water coolant system?
Providing the rads were of very close volume/size?

cheers,
GAZ


Well not really.

Oil porting is very much narrower than coolant porting.

10mm pipes v 30mm pipes.

Engine cooling relies heavily on flow rather than pressure (of the flow).
____________________
Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

stirlinggaz
World Chat Champion



Joined: 22 Jul 2007
Karma :
PostPosted: 11:43 - 13 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
MCN wrote:


Well not really.

Oil porting is very much narrower than coolant porting.

10mm pipes v 30mm pipes.

Engine cooling relies heavily on flow rather than pressure (of the flow).


Hi,
Gotcha!
That makes more sense to me.
I was just interested in the differences, as my simple mind was telling me they do the same thing.

cheers,
GAZ
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts
Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 5 years, 97 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
  Display posts from previous:   
This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Bike Chat Forums Index -> The Workshop All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1

 
 You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum

Read the Terms of Use! - Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group
 
Debug Mode: ON - Server: birks (www) - Page Generation Time: 0.08 Sec - Server Load: 0.28 - MySQL Queries: 17 - Page Size: 55.98 Kb