Oil cooler relocation kit.

[Newowner]

While engine off for overhaul thinking to relocate my oil cooler. It’s all stock 1966 M20F. What’s your thoughts on that. Where do I buy the kit? How involved the job to do it. Thank you all.

 

 

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[AerostarDriver]

OIL COOLER RELOCATION STC KIT - LASKIT126 — LASAR

You may have an issue as support is listed as for 67 and newer. Currently, the kit is out of stock but you may want to call lasar. 

[Newowner]

Just called them. They have it in stock. How involved the job is while engine is off?


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[59Moonster]

Have you considered getting a high performance, larger one? That's the route my guy wanted to go so no idea if anybody else has already tried that. I guess I will know soon enough if it did the trick or not.

[Newowner]

I didn’t know they have high performance coolers. My oil temp never got higher then 202 even on original cooler spot. Still thinking if it’s worth doing it. 

[InJuRo]

Is the engine off with the engine mounting frame or without? I have the Laser kit and it installs very close to the engine mount/frame. How close also may also depend on your oil cooler. If you have "welding spots", sticking out on the outer housing of the oil cooler, it gets even closer. If the housing of the oil cooler is flat, it is easier. I put some leather in between, to see if there is any contact during vibration.

Installation takes "a motivated weekend". When the engine is installed, attaching the rear mounts of the baffles ist no joy. This may be much easier with the engine off. Nevertheless when the engine is off without the mount, be aware to retrim, when installing the engine.

When you have the oil cooler installed, consider to close the gaps on the side with either e proper instant seal or bend yourself some aluminium which you mount in. The better airflow will drop oil temp by a few degrees. Otherwise with the relocation it felt like the oil gets a little bit hotter.

Get a good and sharp drill to get rid of the rivets of the former oil cooler mounting frame at the front cowling.

Ingo

[Woodpile]

[Woodpile]

WooHoo! My oil temp used to stay at the top of the green the whole time I was in cruise.  I just finished the Lasar relocation kit and lower cowl mod - now i have all that green north of the needle

[Sheriff23]

23 hours ago, Woodpile said:

WooHoo! My oil temp used to stay at the top of the green the whole time I was in cruise.  I just finished the Lasar relocation kit and lower cowl mod - now i have all that green north of the needle

What is the lower cowl mod with the oil cooler relocation?  Is it just plugging the hole in the lower cowling where the oil cooler was located?  Or is it something else?

[Woodpile]

The Lasar oil cooler relocation kit contains new brackets to install behind the left rear cylinder by changing out the baffle section. It includes new, shorter hoses, and a panel to close over the hole in the original lower cowl location.

I also added the Lasar cowl enclosure which reduces the intake by about 1/2. When I discussed this with Lasar, they told me the original designed intake around the spinner is so large that it over pressurizes the the engine compartment to the point that on some aircraft airflow is backwards (or at least stagnant) around the oil cooler - leading to poor cooling performance. 

I made both adjustments at the same time. 1200 in parts, 1200 in labor.

The baffles probably need some tinkering - see above posts from others. We had to reposition it just a touch more outboard, and close a small gap.

[Woodpile]

[Woodpile]

[Mooney-Shiner]

On 3/11/2022 at 9:50 AM, Woodpile said:

The Lasar oil cooler relocation kit contains new brackets to install behind the left rear cylinder by changing out the baffle section. It includes new, shorter hoses, and a panel to close over the hole in the original lower cowl location.

I also added the Lasar cowl enclosure which reduces the intake by about 1/2. When I discussed this with Lasar, they told me the original designed intake around the spinner is so large that it over pressurizes the the engine compartment to the point that on some aircraft airflow is backwards (or at least stagnant) around the oil cooler - leading to poor cooling performance. 

I made both adjustments at the same time. 1200 in parts, 1200 in labor.

The baffles probably need some tinkering - see above posts from others. We had to reposition it just a touch more outboard, and close a small gap.

I just ordered the Lasar oil cooler relocation kit, since I have to replace my timed out oil cooler hoses anyway. Hoping that with a shorter oil route to cooler and lack of the exhaust systems near the oil cool hoses it will help to keep my oil temp down. 

Great point on the overpressurization of the engine compartment. I have no issue with cyl temps, but definitely running out of "green" on the oil temp. Oil pressure is nominal. 

[Woodpile]

I am still very happy with the cooler temps and the indications on my new GI275 engine monitor attest to the performance better than the old analog gauge

[Mooney-Shiner]

I'm still having issues with fitting the front filler piece. It seems to be too small to provide enough "grab" by the rivets.  I wonder if any of you had the same issues?

Be warned about my annoying unrehearsed and self-confusing description. 

 

[Oscar Avalle]

I am considering to get the STC. I was wondering if somebody has a picture of how the instalation looks like. In particular if the baffles que modified.

 

Thanks!

 

Oscar

[Mooney-Shiner]

On 4/14/2024 at 4:49 PM, Oscar Avalle said:

I am considering to get the STC. I was wondering if somebody has a picture of how the instalation looks like. In particular if the baffles que modified.

 

Thanks!

 

Oscar

The back left baffle will have to be cut. Also CHECK the dry fit before using the STC supplied template. I followed the provided buffle template and my oil cooler ended up rubbing the motor mount, so I had to re-do the holes placement.

[47U]

On 4/14/2024 at 1:49 PM, Oscar Avalle said:

I am considering to get the STC. I was wondering if somebody has a picture of how the instalation looks like. In particular if the baffles que modified.

Oscar… LASAR website says the STC is limited to open baffles (no doghouse), 1967 and later E / F models.

https://lasar.com/stc-kits/laskit126

[Shadrach]

On 4/14/2024 at 4:49 PM, Oscar Avalle said:

I am considering to get the STC. I was wondering if somebody has a picture of how the instalation looks like. In particular if the baffles que modified.

 

Thanks!

 

Oscar

Oscar,

What do you perceive to be the benefit of relocating the cooler? 
 

Can someone with the mod speak to the ease (or lack thereof) of removing the left magneto with the cooler in place?

[Ragsf15e]

21 hours ago, Shadrach said:

Oscar,

What do you perceive to be the benefit of relocating the cooler? 
 

Can someone with the mod speak to the ease (or lack thereof) of removing the left magneto with the cooler in place?

I wonder what the benefit is too. I haven’t had oil temperature problems with the stock position, so I have to assume something besides position of the oil cooler is causing the high temps?  Mine sits at 185 degrees unless I let my chts sit up around 400 in a climb (slow speed) in real hot air.  Just holding a cruise climb and keeping chts under control seems to be enough to keep it below 200 for sure. 

[Shadrach]

1 hour ago, Ragsf15e said:

I wonder what the benefit is too. I haven’t had oil temperature problems with the stock position, so I have to assume something besides position of the oil cooler is causing the high temps?  Mine sits at 185 degrees unless I let my chts sit up around 400 in a climb (slow speed) in real hot air.  Just holding a cruise climb and keeping chts under control seems to be enough to keep it below 200 for sure. 

Likewise. Mine runs about the same even in prolonged hot summer climbs, 200 is an exception.

[Andy95W]

@Oscar Avalle- I thought this STC was only available for the E and F models, that didn’t have the battery box mounted to the firewall.  Unless your M20C has its battery relocated to the tail?

[Oscar Avalle]

On 4/17/2024 at 10:44 PM, Andy95W said:

@Oscar Avalle- I thought this STC was only available for the E and F models, that didn’t have the battery box mounted to the firewall.  Unless your M20C has its battery relocated to the tail?

Yes indeed, but I am applying the STC to upgrade my M20C to a M20E. So I am swapping the O-360 for a IO 360 and moving the battery and so on.

So major surgery.

 

Oscar 

[McMooney]

On 4/17/2024 at 5:42 PM, Ragsf15e said:

I wonder what the benefit is too. I haven’t had oil temperature problems with the stock position, so I have to assume something besides position of the oil cooler is causing the high temps?  Mine sits at 185 degrees unless I let my chts sit up around 400 in a climb (slow speed) in real hot air.  Just holding a cruise climb and keeping chts under control seems to be enough to keep it below 200 for sure. 

I want to move mine just to get it out of the direct path of rocks and debris.

[Ragsf15e]

Just now, McMooney said:

I want to move mine just to get it out of the direct path of rocks and debris.

Fair enough, they do take some abuse there, but you can (carefully) straighten  out the vanes.  My last oil cooler lasted the life of the cooler.  It just feels like a solution in search of a problem?  But then I also love upgrading my airplane and they don’t always make sense: