'03 Disco II add/upgrade Oil Cooler
Don't expect coolant temps to drop
Installing an oil cooler will not necessarily cause your coolant temps to drop. Your coolant is cooling your cylinders and your heads. Friction from your rings against the cylinder walls and the heat transferred from the exhaust valves to the head and of course the combustion itself. Whereas the oil is transferring heat from the crank, cam and valve train. From researching the relationship between the two temps, oil vs coolant, there is a lot of debate on which gets hotter, which gets to temp the soonest, etc. The general consensus, was that the coolant reaches operating temp faster, but the oil reaches a higher temp.
I guess the only way to know what effect the oil cooler makes, would be to have oil temp gauge installed and see temps before and after.
I installed an oil cooler, because these engines are notorious for overheating, and if the coolant temp is averaging 210+ then the oil is theoretically averaging 220-230. That is not acceptable(in the long run) for me. Getting the coolant down to 190-195(with the 180 thermostat) and adding the oil cooler have been the wisest upgrades I have done to my 03, in my opinion, that is.
I guess the only way to know what effect the oil cooler makes, would be to have oil temp gauge installed and see temps before and after.
I installed an oil cooler, because these engines are notorious for overheating, and if the coolant temp is averaging 210+ then the oil is theoretically averaging 220-230. That is not acceptable(in the long run) for me. Getting the coolant down to 190-195(with the 180 thermostat) and adding the oil cooler have been the wisest upgrades I have done to my 03, in my opinion, that is.
Winching
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 645
Likes: 258
From: San Mateo, CA
Not yet. USPS turned a 2 day delivery into a week... Also, One of my SAI "Y" pipes is cracked and ticking, so I'm waiting for a new "Y" pipe to arrive to do both at the same time. Should have it all done this week.
Winching
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 645
Likes: 258
From: San Mateo, CA
Finally got around to installing the '02 oil cooler and lines I got from Abram a couple of months ago.
I had installed the cooler during the last (and hopefully final) cam install in late Sep. I cut the fingers off some rubber gloves and zip tied them the the cooler fittings to keep any crap out of the cooler before I installed the lines.
I installed the lines with new o-rings last night. The driver side line was a PITA to get lined up and connected to the bottom port of the front cover. There is a double clamp on the aux bracket in front of the drivers side head that secures a PS line - eventually, I got the oil cooler line positioned just right to make use of the second part of the clamp. I pinched the PS pump supply line between the newly installed oil cooler line and the existing PS line, so I had to uninstall the oil cooler line, re-route, and reinstall.
The passenger side line was a breeze. Connected right up to the port on the front cover just above the oil filter. I used the clamp that came with the line and fastened it just above the main ground wire connection to the motor.
Filled the motor up with a little extra oil, checked for leaks, and took her for a spin. No difference in coolant temp - still runs between 187 and 194...
I had installed the cooler during the last (and hopefully final) cam install in late Sep. I cut the fingers off some rubber gloves and zip tied them the the cooler fittings to keep any crap out of the cooler before I installed the lines.
I installed the lines with new o-rings last night. The driver side line was a PITA to get lined up and connected to the bottom port of the front cover. There is a double clamp on the aux bracket in front of the drivers side head that secures a PS line - eventually, I got the oil cooler line positioned just right to make use of the second part of the clamp. I pinched the PS pump supply line between the newly installed oil cooler line and the existing PS line, so I had to uninstall the oil cooler line, re-route, and reinstall.
The passenger side line was a breeze. Connected right up to the port on the front cover just above the oil filter. I used the clamp that came with the line and fastened it just above the main ground wire connection to the motor.
Filled the motor up with a little extra oil, checked for leaks, and took her for a spin. No difference in coolant temp - still runs between 187 and 194...
Last edited by Tony Luna; Nov 4, 2015 at 01:08 PM.
Camel Trophy
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 248
From: Longview, Texas
Finally got around to installing the '02 oil cooler and lines I got from Abram a couple of months ago.
I had installed the cooler during the last (and hopefully final) cam install in late Sep. I cut the fingers off some rubber gloves and zip tied them the the cooler fittings to keep any crap out of the cooler before I installed the lines.
I installed the lines with new o-rings last night. The driver side line was a PITA to get lined up and connected to the bottom port of the front cover. There is a double clamp on the aux bracket in front of the drivers side head that secures a PS line - eventually, I got the oil cooler line positioned just right to make use of the second part of the clamp. I pinched the PS pump supply line between the newly installed oil cooler line and the existing PS line, so I had to uninstall the oil cooler line, re-route, and reinstall.
The passenger side line was a breeze. Connected right up to the port on the front cover just above the oil filter. I used the clamp that came with the line and fastened it just above the main ground wire connection to the motor.
Filled the motor up with a little extra oil, checked for leaks, and took her for a spin. No difference in coolant temp - still runs between 187 and 194...
I had installed the cooler during the last (and hopefully final) cam install in late Sep. I cut the fingers off some rubber gloves and zip tied them the the cooler fittings to keep any crap out of the cooler before I installed the lines.
I installed the lines with new o-rings last night. The driver side line was a PITA to get lined up and connected to the bottom port of the front cover. There is a double clamp on the aux bracket in front of the drivers side head that secures a PS line - eventually, I got the oil cooler line positioned just right to make use of the second part of the clamp. I pinched the PS pump supply line between the newly installed oil cooler line and the existing PS line, so I had to uninstall the oil cooler line, re-route, and reinstall.
The passenger side line was a breeze. Connected right up to the port on the front cover just above the oil filter. I used the clamp that came with the line and fastened it just above the main ground wire connection to the motor.
Filled the motor up with a little extra oil, checked for leaks, and took her for a spin. No difference in coolant temp - still runs between 187 and 194...
the o-rings go on the end of the lines that go into the front cover.
Winching
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 645
Likes: 258
From: San Mateo, CA
I looked into new seals for the push lock fittings that connect to the cooler, but did not find any. I cleaned them up pretty well and applied clean grease to the fittings on the cooler.
Tiny leak at the pass side fitting on the front cover when I first started her up. Tightened the fitting a little more and all is good.
Next up, a sandwich cooler for an oil pressure gauge, and maybe an in-line t-stat (I've had all the parts for this mod sitting in the garage for a while).
Winching
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 656
Likes: 23
From: West Palm Beach, FL
Baja
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 5,845
Likes: 368
From: Near Bordeaux, France
Have my truck in a shop in the Atlanta area having Cannibal V8 put in it. Due to some BS I hope gets straightened out, my 40+ years of getting screwed over before is causing my "Spiddy Senses" to go nutz.
Now the shop is recommending me to put in a oil cooler. He states:
"The '03 and '04 Discovery's did not get an oil cooler installed because back then the Government raised the emission standards so the only way for Land Rover to stay within the standards was to get rid of the oil cooler witch raises the engine temp higher to burn more crap out of the exhaust."
They are asking to put a oil cooler in to make the truck run much cooler to add to the engine longitivtiy. They are asking $780 for the used oil cooler, installed.
Since I am losing some trust in this shop, I figured I would come here and ask some opinions.
Any thoughts?
Now the shop is recommending me to put in a oil cooler. He states:
"The '03 and '04 Discovery's did not get an oil cooler installed because back then the Government raised the emission standards so the only way for Land Rover to stay within the standards was to get rid of the oil cooler witch raises the engine temp higher to burn more crap out of the exhaust."
They are asking to put a oil cooler in to make the truck run much cooler to add to the engine longitivtiy. They are asking $780 for the used oil cooler, installed.
Since I am losing some trust in this shop, I figured I would come here and ask some opinions.
Any thoughts?
Buy your own cooler and install it yourself.