EDIT: It works now perfectly, pls. see my latest post.

Finally I installed my oil cooler (stock cooler connected at the front cover ports), but there is no or very little flow. The cooler fittings stay cold (I can easily touch them with my hand) and I see no difference on oil temperature. I primed it from the cooler output side, added 500ml of oil (the difference between no cooler / cooler stated in the manual) and the oil level in the pan went slightly up, so there is flow to the pump.



Looks like the 04 front cover is really different and does not work with oil coolers. Since I don't want to touch the front cover, the other option would be using a sandwich adapter, but these are all full flow. Are those advisable for a D2? What is the pressure drop to be expected? Can I drill a bypass hole into the sandwich to make it partial flow?

 

This might explain it, they left the valve out (but not the snap ring, cup with o-ring and spring) and oil cooler is always bypassed. https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...f-valve-86314/

Before installation I checked for the snap ring and believed the valve is there, but that was an illusion.

 

Got in a sandwich, now it works.

 

Would you have a link to the adapter plate? Please

 

Earl's 502, which comes with an integrated thermostat (summit, ebay, amazon, walmart ...). You will need a bunch of fittings from different sources and 6ft hose. My routing is not optimum yet, also it needs more testing, but so far it keeps the oil temp lower.

 

THanks Discorama

 

Below are newer pictures of my oil cooler installation. Tested 4,000 miles on a road trip through high mountains (Western US). Car was fully loaded, 5 people, camping gear, hitch cargo rack. We reached altitudes of 14,000 feet and went some short but steep 4x4 trails. Most demanding in terms of oil temps is not off-roading, but prolonged ascents at highway speed in warm to hot weather. Even on level roads oil reached 240F without cooler before (while coolant stayed at 188F), now the oil reaches maximum 220F under the very same conditions, so a 20F temp reduction. According to the manufacturer, the thermostat opens at 140F and is fully open at 180F. I have an oil pressure sensor and can assure that there is no pressure drop due to the cooler. The thermostat lets the oil warm up as fast as without cooler. I am very satisfied with this setup.

What I don't like yet is the routing. I just plugged the existing hose ends from the stock plugs (pls see my previous posts, why this didn't work) into the sandwich ports, because I had to leave for the planned road trip. The compression fittings with barb adapters are absolutely tight. The AN hose ends work too, they do not leak directly, but I always find an ultra thin oil film on them. I am going to replace them with better quality adapters or barb adapters (if available).

I regret not installing a transmission cooler as oil cooler. It would give better cooling under extreme conditions. Oil can still get very hot, when climbing a hill at freeway speed and loaded at max capacity or towing a trailer. If you do that often I recommend installing the bigger transmission cooler. Or watch the oil temp and slow down.

 

Does that sandwich plate work with the stock oil filter?

 

OC261 as seen on the pictures is stock. Now I am using Mobil 1 M1-301A, which is a bit longer.

 

did you go longer for better flow? Or better oil life? Or possibly something else? I currently have two stock filters and would prefer not to waste them .