Perkins 4.108 Oil Cooler Plumbing

[CharmCityBoater]

I have a 1983 Perkins 4.108. I just completed a full rebuild of the engine. The transmission has an oil cooler. I need to properly plumb the oil cooler into the raw water system. Prior to the rebuild the oil cooler was attached, via a bracket, to the back of the engine. The intake side of the oil cooler was fed from the raw water exit port on the back of the Bowman heat exchanger. This run had a vent loop in it. Then the exit raw water from the oil cooler was fed into the mixing elbow for the exhaust.

When talking to others they have all told me that this is not the right way to have it plumbed. I was told that the raw water should go through the oil cooler before going through the bowman heat exchanger.

I think the way mine was setup seems to be the best way, am I crazy? Is there a better way to plumb the oil cooler into the raw water cooling system?


Or, should it actually be plumbed into the coolant side of the engine, no raw water?

Thanks

Phil

[Redcoat]

Do you have a Bowman heat exchanger?

[CharmCityBoater]

Yes. Bowman heat exchanger.

[Redcoat]

Perkin 4_108m? I will try to post a picture of it.

[Redcoat]

But on mine it enters the exhaust after the transmission heat exchanger.

[CharmCityBoater]

Yes, Perkins 4.108M.

[CharmCityBoater]

Originally Posted by Redcoat

But on mine it enters the exhaust after the transmission heat exchanger.

So, yours it does go from the bowman heat exchanger to the trans oil cooler, then to the exhaust? Yes, I would LOVE to see a picture of it.

[Redcoat]

My photos are on the boat. But all's I did was come out the Bowman top boot above the the exhaust to the high loop antisiphone valve through the heat exchanger to the mixing elbow on the exhaust.

[Redcoat]

If you pm me with a phone number I can call you. It's a simple hook up.

[DougR]

The raw water plumbing on your engine is fine, the transmission cooler can be plumbed after the HE with no problems, and that's where most manufacturers place the cooler. The vented loop is also fine where it is between the HE and the transmission cooler, but if it was relocated to between the transmission cooler and the exhaust elbow there would be less water going into the muffler when the engine is shut down.

Realistically, different manufacturers place the transmission cooler in different locations, largely depending on the ease of running the plumbing.

As fas as putting the transmission cooler on the freshwater side of the system, that could be done as well. There are thousands of 4-108 engines running around with combination engine/transmission oil coolers mounted on the freshwater circuit in the return water flow from the HE. But why go to the trouble of fixing something that isn't broken.....?

DougR