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DeepFrz · 23-09-2015, 19:22

Before bypassing an oil cooler it would be good to take the temp. of the oil pan with an IR temp. gun. Its important that the oil reach operating temp. but of course you don't want it to reach too high of a temp. The oil should be about 10 to 15 deg. F higher than the engine coolant but needs some load on it to bring it up to temp. According to some experts one of the early killers of diesel engines is running the engine with to light of a load to get the lube oil up to operating temperature.

I think for most small boat operations, especially in a moderate climate like Sweden, the oil cooler would be unnecessary. But that is just a hunch and should be verified by recording the temp. of the oil.

onestepcsy37 · 23-09-2015, 20:23

Good idea, deepfrz. The water temp guage is not useful in determining oil temp. Few boats are equipped with oil temp guage, although I suspect the oil pressure guage might give an alert operator an indication that oil temp is not what it should be.

Cheechako · 24-09-2015, 09:38

Yes, my 4-108 did not come with an oil cooler at all. My 4-236 did.

moijwall · 24-09-2015, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

Dont know if this applies to a 4-236 because I have a 4-108. I also have the factory shop manual.

In the shop manual it specifically addresses the oil cooler and states that the oil cooler has been found to be unnecessary except in cases where the engine is used in severe service. If someone has that manual the paragraph is near page 46. Because of that I have always felt that, if it failed, I would simply run the oil line around it.

I like your way of thinking!

Then this is what I face:

moijwall · 24-09-2015, 11:39

But that might not be such a big problem, there seems to be conversion kits available:

Perkins Oil Filter Conversion Kit

Haven't found one for 4.236 yet though!

moijwall · 24-09-2015, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by NahanniV

It looks OK, but you must pressure test it to be sure.

Part number for the oil cooler tube stack is:
24865275

New ones can be had, but will be outrageously expensive:

24865275 - VARIOUS COOLING Perkins - 24865039 - 2486442

Cheers,
JM.

But unfortunaly it is to big

It is 85 mm wide and 130 mm high, mine is 75 mm wide and 120 mm high.
But I have sent away some questions in mails based on the links and is hoping for a positive answer!

moijwall · 24-09-2015, 13:09

One of my friends father has owned a marina for 40+ years and is still active though he has passed 70. A local guru!

I did send him a Picture of the tube stack focusing on the corroded part - his verdict was harsh: that will leak oil, plenty of oil.
Which is a pretty good description of what my boat did

Another strange finding looking for an adapter - the adapters have big rectangular openings while I look at two minor circular holes. But if I take a closer look on the oil cooler housing the holes are rectangular but the gasket covers most of them.

Lepke · 24-09-2015, 15:54

Are the holes in the block round? If so, you could thread them and either bypass or connect another cooler. Any machine shop could make an adapter from your existing cooler. A replacement cooler doesn't need to be in the stock location, but the oil lines need to be as short as possible for startup.

moijwall · 25-09-2015, 01:22

I believe what comes out of the block is round, but I need to go down to the boat and verify that. Will do so in the weekend.
What makes it a little complex is that the oil cooler is combined with the oil filter housing.

It feels like I have to work on two tracks in parallel:
1. Try to fix the tubestack and test it under pressure
2. Try to find an oil filter housing that fits directly onto the block - skip the cooler

After the oil mess this summer a simple oil filter housing just to bolt on could serve as a good spare part to have onboard.
And this is Sweden, we are not really in a tropical zone and my cruising speed is at 1500rpm. So the oil cooler might not be needed, but I would feel more comfortable if there was at least one marine 4.236 that had gotten rid of it before me

moijwall · 25-09-2015, 08:27

Got some interesting mail replies today.
Lancing Marine do have a bolt on oil filter holder and it can even later be extended with a cooler

They also say that there is no need for a cooler running below 3/4 Power.
In there conversion kits they switch from seawater to freshwater out of two reasons:
1. Seawater is dirtier which wears out the cooler faster
2. Seawater is to cool. Better to use the freshwater that holds the same temperature as the Engine at a whole

Makes sense to me and is in line with what DeepFrz said earlier.

DeepFrz · 25-09-2015, 09:31

Quote:

In there conversion kits they switch from seawater to freshwater out of two reasons:
1. Seawater is dirtier which wears out the cooler faster
2. Seawater is to cool. Better to use the freshwater that holds the same temperature as the Engine at a whole

I agree with this. It helps to ensure that the oil gets to proper operating temp. without overheating, so long as the engine coolant doesn't overheat.

DeepFrz · 25-09-2015, 09:42

Here is a link to an article by my Guru, Steve D'Antonio on running an engine with to light a load. He also addresses oil temp.
GEARHEAD: Chronic underloading and over-cooling | | PassageMaker