Oil Coolers

CAO65 · #1 10-25-2013, 03:24 PM

I am trying to decide if installing an oil cooler to Kohler engine would be beneficial or a waste of time. I have an 1863 that gets extremely hot more so than the Kohler 20 HP I had in Sears tractor, and I worry it will toast it. I read stories of people have heat issues with 2500 series as well, and I am soliciting opinions as heat issues are new to me. Thanks for the help.

J-Mech · #2 10-25-2013, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAO65

I am trying to decide if installing an oil cooler to Kohler engine would be beneficial or a waste of time. I have an 1863 that gets extremely hot more so than the Kohler 20 HP I had in Sears tractor, and I worry it will toast it. I read stories of people have heat issues with 2500 series as well, and I am soliciting opinions as heat issues are new to me. Thanks for the help.

First of all, where would you mount it? A cooler needs air blowing across it, and you don't have an engine fan. (Not really anyway.) Also, how would you feed it oil? There is no provision that would allow you to do that.

Second, maybe your motor is running lean, and causing extra heat. Have you pulled the shrouds and cleaned the engine? Maybe it's just plugged up.

CAO65 · #3 10-25-2013, 05:15 PM

Kohler sells them. You replace oil filter with a plate which has 2 hoses going to cooling radiator. The radiator then fits next to engine, and part of blower housing is cut away for the blower air to blow over it. Filter is reattached to the plate. See Kohler oil cooler 54-755 21-s on internet for a picture of it. I was thinking it was running lean as well. I also think it has a blown head gasket. I am also concerned there is so little area around engine for air flow. Is this typical with that style tractor.

cubfan · #4 10-25-2013, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Mech

First of all, where would you mount it? A cooler needs air blowing across it, and you don't have an engine fan. (Not really anyway.) Also, how would you feed it oil? There is no provision that would allow you to do that.

Second, maybe your motor is running lean, and causing extra heat. Have you pulled the shrouds and cleaned the engine? Maybe it's just plugged up.

While I agree with the lean issue,or clogged fins issue,I disagree with the fan blowing across the oil cooler.This type of oil cooler cools by heat dissapation and doesn't require air blowing across it.It is on my LZ60 tank with a kawasaki engine.

bugeye · #5 10-25-2013, 06:05 PM

I fit a Kohler oil cooler to my 1863. The cooler fits on the left side of the engine fan shroud. There is an adaptor which fits between the engine and oil filter with hoses to/from the small cooler. Sourced from fle-bay. Seems to work fine and fits under the plastic panels. I also use an oversize oil filter. How much does it help, don't know. But, it makes me feel better. I run 10W-30 Mobil 1.

Sam Mac · #6 10-25-2013, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bugeye

I fit a Kohler oil cooler to my 1863. The cooler fits on the left side of the engine fan shroud. There is an adaptor which fits between the engine and oil filter with hoses to/from the small cooler. Sourced from fle-bay. Seems to work fine and fits under the plastic panels. I also use an oversize oil filter. How much does it help, don't know. But, it makes me feel better. I run 10W-30 Mobil 1.

Here is one on Flea Bay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/24-755-120-S...-/190734632684

Looks like a pretty complete kit to me.

CAO65 · #7 10-25-2013, 07:18 PM

Cubfan,
Did your oil cooler come attached to the side? This would be much easier to put on that way. I wonder if it has helped with oil temperature. All the instruction manuals indicate the blower housing has to be cut about 3" X 3" and the blower blows over it. I think that is fine, but I hate cutting into blower shroud and would rather do it the way yours is. Would mounting it just outside of the engine be enough to lower oil temperature, and therefore, lower overall engine temperature? I also question the hood and side panels being so close to engine. The new cubs have much larger areas around engine for air flow, and the older ones had no side panels.

CAO65 · #8 10-25-2013, 07:27 PM

Bugeye,
When you put the oil cooler on the 1863, did you cut into the blower shroud or did you mount it on the blower housing? How long did it take to install? Did it cool the engine at all? I have heard synthetic oils are helpful with keeping engine temperatures down or the very least work better in higher temperature situations.

inspectorudy · #9 10-26-2013, 01:27 AM

I noticed my M18 started getting hotter than it had in the last four years and thought it might be debris in the cooling fins or screen but it turned out to be running lean due to partially clogged carb. Later it got hard to start and then would only run from half to full throttle,not idle. I cleaned the carb and fuel lines and that seemed to have cured it.

cubfan · #10 10-26-2013, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAO65

Cubfan,
Did your oil cooler come attached to the side? This would be much easier to put on that way. I wonder if it has helped with oil temperature. All the instruction manuals indicate the blower housing has to be cut about 3" X 3" and the blower blows over it. I think that is fine, but I hate cutting into blower shroud and would rather do it the way yours is. Would mounting it just outside of the engine be enough to lower oil temperature, and therefore, lower overall engine temperature? I also question the hood and side panels being so close to engine. The new cubs have much larger areas around engine for air flow, and the older ones had no side panels.

That is the way it came from the factory and it doesn't have air blowing across it.Like I said it works on the heat dissapation principle.While Im 100% sure if it had a fan blowing across it the cooling capacity would be greatly increased,I'm sure the engineers at kawasaki have determined that it will work fine just like that.Im just curious as to what is happening with your machine that makes you feel like its running hot? Is it loosing power?.After running for a while is it difficult to start?Is it pinging?Or is this just something you want on it as a personal preference.I have often thought about putting one on my 2072 but I just haven't gotten to it yet.Not that it is running hot but I often putt around on it at half throttle or less and figured it wouldn't hurt to have one it.