running off oilcooler vs tapping the block
 

i was thinking about picking up an oil cooler for when i go turbo for extra protection, and was reading about the "sandwich plate" and it states it has a bung to run the turbo oil lines from, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OIL-C...30901577QQrdZ1
it sounds like a good idea because you dont have to worry about tapping the pan, and you will get cleaner and cooler oil directly to the turbo

but is it too good to be true

I think they're talking about oil FEED lines - as in "run the oil lines FROM". And would work fine for that. (If you have a 1.6 there's an oil feed port on the exhaust side of the block already). The reason the drain line goes to the pan is so it can drain- like the drain on a sink- it goes down with gravity. - rob

You can feed from that, but not return into it. If you have a 1.6 the OEM feed bung would be easier.

But that's a nice device to run an oil cooler off.

that looks like somthing I could use for my feed lines oN mY 1.8

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OIL-F...spagenameZWDVW

Is this good to take the feed for turbo?

Is the oil cooler so important in a low pressure turbo setup?

just as good as taking it off the pressure sender like 3 inches to the left.

https://www.miataturbo.net/forums/sh...40&postcount=7
https://www.miataturbo.net/forums/sh...41&postcount=8


Not super important, but every bit helps.

That does'nt apply to the 1.8 no?

One thing about using any of these on a 1.6- the oil filter mounting surface is somewhat recessed on these engines. The FM kit comes with a thick aluminum spacer to go between the block and the sandwich plate. Without this, I don't see how you'd have room to run the lines to the adaptor.

You can sort of see what I mean in this pic: http://www.geocities.com/thraddox/oilcooler/below.jpg

I see what you mean. But if someone is planning on running a feed line on a 1.6 they should use the stock bung.

If a 1.8; then use the pressure sender as I posted above, or a sandwhich plate can work as well.

Can I run oil pressure off of that as well for a gauge ?

Your '94 should already have the same oil feed prot as the 1.6L cars, Rican. Yes, you should be able to use any port that has pressurized oil for a gauge.

oh ok I haft to source these feeds on my block

you can put it inline with the turbo feed.

get the fm piece, its a good price for a t-stat-d oil cooler. Get a heat exchanger from a big turbo diesel truck. You dont want oil temp too low.

Agreed- for coolers, you don't want to use one of these w/o a thermostat. You want your oil to reach operating temp asap. On my 91 race car I ran an OE 1.8 oil cooler as a spacer and just didn't run any coolant through it. That allowed me to use a universal brand cast unit with a built in thermostat - $40. I'm running the same thing now- but no spacer needed. - rob