Quick question regarding the initial fill of the oil cooler since I don't really have an accurate estimate of the oil capacity now that I added the cooler.
Does the t-stat allow any amount of flow into the cooler when the oil is still cold?
I don't want to run into a situation where the dipstick shows full but the cooler is still empty, and as soon as the t-stat opens I'll be something like quart (?) short.

TIA!

 

yes it does bypass some oil when cold. fill cooler, prime oil system. start engine. then check dipstick


edit: ask a front running spec miata owner how much oil they use

 

The Mocal thermostatic sandwich plate always leaves the path through the cooler unobstructed -- it never opens or closes. The waxstat just opens a bypass when the oil is colder than the set point and close it when it's hot. A big benefit is avoiding jumps in oil pressure or level.

 

They don't get oil coolers, unless that changed recently?

 

they don't. but on an engine that isnt burning oil iv heard of them being underfilled to reduce windage and on cars burning oil some will add a little extra to get through the race.

 

On the initial fill, crank the engine while holding he throttle wot. The engine will not start and it will allow oil to be pumped into the cooler.