Supercharger Discussion For all you misguided souls.

Oil cooling a Rotrex necessary?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-24-2019, 02:26 PM
  #1  
Newb
Thread Starter
 
Beluci's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 18
Total Cats: -3
Default Oil cooling a Rotrex necessary?

Hi,

I'm torn back and forth. After I ordered my C30-84, Rotrex told me that a oil cooler is usually not necessary for a C30, according to their experience. For a C38 always.
When I look around, everybody in the miata world uses a oil cooler.
Has anybody done some measurements of the traction fluid temperatur after a hot lap?

Beluci
Beluci is offline  
Reply
Leave a poscat -1 Leave a negcat
Old 01-24-2019, 02:40 PM
  #2  
Cpt. Slow
iTrader: (25)
 
curly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 14,192
Total Cats: 1,136
Default

At something like $100/liter, I wouldn't risk over heating it. Every kit I've seen includes an oil cooler. That gear drive spinning constantly at 10,000 (100,000?) rpm is going to generate a lot of heat, regardless of engine temp/track driving.
curly is online now  
Old 01-24-2019, 03:21 PM
  #3  
Elite Member
 
doward's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 1,535
Total Cats: 743
Default

TDR and Kraftwerks both include a rotrex fluid cooler in the kits. TDR going bigger and changing the mounting location compared to KW's kit.
https://kraftwerksusa.com/products/b...rcharger-kits/
https://trackdogracing.com/Rotrex-18NB.aspx

Whose rotrex kit did you buy that doesn't have one?
doward is offline  
Old 01-24-2019, 03:49 PM
  #4  
Newb
Thread Starter
 
Beluci's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 18
Total Cats: -3
Default

No kit, just the blower for now. I will do the kit by myself.
Beluci is offline  
Old 01-24-2019, 06:08 PM
  #5  
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
 
Girz0r's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 3,033
Total Cats: 324
Default

Why not cool it?
Girz0r is offline  
Old 01-25-2019, 03:35 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
HarryB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,014
Total Cats: 140
Default

I am very surprised Rotrex said "it would be OK". They are pretty particular about the oil cooling system in their technical leaflet.
HarryB is offline  
Old 01-25-2019, 07:03 AM
  #7  
Newb
Thread Starter
 
Beluci's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 18
Total Cats: -3
Default

Originally Posted by Girz0r
Why not cool it?
Because simplify and lightness

If it's not necessary, it's a waste.

Their argument was, not to take the additional risk of leakage.
Beluci is offline  
Old 01-25-2019, 07:51 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
HarryB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,014
Total Cats: 140
Default

In their technical handbook, Rotrex mentions that oil should not exceed 80 deg. C, so I guess you could test your system and add an oil cooler if necessary, stating that higher inlet oil temperature will damage the supercharger.

On every explanation/figure of the oiling system, an oil cooler is present, and on to of that the oil canister is finned to "act as a secondary oil cooling element", recommending to install both in air flow. They also insist quite a lot in using their standard oil circuit components, stating that you should "consult your distributor or Rotrex if you need to modify the standard oil set in any way (even if the change seems trivial)", that's why it seems peculiar to me they suggested to run it without a cooler.

To me, risk of overheating >> risk of leakages/additional potential failure points, so I would run a cooler.
HarryB is offline  
Old 01-26-2019, 01:44 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
k24madness's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Rafael, CA
Posts: 1,421
Total Cats: 95
Default

I heard from the traction fluid gets more heated at idle than at higher RPM’s. Something to do with slippage at low RPM’s vs full engagement at higher RPM’s.

Based on my experences with how hot the oil cooler gets just idling I would not risk a $2k compressor on an experiment.

I have one one of the early style mini coolers and it seems to keep everything happy.
k24madness is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dcamp2
Build Threads
193
12-11-2023 08:51 PM
Jerryg
Supercharger Discussion
11
05-26-2021 07:41 PM
sicklyscott
General Miata Chat
1
12-11-2017 05:13 PM
mtl_miata
Miata parts for sale/trade
18
11-18-2013 05:43 PM
trito
General Miata Chat
31
12-07-2007 11:40 PM



Quick Reply: Oil cooling a Rotrex necessary?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:42 PM.