For my custom tractor project I am going to need an oil cooler as I don't have room for a tank that would have the capacity to adequatley cool the oil. Given the fact that this will be installed so the fluid goes through before it returns, is the radiators ability to allow sufficient flow inside or is the overall size more important? The reason I am asking about flow is my pump is going to be putting out 20 + gpm depending on rpm and I don't have the cash at this time to buy an official hydraulic oil cooler. However I know I can get a decent size transmission cooler off of a pickup for next to nothing and I already have a fan w/ shroud I can mount to the cooler...
Hydraulic oil cooler
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Wayne County Hose
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Just a simple question. You're building a custom tractor but don't have the funds for an oil cooler?
A tranny cooler won't work, a radiator cooler doesn't have the capacity either.
A tranny cooler won't work, a radiator cooler doesn't have the capacity either.
I should have said I don't have the enough money for a hydraulic oil cooler right now. Just trying to keep the costs down. Guess I'll have to save for a bit then..
IceStationZebra
Gold Member
There is no way a pickup truck tranny cooler will flow 20gpm. You could use it as a bypass cooler though.
'return -----------(relief/filter)----------- tank
' l l
' l l
' ----cooler------------
The trick is to put a slight restriction in the line between the Tee's. The best way is a 15psi relief valve or a filter with a built-in bypass. Second best would be a ball valve. The cheap way is to weld a washer on the hose barb. Just make sure the pressure ahead of the first tee doesn't exceed 30-40psi when cold at full engine speed, otherwise you will blow a hose off (assuming you are using hose clamps).
"I don't have room for a tank that would have the capacity to adequatley cool the oil"
This is kind of an old wives tale when it comes to modern machines. If you do the calculations you need A LOT of surface area to equal the cooling power of a modest cooler. One one machine I worked on a small 8"x12"x1.5" oil cooler w/fan was twice as efficient at shedding heat than ~2200 square inches of surface area.
ISZ
'return -----------(relief/filter)----------- tank
' l l
' l l
' ----cooler------------
The trick is to put a slight restriction in the line between the Tee's. The best way is a 15psi relief valve or a filter with a built-in bypass. Second best would be a ball valve. The cheap way is to weld a washer on the hose barb. Just make sure the pressure ahead of the first tee doesn't exceed 30-40psi when cold at full engine speed, otherwise you will blow a hose off (assuming you are using hose clamps).
"I don't have room for a tank that would have the capacity to adequatley cool the oil"
This is kind of an old wives tale when it comes to modern machines. If you do the calculations you need A LOT of surface area to equal the cooling power of a modest cooler. One one machine I worked on a small 8"x12"x1.5" oil cooler w/fan was twice as efficient at shedding heat than ~2200 square inches of surface area.
ISZ
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IceStationZebra
Gold Member
J_J
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I believe the radiator with electric fan from a car or truck might work. Our Power-Trac hyd machines use something like this. The input tubing to the radiator has a temp switch to activate the fan . This is in the return line. Our machines probably pump about 20 GPM, and cool the fluid quite well. Keeps the fluid to below about 180 degrees.
Might try this also.
https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=3508012608361577&item=9-7742&catname=hydraulic
Might try this also.
https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=3508012608361577&item=9-7742&catname=hydraulic
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J_J
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One difference I observed, was that the individual tubes for the hyd cooler were larger, but only had a few tubes. whereas, the water type radiator tubes are smaller, but have a good many tubes in them especially the 3 and 4 layer radiators, icreasing the internal surface area. Look at the input and out put hoses on the radiators. They have got to be pushing a lot of water.
You could make a cooler out of stainless tubing the same size as your return line and just put a series of 180 bends in it. Bare tubing radiates a lot heat even without fins.
Ford did this on the power steering on the trucks in the 70s, just attached bare tubing to the front cross member.
Ford did this on the power steering on the trucks in the 70s, just attached bare tubing to the front cross member.
Texan4Life
Gold Member
you dont need a cooler that can flow your total gpm... have the return line T with the full size return line and a smaller (say 3/8 or 1/2 in) line the runs through the cooler and then Ts back into the return line. like so:
...just saw someone else brought up bypass cooler. then use a standard automotive size and you should price up one relativity cheap.
do you think JD uses a cooler that can flow 50GPM?... not to my knowledge.
also i dont see why restricting return line flow and causing excess back pressure a good thing? if its to "force" more oil into the cooler. I doubt it will add any cooling performance other than hamper pump output. not to mention building pressure and working the pump harder adds heat.
don't search for hydraulic coolers specifically.. just go by oil coolers. and you will have a much bigger selection with cheaper prices. to get an idea try racing sites like summit or jegs.. get the model number and shop around like on amazon and 9 time out of 10 you can find the same product cheaper.
...just saw someone else brought up bypass cooler. then use a standard automotive size and you should price up one relativity cheap.
do you think JD uses a cooler that can flow 50GPM?... not to my knowledge.
also i dont see why restricting return line flow and causing excess back pressure a good thing? if its to "force" more oil into the cooler. I doubt it will add any cooling performance other than hamper pump output. not to mention building pressure and working the pump harder adds heat.
don't search for hydraulic coolers specifically.. just go by oil coolers. and you will have a much bigger selection with cheaper prices. to get an idea try racing sites like summit or jegs.. get the model number and shop around like on amazon and 9 time out of 10 you can find the same product cheaper.
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