How to: Install t-stat on Process West Oil Cooler

loworbitSI · 03-03-2008, 04:39 AM

The Process West peice is a fanastic bit of kit, but it doesn't come with a thermostat for the oil cooler. Some research found a Perma-Cool inline t-stat for ~$40. The 1/2"NPT barbed hose fittings are a $4 each. Hose clamps, and about 20 minutes on the garage floor is all you need for an easy solution.

Start by cutting the rubber hoses:

The hose facing the FRONT of the car is the supply hose. This is important based on the inline thermostat from Permacool having specific feed line.

Here is the t-stat itself, with the barbed fittings taped up, and the hose clamps ready:

The center section of the Permacool t-stat has a "plunger" that slides to open/close access to the oil cooler itself. It doesn't fully open/close, allowing some oil to circulate to the cooler to prevent cold oil shock or air pockets.

The Process West kit uses a bracket to align the hoses and hold them on their way up to the oil cooler. There is a threaded nut welded to the bracket. I slipped a stainless steel zip-tie through the hole and around the thermostat. This picture is from above, looking down at the Process West bracket, seeing the zip-tie and down at the thermostat:

The zip-tie couldn't be pulled hard enough to (IMO) properly secure the thermostat in place. I then wrapped a hose clamp around the whole assembly, and tightened it down, and the peice is as solid as a rock. The hose clamp secures the location, and the zip-tie makes sure it stays on the bracket.

Here's the final picture showing the hoses on the barbed fittings, with hose clamps, and the large securing hose clamp holding the whole assembly in place:

So, under $60, and about 20 minutes of time. Easy to cut the hoses, and reuse the PW bracket. The thermostat sits about 3/8" above the subframe which doesn't make it a problem clearing speedbumps or anything.

Thanks for reading.

Splash · 03-03-2008, 10:10 PM

nice job!

neverendingmods · 03-05-2008, 04:42 AM

Great write up. Thanks and

cheers.

SR20steve · 06-26-2008, 07:01 PM

Im planning on doing a oil cooler on my car also. Can I ask what the importance of the thermostat is?

ManbIKE26 · 07-01-2008, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SR20steve

Im planning on doing a oil cooler on my car also. Can I ask what the importance of the thermostat is?

A thermostat in an oil cooler serves the same purpose as it does for a radiator. It stays closed until a certain oil temperature, then opens to allow oil through the cooler. this prevents an "over-cooling" of the oil.

Imagine it's below zero and you're driving around with oil flowing freely through the cooler...you'd have some difficulty getting the oil to operating temperature.

SR20steve · 07-01-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManbIKE26

A thermostat in an oil cooler serves the same purpose as it does for a radiator. It stays closed until a certain oil temperature, then opens to allow oil through the cooler. this prevents an "over-cooling" of the oil.

Imagine it's below zero and you're driving around with oil flowing freely through the cooler...you'd have some difficulty getting the oil to operating temperature.

Cool thanks, makes sense. But for my climate it never even gets to freezing, so I think I can get away with not having one.

03-03-2008, 04:39 AM	#1
loworbitSI Professional STI Driver Car: 2004.5 Subaru WRX ST Fav Mod: 17x10s Location: Columbus OH Posts: 416 Join Date: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (3)	How to: Install t-stat on Process West Oil Cooler The Process West peice is a fanastic bit of kit, but it doesn't come with a thermostat for the oil cooler. Some research found a Perma-Cool inline t-stat for ~$40. The 1/2"NPT barbed hose fittings are a $4 each. Hose clamps, and about 20 minutes on the garage floor is all you need for an easy solution. Start by cutting the rubber hoses: The hose facing the FRONT of the car is the supply hose. This is important based on the inline thermostat from Permacool having specific feed line. Here is the t-stat itself, with the barbed fittings taped up, and the hose clamps ready: The center section of the Permacool t-stat has a "plunger" that slides to open/close access to the oil cooler itself. It doesn't fully open/close, allowing some oil to circulate to the cooler to prevent cold oil shock or air pockets. The Process West kit uses a bracket to align the hoses and hold them on their way up to the oil cooler. There is a threaded nut welded to the bracket. I slipped a stainless steel zip-tie through the hole and around the thermostat. This picture is from above, looking down at the Process West bracket, seeing the zip-tie and down at the thermostat: The zip-tie couldn't be pulled hard enough to (IMO) properly secure the thermostat in place. I then wrapped a hose clamp around the whole assembly, and tightened it down, and the peice is as solid as a rock. The hose clamp secures the location, and the zip-tie makes sure it stays on the bracket. Here's the final picture showing the hoses on the barbed fittings, with hose clamps, and the large securing hose clamp holding the whole assembly in place: So, under $60, and about 20 minutes of time. Easy to cut the hoses, and reuse the PW bracket. The thermostat sits about 3/8" above the subframe which doesn't make it a problem clearing speedbumps or anything. Thanks for reading. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-03-2008, 10:10 PM	#2
Splash Senior STI Driver Car: 04 STi WRB Fav Mod: Driver's school Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 330 Join Date: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: How to: Install t-stat on Process West Oil Cooler nice job!

03-05-2008, 04:42 AM	#3
neverendingmods Silver Member Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: Buying a beater for DD Location: DE/PA border Posts: 544 Join Date: Nov 2006 Trader Rating: (3)	Re: How to: Install t-stat on Process West Oil Cooler Great write up. Thanks and cheers.

06-26-2008, 07:01 PM	#4
SR20steve Junior STI Driver Car: 04 WRB sti Fav Mod: AVIC D3 Location: Antioch, ca Posts: 64 Join Date: Sep 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: How to: Install t-stat on Process West Oil Cooler Im planning on doing a oil cooler on my car also. Can I ask what the importance of the thermostat is?