Hi All, Long time lurker on this forum and first time posting. I'm the owner of SR3 SN 183 and 281 and still sorting out both cars. 183 is a first gen SR3 with a wet sump and standard low downforce bodywork and at the last few track days with the car I was getting the oil up to 260 degrees F. South Florida winter days in the high 80s low 90sF so fairly hot atmospheric temp. I was trying to take cool down laps to let the car relax and cool down but it was of no avail as temps would get to 260 within about 3 laps at Homestead and nothing I would do would bring them down short of shutting the car down. Any advice? As per the manuals this seems to be already in somewhat dangerous territory. Is there a large temp difference between dry and wet sumped cars? Any guidance and advice would be helpful!
Hi Philipe,
A wet sump engine will in general run hotter than a dry sump due to the oil being stored within the engine - with the dry sump tank there is some cooling just from having the oil out of the engine and in some airflow in the tank.
I don't recall wet sump's running temperatures this high but then also do not know how many ran in high ambient air temps.
Few things I would be checking:
Is the oil cooler the correct size? Also making sure that no air can escape around the cooler instead of through it - so using tape/foam or something similar to close any gaps.
It would also be worth checking that the engine has the grub screw with a hole in behind the oil filter. This is an 8mm Hex headed grub screw that is removed when fitting a dry sump - this jet forces the oil around the oil cooling circuit. If this is removed, as they are on dry sumps, then the oil will not be sent around the cooling circuit. There are three different types of jet, the OEM Suzuki item, a radical one (smaller hole) or a complete blank that was fitted to wet sump SR4's for maximum oil cooling.
Thank you so much Dan for the valuable advice! I will definitely be checking the cooler and grub screw tomorrow!
Hi Dan, is this grub screw behind the oil filter i.e. I need to remove the oil filter first before I see it? Not being able to locate it currently. Thanks
Hi Philipe, you do need to remove the oil filter first to access it.
This picture should show it:
Ok so it seems like I have it installed. Looks to be a pretty sizeable hole, so maybe thinking it might the stock Suzuki piece? Hmm
Not really sure where to go next with my troubleshooting, seems like all parts of the system are intact and working as they should. I've checked all gauges to make sure it's not an indication error and installation of everything. Going to try to put it all back together and run her again this weekend to see. Has anyone found any value at all in wiring up a fan behind the oil cooler?
That looks like the Radical jet, the OEM Suzuki one has a larger hole than that.
Don't go with a fan at all. The fan actually reduces airflow through the Radiator so will increase your oil temps in normal use and most likely won't cool any better than air flow at speed.
Is the cooler sealed into the sidepod nicely so that all the air gets forced through the cooler and not around it?
Do you have room to fit a larger cooler?
If not maybe you will have to consider a dry sump set up?
@rlm-dan thank again Dan! So curiously I found that both of my cars have the oil cooler plumbed opposite. On the problem car the top of the cooler is being fed by the oil line coming out under the filter ( backwards to the other car). Is this correct, or does it even make a difference? Was thinking that perhaps if the line off
to the side of the filter is in reality where the oil is being sent from perhaps it's having to push it's way up the cooler as opposed to dropping and bugging up the whole system?
Thanks again for your help!
