contemplating an oil accumulator

[MLmotorsport]

contemplating an accusump

I've seen a few horror stories on here about oil starvarion on the track and what results... not pretty. I'm thinking about getting an oil accumulator put on my '92. SOS sells a kit for just under $500. This car is part daily-driver/part track-car but it looks like this system would have it's benefits for both. I will go to maybe 5-8 track events per year but the few that I have been to with the NSX I've been paranoid about the oil pressure (& coolant temps) the whole time. The accumulator would ease 1/2 of my concern. Is it overkill? It's better to be safe rather than sorry, right? I like doing things myself so for those of you who have done the install - is it a decent DIY job for a fairly novice mechanic (me). It looks like a number of you have gone to this system - how do you like it?

 

[nsxnut]

I installed one in my car.

I wasn't aware that SOS sells a kit. I know they sell the adaptor plate, comptech sells one as well.

I bought the Comptech adapter plate. You replace the water to oil cooler
and put the adapter plate in it's place.

I also installed an oil cooler behind vent infront of the rear wheel well. This was the fun part!

This was no small undertaking. The hard part is finding all the correct AN fitting so that everthing fits. I made my own brackets for the oil cooler.

When done you will spend ~$1200 bucks for parts. AN fittings are not cheep.
Don't get the canton elec valve. get the Moroso elec valve.

I have a photo or two.
http://www.nsxprime.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5991

Later,
Don

 

[nsxhk]

Hiya Don,

I'm curious..... with your oil cooler setup, how much cooler is the oil running at?

Henry.

 

[nsxnut]

I really don't know. I don't have an oil temp gague yet.
Since I didn't have one prior I can not make a comparison.

I have noticed the stock water temp gague is a few ticks lower.
Again this is not a temp reading though.

I have been at the track on a hot day and seems to run cooler.
In the past I would keep an eye on the temp gague... now I don't need to.

But I still need a real gague. All in time.

I would install this again.

Later,
Don

 

[NSXLuvr]

Thanks for the pics,

btw, do you notice that your oil pressure doesn't drop at high RPM's or on banked curves?

 

[MLmotorsport]

I installed one in my car.
...This was no small undertaking. The hard part is finding all the correct AN fitting so that everthing fits. I made my own brackets for the oil cooler.
When done you will spend ~$1200 bucks for parts. AN fittings are not cheep.
Don't get the canton elec valve. get the Moroso elec valve.
Later,
Don

Yes, thanks very much for the pics and help Don. As the cost estimates I'm seeing keep getting higher and the install looks like it could be more than I can handle on my own I may hold off for a while and see how the summer DE's go without it. (...famous last words, right :wink: )

 

[ncdogdoc]

Yes, thanks very much for the pics and help Don. As the cost estimates I'm seeing keep getting higher and the install looks like it could be more than I can handle on my own I may hold off for a while and see how the summer DE's go without it. (...famous last words, right :wink: )

Not really, just dont bang against the rev limiter with every shift. If you shift at 7500, the chances of oil starvation and overheating are almost non-existant.

If ya gotta get 8 grand every time, then drop the dough. It is not a difficult install, just very tight and lots of parts as noted above.

 

[ScienceofSpeed]

I really don't know. I don't have an oil temp gague yet.
Since I didn't have one prior I can not make a comparison.

I have noticed the stock water temp gague is a few ticks lower.
Again this is not a temp reading though.

I have been at the track on a hot day and seems to run cooler.
In the past I would keep an eye on the temp gague... now I don't need to.

But I still need a real gague. All in time.

I would install this again.

Later,
Don

hi Don -- I'd be curious what your temps are as our testing showed a small air cooled heat exchanger by itself like yours does not cool as effectively as just the factory water cooler. If a small air cooler is to be used like yours, I recommend keeping the factory water cooler in place.

Keep us in the loop, I'm curious what your findings are.

take care,
-- Chris

 

[nsxnut]

hi Don -- I'd be curious what your temps are as our testing showed a small air cooled heat exchanger by itself like yours does not cool as effectively as just the factory water cooler. If a small air cooler is to be used like yours, I recommend keeping the factory water cooler in place.

Keep us in the loop, I'm curious what your findings are.

take care,
-- Chris

When I bought the adapeter plate from Comptech I don't believe you were offering your adapter yet... With the comptech adapter you have to remove the stock water to oil cooler.

I would tend to agree. Originally I got a true-cool oil cooler. This would not
had worked well at all. I was concirned about the flow rate through the cooler and the cooling capacity. I ended up with the largest and best cooler I could find that I could make fit. I ended up using a Setrab 610-12. It was a real pain to get this to fit. I had to special order the metric 90 deg AN fittings from XRP so that I could make it fit.

When I installed it before I put the fender liner back
I used an IR pyrometer and saw a reasonble drop from inlet to outlet. I don't remember what it was. I really need an oil tmp gague.

Next time I go to the track I'll aim my pyrometer at the oil pan and see what it reads.

I noticed my water tmp droped arould 2 ticks but what does that mean?
I don't think you can make any conclusions based on the water temp.

 

[SMGNSX]

hi Don -- I'd be curious what your temps are as our testing showed a small air cooled heat exchanger by itself like yours does not cool as effectively as just the factory water cooler. If a small air cooler is to be used like yours, I recommend keeping the factory water cooler in place.

Keep us in the loop, I'm curious what your findings are.

take care,
-- Chris

Chris,
I have the same set up as Don except I have the Earls coller, the water cooler is removed and my oil temp has never gone above 240 deg to date. I use redline 50 wt racing oil, and I also have SPA guages

Oh yea my car is a track only car that is Twin Turbo with 400 rwhp and 350ftlb of torque and set up by Shad Huntley formally of Comptech

My water temp also runs around 170 to 190 with your coolent tank and just water wetter


Steve