An engine cooler (radiator) primarily cools the engine's coolant (water/antifreeze mixture), while an oil cooler specifically cools the engine oil. Both are crucial for maintaining optimal engine temperature, but they target different fluids within the engine system.
Here's a more detailed breakdown: Engine Cooler (Radiator): Purpose: Cools the engine coolant, which circulates through the engine block to absorb heat and then to the radiator to be dissipated into the air. Fluid: Coolant (water and antifreeze). Location: Typically located at the front of the vehicle, exposed to airflow. Importance: Prevents engine overheating by maintaining the coolant temperature within a safe operating range. Oil Cooler: Purpose: Cools the engine oil, which lubricates and protects engine components. Fluid: Engine oil. Location: Can be found either in front of or behind the radiator, or integrated into the radiator itself. Importance: Prevents oil breakdown due to excessive heat, ensuring proper lubrication and extending engine life. Key Differences: Fluids: Coolant vs. Engine Oil. Function: Overall engine cooling vs. Lubricant temperature regulation. Need: While all vehicles need a radiator, oil coolers are more common in high-performance or heavy-duty vehicles that experience high-stress conditions.
Engine oil is a lubricant that plays a key role in ensuring the smooth running of an internal combustion engine. It lubricates moving parts, reduces friction and minimizes wear, which is essential for long life and proper engine operation. The oil also helps to keep the engine clean by removing impurities such as dust particles and deposits while forming a thin protective film throughout the engine to protect against corrosion.
An important role of engine oil is also cooling various parts of the engine from the heat generated during the combustion process. In production cars, where the oil cannot cool down properly, the oil overheats, which reduces its frictional abilities and viscosity. The oil is thus unable to properly lubricate the moving parts, and engine damage occurs with prolonged use of such overheated oil.
Newer engines use the so-called water-oil exchangers. This system indirectly connects the water and oil lines, which ensures a faster heating of the oil itself at start-up and thus the lubricant reaches the correct operating temperature faster, but at the same time the coolant cools the oil and maintains it at the same temperature values as the coolant itself. This system works only until one of the mentioned liquids exceeds the standard operating values leading to both of the liquids overheating at the same time, which negatively affects the engine's operation.
In all moving parts where friction occurs, heat is generated, which needs to be regulated and cooled. An oil cooler is used to eliminate oil overheating. We can find this part in motorsport or more powerful production vehicles, either for cooling engine oil, power steering oil, transmission oil or differential oil. The cooling method when using an oil cooler is simple and similar to cooling water in a water radiator. The oil flows through the fins of the radiator and the rush of air while driving or when the fan is on cools it. The cold oil then travels directly to the engine where it cools the moving parts and keeps them in the correct temperature for their most ideal functioning.