(T) Manifold Heat Shield

barchetta does not have oil cooler as standard, only water cooler...

Maybe cars sold in some climates don't have one, interested to know but UK spec cars have a water/oil heat exchanger built into the oil filter head. My old Alfa 156 had the same thing, part number 2 on the drawing below:

I will take mine out when I next get a chance as I don't need it and the oil cooler fitted. My water / oil cooler looks like it's past its best as does the pipe work for it.

One good point of a water/oil cooler is that it also actually warms cold oil as the engine warms up. Unless you thrash the *alls off your car from cold then block and water temperature will rise faster than oil temperature. The water/oil heat exchanger is just that. It transfers heat in both directions. During warm-up the extra warm oil helps ease temperature differentials in the whole engine and is thus beneficial.

The only problem with them is in race or extreme heat generation conditions where the engine could be generating more oil temperature than the heat exchanger can cope with.

The rate of loss/rise of oil temperature is fairly proportional to the excess/differential temperature at the boundary.

If you want the best of both worlds leave the water heat exchanger in place and fit (as you already have) an additional thermostatically controlled oir/air heat exchanger. Rapid lower stress engine warm-up and lubrication supported by maximum cooling when required.

Best of both worlds.

Thanks for the info

I would love to put a dry sump on the B as thats never been done. I know a bloke who could make the sump for me.

Open induction kits are useless and will rob the engine of power when under bonnet temperatures rise. You'd be better off using the standard cold air box and an after market filter.

I dont have an open air intake system but I agree with you.

Totally agree. Sadly the car didn't come with it's original box and I can't get a reply from GSR Engineering (via email or PM). So I'm stuck with it for the time being.

Hi docorangepeel that wasn't aimed at you, I didn't address Funkstar De Luxe because all replies are aimed at the thread creator. Nice car though docorangepeel!

Hard part of changing the heatshield is getting the 3 bolts off without losing to much skin (load of sharp things around the bottom of the rad to spear yourself on..) or snapping the bolts off.

Mine was cracking badly so I took it off. Drilled the ends of the cracks to stop it getting worse and filled them with epoxy putty. Finally I covered the whole shield in alloy foil and refittted. It looks / works fine.

Same here. A stupid mechanic couldn't remove it and he split the upper body of the shield in two.

i used some epoxy putty, sprayed it in silver and it works fine with no annoying sounds at all..

I know, old thread but...
I am just warning you that my fan case melted after a year with no heat shield...
Just discovered it...
Good luck...

ouch... will have to order one from FIAT, it looks ugly without and hazardous to other parts...

There is a good non-Fiat one on ebay.de right now F4ust.

This is what I have done to my B for hot exhaust protection...

IT works fine and the temp near the radiator fans has dropped significantly