Technical 2.8JTD Oil Cooler/Filter Housing

[earl34]

Can anyone tell me if the oil cooler/heat exchanger (yellow arrow) can be removed, blanked off and replaced with a matrix oil cooler? I assume that the flow and return pipes are marked with a red arrow?
I'm not certain how this whole assembly functions, can anyone explain?
Does the cooled oil circulate through the filter?
Ideally i would like to remove the whole thing and have a remote filter and cooler but i don't know if that is possible.
Any help appreciated.
2004 244 2.8JTD

 

[ecunotemu]

Matrix heater might be a better idea - 10l of coolant, 6l of oil, 245kg of engine, efficient common rail injection its about as cold as it gets. I have full windage tray and most of the grille blocked off and it still take 30 mins to get to operating temperature. These run so cold tye second fan is usually seized as it never ever comes on.

 

[CDK]

Cooling oil with hot water is a dubious construction, I agree. Fiat isn't the only one, VW/Audi has been doing it for years on all low to moderate performance engines. Only above a certain power to displacement ratio you find matrix coolers.
With some effort and skills you could relocate the whole filter bracket and install a separate oil cooler, but the question is: why should you? It does it's job for 11 years already, so it can't be totally bad.

 

[earl34]

Thanks for your replies.
So you think it might be ok to run without an oil cooler/heat exchanger?
I'll give it a try and keep an eye on the oil pressure.

CDK, i've used the engine in a project and need more room just where the oil cooler is.

Thanks chaps.

 

[ecunotemu]

Thanks for your replies.
So you think it might be ok to run without an oil cooler/heat exchanger?
I'll give it a try and keep an eye on the oil pressure.

CDK, i've used the engine in a project and need more room just where the oil cooler is.

Thanks chaps.

No, the most valuable function in our climate is not cooling the oil its heating it during warm up. Oil temperature always lags water temperature.

 

[earl34]

Understood.
Thanks very much for helping me out.

Regards