Heat problems on track: TECH. Read before adding an oil cooler!

[SierraCarrera]

I recently flashed a tune from Russell Road Racing to replace my APR tune and was only able to hit 250deg, instead of the usual 275+ with the APR. Lap times were mostly comparable even though I kept hitting traffic

 

[ucfquattroguy]

If you're on APR, take advantage of the low-torque files for track days. That has to help a bunch with thermal load.

 

[Aarodynamics]

If you're on APR, take advantage of the low-torque files for track days. That has to help a bunch with thermal load.

My experience has been that the low torque file doesn't help enough; I still experienced the issues @DerHase was describing.

 

[BosnianBreakfast]

Apologies for the massive necropost, but after reading through 15 pages I just want to confirm:

The consensus here is that oil coolers reduce performance on this platform unless you can duct the outflow away from the IC and radiator? And therefore, they are not recommended unless you can implement said ducting?

 

[scrllock]

Apologies for the massive necropost, but after reading through 15 pages I just want to confirm:

The consensus here is that oil coolers reduce performance on this platform unless you can duct the outflow away from the IC and radiator? And therefore, they are not recommended unless you can implement said ducting?

If they are positioned in front of that section of the IC, yes.

ducting is less critical if you position the cooler elsewhere, such as replacing one of the aux coolers.

 

[BosnianBreakfast]

If they are positioned in front of that section of the IC, yes.

ducting is less critical if you position the cooler elsewhere, such as replacing one of the aux coolers.

Unfortunately there isn't any other location for it on the TT and it doesn't look like a plug-and-play ducting solution exists. Bummer, this changes a lot of big plans I had for the car.... glad I caught this before I got in too deep. Thanks for the response!

 

[bouba]

I recently flashed a tune from Russell Road Racing to replace my APR tune and was only able to hit 250deg, instead of the usual 275+ with the APR. Lap times were mostly comparable even though I kept hitting traffic

Ditto here, I was running a 91-octane low-torque file from APR for about 4 years, and had to do 1-2 cooldown laps per session while on track depending on the ambient temp and how much I was on throttle. Oil temps would easily get up beyond the 270s if I didn't do any cooldowns.
Just switched to a Russel Road & Racing tune, and did full sessions at Palmer (less full throttle zones, for what it's worth) and never saw the oil go above 255 *F. Car pulled quite hard, too! I also cut off multiple seconds of lap time compared to the last trip to Palmer, but this was also with some considerable driver mod done...

I shudder to imagine what the high-torque stage 2 files from APR would do to my oil temps on track...

 

[manu97]

Unfortunately there isn't any other location for it on the TT and it doesn't look like a plug-and-play ducting solution exists. Bummer, this changes a lot of big plans I had for the car.... glad I caught this before I got in too deep. Thanks for the response!

Wonder if swapping bumpers to a TTS or TTRS would give you the option? Unsure if they have aux rads or not.

 

[jay745]

Unfortunately there isn't any other location for it on the TT and it doesn't look like a plug-and-play ducting solution exists. Bummer, this changes a lot of big plans I had for the car.... glad I caught this before I got in too deep. Thanks for the response!

Plug and play ducting doesn't exist on any car. Get creative, use cardboard to mock up the design it's not that hard.

 

[manu97]

Plug and play ducting doesn't exist on any car. Get creative, use cardboard to mock up the design it's not that hard.

disagree with you on this one - it does for the Golf R bumper, it's integrated into the aux radiator setup

 

[jay745]

disagree with you on this one - it does for the Golf R bumper, it's integrated into the aux radiator setup

Eh I wouldn't call that real ducting either. Basically if you're not ready to start cutting shit up to make room where it doesn't exist you probably don't even need an oil cooler

 

[tigeo]

disagree with you on this one - it does for the Golf R bumper, it's integrated into the aux radiator setup

I'm about to find out adding the R aux cooler on the right side to my Golf Sportwagen. Cut out the fog light block off (mine doesn't have them) and have the duce that goes on the front of the radiator...will be interesting to see how it fits/whether I have to create some additonal ducting to seal the gaps!

 

[scrllock]

Unfortunately there isn't any other location for it on the TT and it doesn't look like a plug-and-play ducting solution exists. Bummer, this changes a lot of big plans I had for the car.... glad I caught this before I got in too deep. Thanks for the response!

TT doesn't have an aux cooler or a spot for one with some bracketry retrofitting?

 

[manu97]

Eh I wouldn't call that real ducting either. Basically if you're not ready to start cutting shit up to make room where it doesn't exist you probably don't even need an oil cooler

Why wouldn't it be real ducting? Directs airflow, doesn't leave gaps for airflow to escape, sounds like ducting to me

 

[DerHase]

The R coolers are certainly better than nothing (and definitely better than putting an un-ducted cooler in front of the radiator/intercooler)... but they're still not really great because much of the airflow will go right over the coolers and towards the outside of the car. If you watch a bunch of wind tunnel testing (search for AJ Hartman on YouTube) you'll find this a lot.

Do not mistake that for it not "working"... but there's nowhere near as much pressure on the edges as there is in the center grille. Pressure differential is what allows airflow to happen. The wheel well is a high-ish pressure/turbulent area for the stock coolers to dump into. Again, it'll work but it helps to do other stuff to make it more efficient.

Some solutions would be to add a small "fence" to catch some of the air spilling over the sides of the opening and/or vent the fenders to allow some of the pressure out. Everyone always ignores the fact that air needs to escape.

All that said, it's also not ideal to just dump the oil cooler air under the car. We just chose to do so as the lesser of evils and out of pure simplicity.

It'll contribute to some lift at higher speeds, but neither me nor redslaya could tell a perceivable difference (though I'm sure there was some). His car being able to run a full 20 min session while picking up ~10mph on the back straight was more important than whatever handling deficiency that might've been introduced.