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So I have a 1994 Camaro z28 I went to replace the radiator this weekend and noticed the car has a oil cooler on it and the radiator I placed in does not have a line in for that,
After reading a lot on the internet it seems it wouldnt hurt the engine to just block those lines and run it without, what do you guys think would plugging up the hose be a bad idea?
You have to block the connection on the water pump. If you still had the connection on the radiator, you would need the factory bypass hose, #16 in this diagram from Shoubox:
With no connection on the radiator, the diagram will at least show the location of the water pump connection you need to block.
At the oil filter, you can remove the cooler, install the correct fitting for the filter to mount directly to the block. But if you keep the cooler, no need to block the coolant line connections.
So if I'm understanding this correctly if I block it from the water pump and just don't run any lines I should be alright correct? And let me know if I'm misunderstanding it but i would block it right where part 29 attaches correct? Or I could remove the cooler and fix it where the filter mounts to the block?
So in theory I can just block the line from the water pump, the bottom line, and just leave the cooler on and my motor would be fine right?
Correct - remove oil cooler coolant lines, cap the water pump connection at part 29 location. You're done.
Some people feel the cooler itself can cause problems (plugs up, causes pressure loss, etc.) and physically remove it. I've kept mine for 26 years since I bought the car new in 1994, and never had a problem with the oil cooler. I have aftermarket oil pressure and oil temperature gauges, so a problem would be visible.
GM would not spend $.02 more on a car if it didn't need a part they have on it...like oil cooler. I do feel a external separate oil cooler vs the "in radiator" one is the best. GM added these on SEO models
GM was worried about excessive LT1 oil temps, particularly in the manual transmission models, more likely to be driven harder. They went with Mobil-1 synthetic from the factory on the Corvette LT1. They went with the oil cooler (RPO code “KC4” on my 94) on the F-Body LT1, but if I recall correctly, only on the manual trans cars. And, in 1996 models I believe the dropped the oil cooler completely.
My 94 A4 LT1 came with the oil cooler but I believe that may have been included in the G92 Performance Axle and Z-rated tire options.
FYI Corvette dropped the oil cooler in 93 and started factory filling with Mobil1 while the Camaro got the oil cooler and conventional oil. One would think it would be more cost effective for Camaro to drop the oil cooler and factory fill with Mobil1 because of the cost of the cooler and lines?
