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View Full Version : Oil cooler valve cover (attempted install, some issues)

TrustMeImAnEnginee
01-21-2023, 10:47 PM
If you have one of these oil cooler kits or are thinking of getting one, it might be good to read.

I bought an oil cooler kit from alibaba that replaces the valve cover with one ported for an oil cooler:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832467152642.html







And I was looking forward to it being all good right out of the box, but that's not how it was. I found a couple issues with it.

First and foremost, the gasket pattern does not match the stock valve cover. This was the deal breaker for me deciding not to install it, but if others are having a fine time with ones that are also like this I may reconsider.

I made a paper cutout tracing kinda closely the inner edge of the gasket on the oil cooler cover, see how it looks:


IMG20230121165125.jpg (https://www.chinariders.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=28403&stc=1&d=1674359039)
IMG20230121165213.jpg (https://www.chinariders.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=28404&stc=1&d=1674359039)


I also looked at the positioning of the hole where oil goes in related to the bolt holes, the hole and gasket are set inwards a little:

(images in second post)



Here it is fitted (loose):


IMG20230121172725_-_Copy.jpg (https://www.chinariders.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=28405&stc=1&d=1674359039)
IMG20230121172709_-_Copy.jpg (https://www.chinariders.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=28406&stc=1&d=1674359039)


Second issue, and this one can be resolved, is the oil jets and first passage going to the oil cooler inside the cover were smaller than the stock cover. I CAREFULLY used a 2mm drill bit to enlarge the oil jets and a long 5mm bit to enlarge the first passage. (I took the time to do this BEFORE test fitting the cover and calling off the install)



I figure even with the oil getting sprayed out of the jets after running through an oil cooler which will help cool the head, it would still be good to have the same amount as stock for lubrication and not less.

The stock angled oil passage from the round inlet was 5mm so I drilled the oil cooler cover up to that from about 4 or so on the first angled section. The second section leading out to the cooler wasn't as small but still a little less than 5mm so I hit it too. The passage leading to the jets seemed fine.



InkedIMG20230121163907.jpg (https://www.chinariders.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=28402&stc=1&d=1674359039)



I also noticed the plug they put in where oil would flow through the original route leaked a little when blowing out shavings and just experimentally blocking the outlet to see if any holes I couldn't see had been opened.

Anyways, that's my experience with one of these valve cover oil cooler kits. if anyone is running one that fits like mine and isn't having issues or solved the fit problem somehow please post a reply.

Would also like to hear thoughts about drilling out the oil jets and the passages to match stock. If anyone knows why they were smaller to begin with (other than not getting drilled out at the factory) let me know.

If I just bought the wrong valve cover entirely, DEFINITELY let me know where I can get the right one.
TrustMeImAnEnginee
01-21-2023, 10:49 PM
IMG20230121173018_-_Copy_3.jpg (https://www.chinariders.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=28407&stc=1&d=1674359293)


IMG20230121173011_-_Copy_2.jpg (https://www.chinariders.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=28408&stc=1&d=1674359293)


IMG20230121173110_-_Copy_2.jpg

(https://www.chinariders.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=28409&stc=1&d=1674359293)images of the gasket position related to the holes
XLsior
01-22-2023, 12:49 AM
the Cg125 rocker cover is a little smaller than a 250 head.

The oil cooler cover is clearly made for the smaller form factor...

the bolt pattern should be the same.

It shouldn't leak around the gasket as long as its flat.

Most people run with a lower screen plug adapter oil cooler.
TrustMeImAnEnginee
01-22-2023, 01:40 PM
So this fit is normal for the oil cooler valve covers? I haven't seen a very clear view of the fit when others have installed them and I may have skimmed by a mention in text. If it's not an issue, cool. I just didn't like how it sat with the gasket close to the inner edge of the head and misaligned the round hole with the one on the head.

The oil passage and oil jets being smaller makes sense for a smaller engine too.

I have a screen plug oil cooler kit too, I wanted to try this one out since it should be less obstructive to the main oil pickup and leave the screen plug easily removable for oil changes. I have a temp sender in the bottom drain plug which might get damaged by pulling it every oil change.
TrustMeImAnEnginee
01-22-2023, 02:13 PM
Should mention, the reason I started looking at oil coolers is I have my hawk geared 16f/40r (I'm small and light so it can handle that reasonably) and riding 60 mph I see the oil temp creep up as well as the head temp as long as I keep riding. Head temp has gotten up to around 360 and oil temp around 180 F, which rises when I come to a stop even with the engine cut off to around 200-210 F. Head temp measured with a TTO spark plug gauge and oil temp measured with a norxi. I'm planning for the hotter months where there may be issues with the oil temp, and got both options for a cooler to see how they work for myself.
CheapThrills
01-22-2023, 02:14 PM
Curious, how are you monitoring oil/head temp?


Thx,
TrustMeImAnEnginee
01-22-2023, 03:44 PM
Head temp gauge (self powered, requires notching the fin around the spark plug well):


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07D9TLBKY



Oil temp gauge (requires 12v, I soldered the wires to the turn signal harness plug pins w/switched power):


https://www.ebay.com/itm/185630244661?hash=item2b386cbf35:g:JhQAAOSwlSdjVkB E&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAwDbTmSKgGh1T00kyLcsUZ%2BN5SWv nulhWcgEvmEqnCAx3Zc2%2FI9qSslRIwa%2BEiunkOjYZhkaOu 0TPPf6xcGShD%2BlEdkN%2Bjrg%2Bt33MDGgVDpXffaVdti75k NpH9bnjHTfRhdRRXxTFw7b6DCmpXm%2F1u9CZg%2Bfj7POB1G6 he7C9lbvaZuY%2FGAUmw72S3gIjI3zIiUleb032B2vj2cglCi7 sXvQRjhTpgcLrhcnNZtTL1QfFViocso5Kjwbpuc5QfBSGNw%3D %3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5CLvNfQYQ
XLsior
01-22-2023, 04:35 PM
There should be a dedicated oil drain bolt on the case base. The screen cover just houses the mesh cone screen...which gets relocated to a separate housing inline with that type of oil cooler system.

never used a cover cooler setup so can't really make suggestions.
Megadan
01-22-2023, 06:08 PM
Should mention, the reason I started looking at oil coolers is I have my hawk geared 16f/40r (I'm small and light so it can handle that reasonably) and riding 60 mph I see the oil temp creep up as well as the head temp as long as I keep riding. Head temp has gotten up to around 360 and oil temp around 180 F, which rises when I come to a stop even with the engine cut off to around 200-210 F. Head temp measured with a TTO spark plug gauge and oil temp measured with a norxi. I'm planning for the hotter months where there may be issues with the oil temp, and got both options for a cooler to see how they work for myself.

Oil temps below 200F are a good thing. Usually viscosity loss doesn't start happening to most oils until you reach over 210-220F.

360 for a head temp isn't that bad either. If the head starts going past 400 then you would start wanting to worry some.

I have never run the head style cooler, but there is a substantial volume of oil pumped up to the head, so it should be decently effective at keeping the oil temps under control and cooling the head down.

The screen port (I call them sump coolers) that XLsior is talking about is the style I run, and it is very effective. It draws the oil from the sump, pulls it through the cooler, and then into the oil pump to be pushed through the entire motor.
TrustMeImAnEnginee
12-30-2024, 12:37 AM
Coming back after almost two years, got busy with other projects and got back to the hawk and have a different question for a different thread, but I'll wrap up what I started here.

I have the valve oil cooler set up in roughly it's final form, just need to add some banjo bolts with plugs in the ends for easier draining and filling of the cooler when I do the next oil change. Also need to mount the cooler and fan more properly.

I just ended up accepting that it fit weird and kinda pinches the gasket on the head in some spots, still seals well. The banjo bolts I used all around are the yellow zinc hydraulic fitting type, but I drilled out the holes on the sides since they come small and the steel bolts are strong enough to deal with that. I had tried some high flow banjo bolts, they ended up stretching and breaking due to the thin material around the holes through the sides. I mounted the cooler cooler on some ADV bars from motocult, and added a 4" generic fan with a switch on the handlebars. The hoses to and from the valve cover have a temp sender inline, which is an M10x1.0 temp sensor installed in slightly re-tapped 1/8" NPT fuel line pressure sensor fittings with 3/8" barbs. I generally see a 30 degree Fahrenheit drop through the cooler with hot oil coming in around a max of 210 and leaving at about 180.

https://www.chinariders.net/picture.php?albumid=540&pictureid=2452

https://www.chinariders.net/picture.php?albumid=540&pictureid=2453
GypsyR
12-30-2024, 09:56 AM
Very interesting. I've preferred to see oil operating temperatures around 220-230F on about everything I ride or drive though. 180 is barely enough to "boil off" moisture from condensation here in the land of humidity.