Oil cooler - water-cooled type, fitted to MG METRO 1300 & Vanden Plas
Turbo Mini Forums

Wanted:

Oil cooler - water-cooled type

This type was fitted to MG METRO 1300 and Vanden Plas models,
uses engine coolant as the heat exchange medium.

This type of cooler fits in between the oil filter head and the oil filter himself.
According to the HAYNES Owners Workshop Manual (printed in 1984) concerning
AUSTIN METRO, MG & Vanden Plas 1980 to 1983.

(MG METRO TURBO was fitted with an oil cooler....air-cooled type)

May be such a "small" part is "sleeping" in a corner?

Thank you in advance

Fritz

I once used one of these on a Mini, you will need to cut a chunk out of the front subframe for it to fit. Also you will need to be using a decent sized front rad as with the side rad you will find it adds enough heat to the cooling system that it cannot cope. With a Metro rad mounted up front (in a clubman estate) it was fine.

I have one, just taken off an MG Metro engine.

I can agree totally with what Tom says about the front subframe I went to lower an MG engine into the Mini for a trail fit of other parts... I knew it would be a tight fit vertically with the cooler but what I did not realise is the MG cooler assembly is much further forward than a standard oil filter so will not fit a standard subframe front to back.

So I took it off.

It's not in great condition - water stubs are a bit corroded, but it did not leak when in the Metro.

I'll post a photo if you are interested.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

@Tom

Thank you very much sharing your experience, Tom!
Altering the subframe doesn't sound nice.
And cooling problems in a roundnose, too.
So it's not a case of "drop in and turn key"!

Yes, you're right, I want to fit this type to a Mini.

But, in these days a Mini 1275GT (clubman, sedan) here is to be sold.
Since many years it is standing in a shed and seems to be rusty &
a bit scrappy - but I'm tempted to buy, if the price is low enough. Needs surely a lot of time, work (and patience) etc. to get the car back on the road again.

Up to you if you want to try it, if you use a 4-core radiator with its extra coolant volume then you may be OK.

As for the subframe, it is not as bad as it sounds, you need to cut away a section of the top web of the front crossmember.

However with cooling probs combined with cutting lumps out of the subframe it has to be said that an oil cooler radiator (e.g. oil to air) is the easier solution if your oil is getting too hot.

got one here you can have if you want an extra one.

““A turbo: exhaust gasses go into the turbocharger and spin it, witchcraft happens and you go faster.”” - Jeremy Clarkson

Fritz, as per your PM, I've PM'd some photos.

Hope they help you decide.

Rod.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???