FAQs on Heavy Equipment Oil Coolers, Explained

The world of heavy equipment parts is quite massive. In fact, the global construction equipment market had an estimated value of $145.5 billion U.S. dollars as of 2015, a sum that has consistently grown in the past year. In addition to heavy machinery like skid steers and backhoe loaders, there are many different heavy equipment components that can be beneficial depending on the project, like hardox steel plates, cutting edges, and heavy equipment oil coolers.

Oil cooling uses a coolant to remove extra heat from an internal combustion engine. Here are some frequently asked questions about heavy equipment oil coolers.

Q: Why would someone need an oil cooler?

A: Simply put, if the oil of the engine is too hot, it can cause many different problems to the vehicle. This can lead to equipment downtime and total system failure.

Q: What are some common causes of overheating in an engine?

A: The factors that are most likely to cause an increase in oil temperature include:

1. An increase in RPM.
2. Obstruction of airflow to the sump, which can be caused by an improperly fitted sump guard.
3. Increasing the power output of the engine.

Q: What happens when oil overheats?

A: When oil gets hotter, it gets thinner. It loses its film strength, which then causes the bearing surfaces of the engine to touch. Once these surfaces touch, the metal wears away, the clearance between the two pieces grows larger, oil pressure decreases, and sudden engine failure happens.

Q: Are there different kinds of oil coolers?

A: Yes, there are two general types: oil to air coolers and oil to water coolers.

Oil to air coolers are the most widely used form of cooler and consist of a number of aluminum pressed plates that break down the boundary effect in the flow of the oil. These airways are held together under pressure.

Oil to water coolers use a similar method, except they utilize water to cool down the oil in chambers instead of air. They have a tube and fin component in a shell container, whereas oil to air coolers use more of a square shaped chamber.

Heavy equipment oil coolers can be used in many different industrial and automotive applications. If you have any questions about installing oil coolers in your heavy equipment fleet, do not hesitate to contact our professionals today.