Oil cooler "Gazelle" - description, device, diagram and reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

Every driver knows that the cooling system is a very important element in any car. Usually, it means a liquid engine cooling system. But I must say that in modern machines there are a number of other systems. What applies to them? This can be transmission fluid cooling (if the car is equipped with automatic transmission), or engine oil. We will talk about the last system today, using the example of a commercial Gazelle car.

Purpose and location

So, what is this element for? From the name it is clear that this radiator serves to reduce the temperature of the oil in the engine system. Since it needs contact with air for cooling, it is located in front of the main SOD radiator. It is located at the top.

Where does it apply?

The use of this element is relevant for heavily loaded and forced engines.

These include the ZMZ-406 engines and its injector modifications 405. There is also an oil cooler on the Gazelle with the 4216th engine. Experts say that the use of this element is especially important in hot climates, as well as when operating a car at high speeds.

Device

How does this element work? The Gazelle Business oil cooler is an aluminum tube coil.

Mounted on special brackets to the main radiator facing panel. Also connected to the engine oil line. To do this, the design provides oil cooler hoses. "Gazelle", equipped with a similar element, has a hole in the crankcase. In addition, the filter has a special attachment with another hole. Both include hoses. They are made of durable rubber with a rag braid. By the way, the hose that goes to the engine sump has additional protection in the form of metal coils. This is necessary so that the hose does not fray with the subframe. The system also uses a shut-off and safety valve.

Working principle

How does the Gazelle oil cooler work? Its principle of operation is quite simple. After starting the engine, oil circulation is not immediately carried out through it. As soon as the pressure reaches 80 kPa Celsius, the safety valve is activated (special springs are installed in it). It opens the oil flow to the radiator. It begins to circulate from the cylinder block under pressure. Further, the lubricating fluid passes through all the tubes of the coil, simultaneously cooling under the air flow. Further, the liquid flows down into the engine crankcase.

This process is cyclical. The oil constantly circulates through a closed line, while cooling and flowing into the sump. The pump then draws in the cooler oil. Thus, its optimum temperature and viscosity are maintained.

About malfunctions

What problems do owners face when operating? One of the common faults is breakdown.

Gazelle oil cooler with 406 engine has very thin and fragile walls. This also applies to Ulyanovsk engines. And aluminum itself is by no means a durable material. As a result, the owner may experience such a phenomenon as an oil leak from the engine. This is visible visually. After a short parking, an oil puddle forms in the front of the car. It is worth saying that a breakdown occurs more often at the inlet or outlet of the hose. Often, the aluminum tube of the coil frays due to contact with the main radiator. Wherever a breakdown occurs, the result is the same - a drop in the oil level. This is absolutely unacceptable. This can lead to oil starvation. It is not recommended to restart the engine in this case. The exception is the muffling of the tubes themselves.

How to replace?

In case of loss of tightness, replace the radiator. This operation is carried out in several stages. First you need to removebumper (or just a grille, if it is an old-style Gazelle), remove the element mounting bracket from the upper panel of the radiator lining. Next, the blocks of the wires of the sound signals are disconnected. The top trim panel is dismantled. The bolts of the lower lining are unscrewed. Next, the radiator gets out. A new one is installed in its place. Assembly is carried out in reverse order.

Please note: the tightening torque of the nut of the lower and upper bracket of the Gazelle oil cooler (405 engine) is from 1.7 to 2.3 Nm. And the tightening torque of the bolts that go to the cladding panel is from 12 to 18 Nm.

Price

How much does a new Gazelle oil cooler cost? The price of a new element is four thousand rubles. But used ones can be found for 500 rubles. It must be said that the Gazelle oil cooler is not a very popular thing, therefore it is rarely found on sale. And all because this element has a number of disadvantages (we will talk about this a little later).

About pressure

At medium speeds (about 50 kilometers per hour), the pressure in the lubrication system on ZMZ motors should be from two to four kilograms per square centimeter. This figure may be higher if the engine is not warmed up, or drop if the machine is used in hot weather.

It is worth saying that if the pressure level is below unity at an average crankshaft speed, this indicates a malfunction with the engine lubrication system. Perhaps the bearings of the crankshaft or camshaft have become unusable.

As for the UMZ-4216 motor, here the regulations are as follows. At a temperature of +80 degrees Celsius, the minimum oil pressure at idle is 1.3 kilograms per square centimeter. At medium speeds (about two thousand), this figure increases to 2.5.

Reviews and problems with the radiator

So, what do motorists themselves say about the Gazelle oil cooler? Oddly enough, most consider this element superfluous, and sometimes harmful. Why is this happening? It is enough to simply analyze the level of oil pressure with and without a radiator. In the first case, at idle, the sensor will “scream” about low pressure, since the indicator is below 0.8 kilograms per square centimeter. Of course, with an increase in the frequency of rotation of the crankshaft, this figure will rise.

But what if we compare this data on the motor, where there is an oil cooler and where it is not? The results were as follows. The pressure indicator on the Gazelle 405 with an oil cooler at medium speeds is about two kilograms. On a car without a radiator at the same speed, the sensor shows at least 2.3, and sometimes 2.5! What does it say? The Gazelle oil cooler significantly reduces the pressure level. And this has a detrimental effect on the resources of the internal combustion engine.

Also, owner reviews say that the oil cooler is often deformed. At the slightest contact with any object, the tubes are frayed. And you can determine the leak only after parking. If it happened on the go, it will not be reportedcorresponding lamp. The oil may run off a little. And the level is slowly but surely decreasing.

How to remove the radiator?

Given all the shortcomings of this design, drivers come to a single solution. This is the removal of the oil cooler from the engine. But how does it happen? First, all the oil is drained from the engine. since the second hose is connected to the engine crankcase, fluid will leak when it is unscrewed. Yes, the hole is above the drain plug, so you can leave a liter or two in the system. After draining the oil, we proceed to dismantle the radiator itself. This operation is performed in the same way as the replacement according to the instructions described above. After removing the top and bottom fasteners, you can remove the radiator. Hose clamps are pre-disconnected.

What's next?

So, the radiator is removed, but two hoses remain. They need to be silenced. How to do it? For this you will need:

• Tool set (oil filter puller, 27mm tubular wrench and standard wrench set).
• Short oil filter fitting (required).
• Blind bolt for oil pan. Please note that this bolt has a special thread. In no case should you use ordinary ones from a hardware store.

First remove the oil filter. Then, with a tubular wrench, unscrew the oil filter fitting. Next, remove the spacer that is between the block and the filter. It can boil, so you can knock on it with a key. Please note that it is fixed on the gasket. It must be completely removed from the block. Theninstall a new fitting (it is important not to confuse its sides). After that, you can screw in the filter. Now the final stage - go to the oil pan.

Unscrew the hose and screw in its place the plug bolt. After that, fill in the oil and try to start the engine. You can immediately see how the oil pressure has increased.

Does missing a radiator hurt?

As practice has shown, Ulyanovsk engines and internal combustion engines from ZMZ feel great even without an oil cooler. Therefore, you can safely delete this element, especially since the reviews about this operation are only positive. The oil temperature stays the same.

Conclusion

So, we found out what the Gazelle oil cooler is and what are its features. As you can see, with its advantages, it has a lot of disadvantages. For this reason, many practice the removal of this radiator from the engine.