AQ 311A Oil Cooler - Is it needed?

[capt powers]

I have a rotted oil cooler on my 1989 AQ311A. Volvo want $1,000 for a new one. Aftermarket can be found for $270. Do I really need one if I run in the cold waters of Massachusetts? I was thinking of jumping the fittings from the filter so as not to disrupt the flow of oil.

 

[Don S]

Re: AQ 311A Oil Cooler - Is it needed?

Yes, you need the cooler, and it's for the power steering, not engine oil.

 

[capt powers]

Re: AQ 311A Oil Cooler - Is it needed?

My oil cooler has hoses that come off the oil filter housing. See attached
I lost a lot of engine oil from the sump (it took 3 qts to bring it up to the "L" mark on the dipstick. I have located a used one that has only been in fresh water ($380) and I will get new to me hoses. BTW there is no colling for the power steering.

 

[Don S]

Re: AQ 311A Oil Cooler - Is it needed?

Well, it looks like the 311 is one of the very, very few SBC engines with an oil cooler, and would also guess that bypassing the thing is not going to be a problem. If it was, they would all have oil coolers. I wouldn't hesitate to bypass it if it was my problem.

 

[capt powers]

Re: AQ 311A Oil Cooler - Is it needed?

Thanks for the info. Checking the Volvo parts pages, I see some have a oil cooler for the engine oil but most don't. When I bypass the oil cooler should I connect a hose between the 2 ports on the oil filter housing or can I install two plugs? I'm thinking for the cooler to work it needed a forced flow of oil so I need to connect a hose between the two oil filter housing ports.
Also thanks for your help with this issue and your help in the past.

 

[Don S]

Re: AQ 311A Oil Cooler - Is it needed?

I would remove the housing and all, and go back to the stock setup that Chevy uses. I don't think just blocking the ports off would work. May decrease or stop the flow of oil completely.