Hi all,

 

Just picked up a second hand mk1 VRS yesterday. The previous owner says the car needs an oil change, so that's top of the list. The car's come with an unmarked, aluminum, cylindrical "oil cooler" that's cable-tied to some aftermarket hoses at the top of the engine bay. I'll add a picture when I go back out to the car this morning. Anybody familiar with something like this? If so, got some questions for you...

 

Good estimates on the increase in oil capacity?

I don't see a sandwich plate thermostat. Does this car need it?

Do I really need the oil cooler? Sure I'm planning on the occasional track day but I don't see many people talking of temperature issues.

 

Any info is much appreciated! 

Your description of its approx location leads me to think its not a oil cooler but something called a OCC (Oil Catch can). Like many engines

the engine "breathing" is a closed loop system. What that means is, it recirculates gasses via one way valves and pipes back into the combustion

chamber to be burnt off. The down side of this is over time valves and the pipes become clogged, also you can get a build up of film on the turbo

impeller. All not a good thing.

The solution is to fit a OCC, this filters in effect the oily air, cleaning it so nice clean air gets burnt . The OCC should have a drain off and

periodically drained (more often in the winter because of internal condensation forming).

If you can post a picture this will confirm its function though ive never heard of a extra oil tank / cooler being fitted by a "enthusiast"

If you look at my avatar picture mine is located bottom right with blue hoses connecting to it.

 

NB: This is the one i bought :- http://www.saikoumichi.com/s3_oil_catch_can.html

 

Edited 12 October, 20205 yr by Silver Bullet

28 minutes ago, Silver Bullet said:

Your description of its approx location leads me to think its not a oil cooler but something called a OCC (Oil Catch can). Like many engines

the engine "breathing" is a closed loop system. What that means is, it recirculates gasses via one way valves and pipes back into the combustion

chamber to be burnt off. The down side of this is over time valves and the pipes become clogged, also you can get a build up of film on the turbo

impeller. All not a good thing.

The solution is to fit a OCC, this filters in effect the oily air, cleaning it so nice clean air gets burnt . The OCC should have a drain off and

periodically drained (more often in the winter because of internal condensation forming).

If you can post a picture this will confirm its function though ive never heard of a extra oil tank / cooler being fitted by a "enthusiast"

If you look at my avatar picture mine is located bottom right with blue hoses connecting to it.

 

NB: This is the one i bought :- http://www.saikoumichi.com/s3_oil_catch_can.html

 

Mine doesn’t look that cool, but yes after further inspection (and actually using my brain) it’s a catch can. Going to be interesting figuring out all the little bits of this car and being more mechanically minded than the previous owner...

The engine does have a oil cooler of sorts, its a square metal box (with 2 hose connections), the engine oil filter does actually secure against its lower face.

Do regular oil changes with fully synthetic engine oil. These engines are virtually indestructable if looked after.

If you can manage it Shell V Power (or any premium petrol) will keep it running sweet.

Good Luck and Happy Motoring

Edited 12 October, 20205 yr by Silver Bullet

Thanks Silver Bullet. Oil change coming up Wednesday, v power and injector cleaner in it today. It will be feeling good in no time.

Mk1 Octavia Vrs likes V-Power or Tesco Momentum if they are nearer to you. My old Sprint Yellow 53 reg went from 177 to 193bhp and 173 to 190lb/ft just using better fuel (V-power was only 98 octane back in 2003).