Oil cooler kits are available in three radiator sizes, ten-row, thirteen-row, and sixteen-row, allowing the cooler capacity to be matched to the car’s intended use. A ten-row cooler is generally adequate for normal road driving and provides a useful reduction in oil temperature during summer. A thirteen-row cooler suits cars used for sustained fast-road driving, towing, or continental touring. A sixteen-row cooler is recommended for competition use or for engines producing significantly more power than standard.
Braided Hoses
The oil cooler hose kits differ between the three Midget cooling system layouts, vertical-flow, crossflow, and 1500, because the cooler mounting position and hose routing change with each layout. The correct kit must be specified when ordering. Hose kits are available in standard rubber and stainless steel braided specification, with braided hoses offering improved durability, heat resistance, and a premium appearance in the engine bay.
Oil Cooler & Hoses
An oil thermostat (oil stat) should always be fitted in the cooler circuit. Without one, the oil passes through the cooler continuously from cold start, which means the oil takes significantly longer to reach operating temperature, and cold oil provides inadequate lubrication. The thermostat diverts oil away from the cooler until the oil reaches approximately 80°C, at which point it opens to allow oil through the cooler. This ensures the engine warms up at the normal rate while still benefiting from cooling when the oil is hot.
Factory Oil Cooler Specification
Oil coolers were offered as a factory option on 1275cc Sprites and Midgets and were available through BMC/BL Special Tuning. British Leyland did not offer a cooler for the 1500, despite the 1500 arguably benefiting from one more than any previous model.