DW FDOIL LEAD

Up next

Author

Tags

Share article

Facebook 0
Twitter 0
Mail 0

Bullet Proof Diesel Oil Cooler 6.0L Power Stroke

Remote Mount 6.0L Power Stroke Oil Cooler

Over the last decade or so, Arizona’s Bullet Proof Diesel has become famous with making the unfortunately infamous 6.0L Power Stroke reliable again. The 6.0L was plagued with multiple issues from the word go. One of these problems is with the engine’s oil cooler. It’s a stacked plate heat exchanger design that uses engine coolant to also cool the engine’s oil. The coolant and oil run through multiple separate passageways that are extremely narrow and close together. It really does do a good job of keeping the oil cool, when clean. Unfortunately, due to left over sand from the casting process, excess gasket material, supplemental coolant additives and other contaminants found suspended within the cooling system, the oil cooler can clog fairly often. This will cause raised oil temperatures and reduced coolant flow to the EGR cooler which will eventually result in damage to the EGR cooler, injectors and more.

While the oil cooler is not an overly expensive part, changing it is extremely time consuming. On most six-liter equipped trucks, changing the cooler means the cab comes off the truck and more. It can be a multiple-day job. So Bullet Proof Diesel came up with yet another 6.0-liter fix and engineered a kit that would allow for the factory oil cooler to be mounted remotely, making servicing it a quick 30-45 minute job. The factory oil cooler will still function exactly as the manufacturer intended it to; it will just be mounted in an easily accessible location. The kit consists of an adaptor plate that mounts in the valley of the engine where the oil cooler originally lived. This plate is billet machined from high quality aluminum and takes the supply and return of oil and coolant and reroutes it to the new oil cooler location, near the passenger side battery. It’s an impressive kit with very high-end parts. The install took roughly two days, and once done, it looked almost factory under the hood. DW

Subscribe Our Weekly Newsletter
1. Here’s a cutaway of a clogged 6.0L Power Stroke oil cooler. Here you can see the oil and coolant galleries stacked on top of each other. The narrow rows that are visibly clogged with orange material are for coolant, and the slightly wider rows are for oil. When a cooler clogs like this one, it has becomes less efficient and can lead to EGR cooler issues and eventually injector problems.
1. Here’s a cutaway of a clogged 6.0L Power Stroke oil cooler. Here you can see the oil and coolant galleries stacked on top of each other. The narrow rows that are visibly clogged with orange material are for coolant, and the slightly wider rows are for oil. When a cooler clogs like this one, it has becomes less efficient and can lead to EGR cooler issues and eventually injector problems.
2. A multitude of things need to be removed to access the oil cooler. The first thing Bullet Proof Diesel Technician Delwin Wamsley did was remove the grille to protect it from scratches. Wamsley then started draining the coolant, removed both intercooler tubes, air intake, Degas bottle, alternator and the FICM (still installed in this photo).
2. A multitude of things need to be removed to access the oil cooler. The first thing Bullet Proof Diesel Technician Delwin Wamsley did was remove the grille to protect it from scratches. Wamsley then started draining the coolant, removed both intercooler tubes, air intake, Degas bottle, alternator and the FICM (still installed in this photo).
3. Mounted directly atop the oil cooler is the oil filter and fuel pressure regulator. This assembly needs to be removed to access the oil cooler but will also get in the way during turbo removal.
3. Mounted directly atop the oil cooler is the oil filter and fuel pressure regulator. This assembly needs to be removed to access the oil cooler but will also get in the way during turbo removal.
4. In just a few minutes, Wamsley had our Stage-2 turbo from KC Turbo out of the truck.
4. In just a few minutes, Wamsley had our Stage-2 turbo from KC Turbo out of the truck.
5. Next to come off the engine were the intake, turbo pedestal and EGR cooler. The intake was then taken to a local shop for sonic cleaning to rid the inside of any soot and oil build up. Just a smart extra step Bullet Proof Diesel takes to remove restriction in the intake and prevent contaminants from entering the cylinders after start up.
5. Next to come off the engine were the intake, turbo pedestal and EGR cooler. The intake was then taken to a local shop for sonic cleaning to rid the inside of any soot and oil build up. Just a smart extra step Bullet Proof Diesel takes to remove restriction in the intake and prevent contaminants from entering the cylinders after start up.
6. This is the factory oil cooler assembly. Most of it will be replaced with new Bullet Proof Diesel parts. The black tube is what the oil filter surrounds.
6. This is the factory oil cooler assembly. Most of it will be replaced with new Bullet Proof Diesel parts. The black tube is what the oil filter surrounds.
7. After removing it, Wamsley spent some time cleaning the engine valley until it was “surgically clean.” The rags are there to make sure nothing accidently falls into the engine intake. If that were to happen, the head—or heads—would most likely have to be removed.
7. After removing it, Wamsley spent some time cleaning the engine valley until it was “surgically clean.” The rags are there to make sure nothing accidently falls into the engine intake. If that were to happen, the head—or heads—would most likely have to be removed.
8. The oil cooler assembly comes apart in multiple pieces.
8. The oil cooler assembly comes apart in multiple pieces.
9. Here’s the factory oil cooler found bolted to the bottom of the assembly.
9. Here’s the factory oil cooler found bolted to the bottom of the assembly.
10. Next Wamsley readied the new Bullet Proof Diesel oil cooler relocation manifold for installation by bolting the factory oil filter assembly to it using some of the factory bolts and a few replacement ones provided by Bullet Proof. He also installed all new gaskets and swapped any sensors over.
10. Next Wamsley readied the new Bullet Proof Diesel oil cooler relocation manifold for installation by bolting the factory oil filter assembly to it using some of the factory bolts and a few replacement ones provided by Bullet Proof. He also installed all new gaskets and swapped any sensors over.

Bullet Proof Diesel

11/12. The new Bullet Proof unit simply reroutes the oil and coolant to another location where the oil cooler sits. Used coolant and cooled oil then returns back to the factory Ford locations it did prior to the install. Cooled oil drops down below the unit through the stainless filtration screen seen here. It’s much more robust than the factory screen which is prone to failure. Photo B shows our clogged factory screen next to a new factory screen. Ours was pretty bad.
11&12. The new Bullet Proof unit simply reroutes the oil and coolant to another location where the oil cooler sits. Used coolant and cooled oil then returns back to the factory Ford locations it did prior to the install. Cooled oil drops down below the unit through the stainless filtration screen seen here. It’s much more robust than the factory screen which is prone to failure. Photo B shows our clogged factory screen next to a new factory screen. Ours was pretty bad.
13. The new unit was then bolted back into the factory position in the engine valley.
13. The new unit was then bolted back into the factory position in the engine valley.
14. Our EGR cooler had no issues (that we knew of) but in the interest of preventative maintenance, and because, well, we were at Bullet Proof Diesel (the inventors of the famous upgraded tube-style EGR coolers) we replaced ours with a Bullet Proof EGR Cooler.
14. Our EGR cooler had no issues (that we knew of) but in the interest of preventative maintenance, and because, well, we were at Bullet Proof Diesel (the inventors of the famous upgraded tube-style EGR coolers) we replaced ours with a Bullet Proof EGR Cooler.
15. The factory unit (NOT pictured here) is a stacked heat exchanger design much like the oil cooler. The passageways are very narrow and can fail easily sending coolant into the cylinders. If it leaks badly enough, it can bend a rod or worse. Bullet Proof Diesel’s EGR cooler (seen here) uses 6 welded stainless steel tubes jacketed with coolant to lower EGT’s into the intake. It’s a much, much stronger unit.
15. The factory unit (NOT pictured here) is a stacked heat exchanger design much like the oil cooler. The passageways are very narrow and can fail easily sending coolant into the cylinders. If it leaks badly enough, it can bend a rod or worse. Bullet Proof Diesel’s EGR cooler (seen here) uses 6 welded stainless steel tubes jacketed with coolant to lower EGT’s into the intake. It’s a much, much stronger unit.
16. With the Bullet Proof Diesel EGR Cooler in place, the intake and turbo pedestal were installed. Notice the attention to detail BPD takes: Del Wamsley even sand blasted the pedestal and hit it with a good coat of WD-40 to prevent any rust.
16. With the Bullet Proof Diesel EGR Cooler in place, the intake and turbo pedestal were installed. Notice the attention to detail BPD takes: Del Wamsley even sand blasted the pedestal and hit it with a good coat of WD-40 to prevent any rust.

Bullet Proof Diesel

17/18. Before reinstalling the turbo, Wamsley hooked up a coolant line that would be inaccessible after the turbo was in. He then installed the turbo and began running the remaining three out of four lines from the Bullet Proof manifold to where the other end of the kit, the factory oil cooler and Bullet Proof adaptor assembly would be mounted.
17/18. Before reinstalling the turbo, Wamsley hooked up a coolant line that would be inaccessible after the turbo was in. He then installed the turbo and began running the remaining three out of four lines from the Bullet Proof manifold to where the other end of the kit, the factory oil cooler and Bullet Proof adaptor assembly would be mounted.
19. The new location for the oil cooler will be behind the passenger side battery. Removing the battery is step one of this half of the install.
19. The new location for the oil cooler will be behind the passenger side battery. Removing the battery is step one of this half of the install.
20. After removing the battery, battery tray, and factory vacuum canister, Wamsley bolted this bracket that the new oil cooler assembly would mount to. It’s rubber mounted to eliminate any noise transferred from the engine to the cab.
20. After removing the battery, battery tray, and factory vacuum canister, Wamsley bolted this bracket that the new oil cooler assembly would mount to. It’s rubber mounted to eliminate any noise transferred from the engine to the cab.
21. Wamsley then began to mount a new factory Ford oil cooler to the Bullet Proof Adaptor using new O-ring gaskets with a bit of assembly lube to aide in instillation and to ensure they seal correctly.
21. Wamsley then began to mount a new factory Ford oil cooler to the Bullet Proof Adaptor using new O-ring gaskets with a bit of assembly lube to aide in instillation and to ensure they seal correctly.
22. Installed and ready to be bolted into its final resting place behind the passenger battery, the black manifold is made by Bullet Proof Diesel and simply takes a supply of coolant and oil, sending both through the Ford cooler and then back to the engine just like the factory intended.
22. Installed and ready to be bolted into its final resting place behind the passenger battery, the black manifold is made by Bullet Proof Diesel and simply takes a supply of coolant and oil, sending both through the Ford cooler and then back to the engine just like the factory intended.
23. The assembly then bolts onto the previously installed bracket using four bolts, two per side. All are easily accessible for future service as that’s the point of this kit: to make servicing the oil cooler eons easier than before.
23. The assembly then bolts onto the previously installed bracket using four bolts, two per side. All are easily accessible for future service as that’s the point of this kit: to make servicing the oil cooler eons easier than before.
24. Previously, the factory vacuum canister was removed to make room for the oil cooler’s new home. It is replaced with this vacuum canister supplied by Bullet Proof Diesel. While it’s substantially smaller, it did not affect any vacuum powered accessories at all.
24. Previously, the factory vacuum canister was removed to make room for the oil cooler’s new home. It is replaced with this vacuum canister supplied by Bullet Proof Diesel. While it’s substantially smaller, it did not affect any vacuum powered accessories at all.

DW-1511-FDOIL-40

25/26. Next step: Wamsley ran all four lines (oil feed, oil return, coolant feed, and coolant return) across the engine to the new oil cooler assembly. The oil fittings were snugly tightened and aligned; then the jam nut was tightened to ensure a good leak-free seal. Coolant fittings connect via push-on fittings and a pair of spring clamps just like Ford uses.
25/26. Next step: Wamsley ran all four lines (oil feed, oil return, coolant feed, and coolant return) across the engine to the new oil cooler assembly. The oil fittings were snugly tightened and aligned; then the jam nut was tightened to ensure a good leak-free seal. Coolant fittings connect via push-on fittings and a pair of spring clamps just like Ford uses.
27. After reinstalling the intercooler tubes and few remaining factory parts Wamsley filled the engine with some fresh oil and coolant. Note: You will need slightly more of both fluids as each system is now a quart or so larger due to the new lines from the cooler to the engine. The motor was then started and checked for leaks. None were found, so we took the truck out for a quick test drive.
27. After reinstalling the intercooler tubes and few remaining factory parts Wamsley filled the engine with some fresh oil and coolant. Note: You will need slightly more of both fluids as each system is now a quart or so larger due to the new lines from the cooler to the engine. The motor was then started and checked for leaks. None were found, so we took the truck out for a quick test drive.
28. After 20 miles or so in 108-degree weather, we stopped to check the engine oil and coolant temperatures with our ScanGauge 2. Both were perfect, indicating the system is doing its job correctly. Not that we expected anything less…
28. After 20 miles or so in 108-degree weather, we stopped to check the engine oil and coolant temperatures with our ScanGauge #2. Both were perfect, indicating the system is doing its job correctly. Not that we expected anything less…
Source:

Bullet Proof Diesel

888.967.6653

Bulletproofdiesel.com

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the role of the High-Pressure Oil Pump (HPOP) filter screen in the replacement oil cooler system?

The Role of the High-Pressure Oil Pump (HPOP) Filter Screen in the Replacement Oil Cooler System

The replacement oil cooler system incorporates a robust High-Pressure Oil Pump (HPOP) filter screen designed to provide lasting durability and optimal engine performance.

Key Functions:
  • Protection and Longevity:Constructed from stainless steel, the filter screen is engineered to withstand extensive use throughout the engine’s lifespan. This material choice ensures that the screen remains resilient even under high-pressure conditions.
  • Preventing Failures:One of the primary roles of the HPOP filter screen is to safeguard against common failures. By effectively filtering out contaminants, it prevents the wear and tear that often leads to the malfunctioning of the High-Pressure Oil Pump.
  • Ensuring Consistent Performance:With the screen in place, the oil remains free from debris, allowing the pump to maintain consistent pressure levels. This reliability is crucial for the engine’s overall performance and longevity.

This integration of an HPOP filter screen addresses and remedies the typical issues associated with pump filter failures, offering a more reliable solution for engine maintenance.

 

What issues can arise from the placement of the oil filter in the OE oil cooler system?
Issues With Oil Filter Placement in the OE Oil Cooler System

The positioning of the oil filter in the original equipment (OE) oil cooler system can lead to several problems. Here’s a breakdown of the potential issues:

  1. Debris Accumulation in the Oil Cooler: Since the oil filter is located downstream of the oil cooler, it allows the cooler itself to act as an unwitting filter. This means debris and contaminants from the oil can accumulate within the cooler.
  2. Restricted Oil Flow: The buildup of debris in the oil cooler restricts the flow of oil. This reduced flow can impede the efficient circulation of oil throughout the engine, potentially leading to performance issues or even engine damage.
  3. Reduced Cooling Efficiency: As debris clogs the oil cooler, it hampers the device’s ability to effectively transfer heat from the oil to the coolant. This diminished heat transfer can result in higher operating temperatures, placing additional strain on the engine.
  4. Engine Overheating Risks: Compromised cooling effectiveness and restricted oil flow collectively elevate the risk of the engine overheating. Prolonged overheating can lead to severe engine problems or failure.
  5. Additional Maintenance Needs: The accumulation of debris in the oil cooler may require more frequent maintenance or replacement of the cooler, adding to the cost and effort of maintaining the vehicle.

By understanding these potential issues, vehicle owners and technicians can make informed decisions regarding maintenance and upgrades to enhance engine longevity and performance.

 

What design features does the replacement oil cooler system include to improve oil filtration?

The new Bullet Proof unit simply reroutes the oil and coolant to another location where the oil cooler sits. Used coolant and cooled oil then returns back to the factory Ford locations it did prior to the install. Cooled oil drops down below the unit through the stainless filtration screen seen here. It’s much more robust than the factory screen which is prone to failure.

This upgraded system replaces the OE engine oil cooler with a patented oil transfer block. Mounted using original equipment gaskets and hardware, it ensures a seamless fit with your engine.

Key features include:

  • Enhanced Oil Flow: Engine oil travels through extreme duty hoses to a remote oil filter assembly, then to an air-to-oil cooler. This process ensures thorough cooling and filtration.
  • Superior Filtration: The provided oil filter is considerably larger, accommodating almost twice the oil flow compared to the standard OE oil filter. This design effectively prevents common issues like plugged or restricted oil pathways.
  • Failure Prevention: By addressing the pattern failure of the original system, the new setup prevents early engine wear and injector failure, safeguarding your vehicle’s performance over time.

This comprehensive design not only enhances filtration but also extends the lifespan of critical engine components, offering a reliable solution for consistent and clean oil flow.

 

What common failures does the replacement system address?

The system addresses issues such as plugged or restricted oil coolers and poor oil filtration, which can lead to early engine wear and injector failure.

 

What are the specifications of the new oil filter?

The new oil filter is significantly larger than the original and can handle nearly twice the oil flow before needing to bypass.

 

What path does the oil take in the new system?

Oil travels through high-strength hoses to a remote oil filter assembly (if applicable) and then moves on to an air-to-oil cooler.

 

How is the replacement system installed?

It is installed by mounting the new oil transfer block in the same location as the original oil cooler, using the existing gaskets and hardware to secure it to the engine.

 

What does the replacement system replace?

The replacement system takes the place of the original equipment (OE) engine oil cooler.

 

What are the consequences of a compromised oil/coolant barrier in the OE oil cooler?

One of these problems is with the engine’s oil cooler. It’s a stacked plate heat exchanger design that uses engine coolant to also cool the engine’s oil. The coolant and oil run through multiple separate passageways that are extremely narrow and close together. It really does a good job of keeping the oil cool when clean. Unfortunately, due to leftover sand from the casting process, excess gasket material, supplemental coolant additives, and other contaminants found suspended within the cooling system, the oil cooler can clog fairly often. This will cause raised oil temperatures and reduced coolant flow to the EGR cooler, which will eventually result in damage to the EGR cooler, injectors, and more.

However, when the integrity of the oil/coolant barrier is compromised, it leads to more severe problems. The mixing of oil and coolant is the direct consequence, usually first observed as oil appearing in the coolant (degas) bottle. This contamination can lead to a host of issues, including reduced lubrication efficiency and potential overheating, ultimately risking serious engine damage.

By understanding both the clogging issues and the critical nature of maintaining a proper oil/coolant barrier, you can better appreciate the importance of regular maintenance and inspection. This not only prevents the hassles of dealing with clogged passageways but also safeguards against the more catastrophic failure of a compromised barrier.

 

What is the initial sign of a failure in the oil/coolant separation?

The initial sign is the appearance of oil within the coolant reservoir.

 

What occurs when the separation between oil and coolant fails?

When the separation fails, oil and coolant start to mix together.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0

You May Also Like