who has installed a CSF E9x oil cooler themselves?

[DavidZ]

Has anyone installed a CSF E9x oil cooler themselves? I've been dealing with Ravi at CSF and have received 3 replacement oil coolers from him. All 3 have had this fitment issue. I took the video below to illustrate the it - the mounting tab on the passenger side is not welded in the correct location. Ravi says he's sold thousands of these and has received no complaints. Between his assertion and my experiences I cannot find any rational explanation for what's going on. Since I've received 3 coolers with this same issue, it seems to me that the manufacturer is not welding the passenger mounting tab in the correct location and Ravi hasn't received any complaints because shops or DIYers are jerry-rigging the install.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0aHyGuIXYg

PS is it possible to embed youtube video? [YOUTUBE]d0aHyGuIXYg[/YOUTUBE] isn't working.

[Mkhoid]

Why don't you mount that side that doesn't fit first and work with the other two holes on the other side.

[DavidZ]

Originally Posted by Mkhoid

Why don't you mount that side that doesn't fit first and work with the other two holes on the other side.

I can force it on there but since the CSF mounting tabs don't line up with the OE cooler, it mounts lightly crooked and I'm OCD. I guess I'll just live with it.

[MSY]

Looks fine

[MSY]

I recommend their radiator. I added radiator first and saw a nice drop in coolant and oil tenps. I then added oil cooler and saw a bit more benefit

[DavidZ]

Originally Posted by MSY

I recommend their radiator. I added radiator first and saw a nice drop in coolant and oil tenps. I then added oil cooler and saw a bit more benefit

Yeah I've installed the radiator and transmission and power steering coolers as well. Radiator was the most impressive as far as fit and finish. Tranny and PS cooler required a bit of trimming. Had the hardest time with the oil cooler.

[DavidZ]

Originally Posted by MSY

Looks fine

Yeah pretty nit-picky but you can see by the rows of the A/C radiator behind it that it's slightly crooked. Just saying it would've been perfect if the passenger side mount was in the proper place.

[bunger78]

I haven't done the oil cooler, but I attempted to install their DCT cooler, and the fitment wasn't ideal. I called them and they said to just "bend it", and that if it broke during bending, they would send me a new one. I ended up just returning it.

[BayE30]

Originally Posted by bunger78

I haven't done the oil cooler, but I attempted to install their DCT cooler, and the fitment wasn't ideal. I called them and they said to just "bend it", and that if it broke during bending, they would send me a new one. I ended up just returning it.

That's a ridiculous statement from them, but also speaks volumes about their product. They must field A LOT of fitment complaints to respond that way.

[deansbimmer]

We install some type of CSF cooler every week or two for customers. No inherent fitment issues that aren't easily overcome. The engine oil coolers are usually the most consistent.

One thing to keep in mind is how these and other aftermarket coolers are built. OEM coolers are fit together in a jig and the whole assembly inserted into a furnace for brazing so nothing shifts or distorts, equaling perfect fitment every time.

Aftermarket coolers are welded. While they remain in alignment jigs during the process, the uneven heat application will almost always cause thermal distortion that can cause some slight movement upon removal from the jig. It's common for any aftermarket part like this and minor fitment inconsistencies are generally an accepted tradeoff for the improved performance.

So while we all want perfect fitment on these kinds of parts 100% of the time, because of the way they're made its not likely to happen. If you need to make more than a slight bend or tweak to the cooler to fit, you might also have some existing tweaks to components on the vehicle side.

[bunger78]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

It's common for any aftermarket part like this and minor fitment inconsistencies are generally an accepted tradeoff for the improved performance.

So while we all want perfect fitment on these kinds of parts 100% of the time, because of the way they're made its not likely to happen. If you need to make more than a slight bend or tweak to the cooler to fit, you might also have some existing tweaks to components on the vehicle side.

Maybe my perception of CSF if off, but I thought (from the price) that they were attempting to be a higher quality manufacture. At the time I had spent over $500 on the cooler, 50% more than the OEM piece, and my expectation was that the fitment would be such that I felt comfortable installing it.

I've installed more than my fair share of parts, and I'm not afraid to "tweak" things a little to get them to fit, but this would have needed heating. Oil coolers aren't something I like gambling with on a track car.

I will say, I did install their radiator at the same time, and the fitment was excellent.

[tsk94]

I installed the whole CSF cooling package (radiator, oil cooler, transmission cooler and power steering cooler), the fitment for all of them was 'not bad'. Like you, I expected a bit better for the money - at least in terms of fitment as a direct replacement part. That being said, once installed they are working great - power steering cooler had issues but was addressed (that's a whole other topic). Car is a track only car so my AC is deleted and didn't have to deal with it while installing, but I can see how issues would arise..

If I were to do it again I'd consider the do88 coolers possibly - at least in terms of fitment and ease of installation. In terms of performance though, the CSF package has worked very well.

[GORDON.M3]

Have the CSF DCT cooler, really didn't make much of a diff. If I were looking into cooling solutions again, I would cough up the money and buy Do88. There is no comparsion.

[amrazM]

Do88 doesn’t have fitment issues just throwing that’s out there.