Getting air to an oil cooler can be a tricky proposition on custom builds where space is limited for either functional or aesthetic purposes. Many enthusiasts and builders often opt to put a transmission, engine oil, or power steering cooler under the car. This hides the cooler, and conserves space in the engine compartment or near the radiator. It’s also better for aesthetics. Placing the cooler under a vehicle can present a set or problems, primarily airflow getting to the cooler and allowing it to be effective.
Derale showed us a solution at this year’s SEMA show in the form of their Scoop Cooler. “We were finding that a lot of guys building Hot Rods are very limited on cooling space. They’re having overheating problems, but they built themselves into a corner with nowhere to mount coolers and get airflow,” according to Derale’s Ted Cordts.
The Scoop Cooler allows a cooler to be mounted inside a frame rail, or underneath the vehicle. The scoop then pulls airflow from underneath the car to the cooler, ensuring plenty of airflow across the surface of the cooler, and proper cooling of the oil flowing through it.
The Scoop Cooler can be used with any type of oil used on a vehicle including transmission fluid, power steering fluid, or engine oil. The design of the scoop is such that it gathers the air, and it actually draws the air through and out the back then sending it down the frame rail.
The Scoop Cooler comes with -6, -8 or -10, fitting sizes. It can be run in conjunction with a thermostatic bypass. The mounting brackets are ambidextrous, allowing for multiple mounting configurations.