I fitted an oil cooler to my CA18DET several months ago. Cold oil pressure is 60psi, hot is 40psi.
I think if you drive your car hard, whether that be on the street or the race track, an oil cooler is a worthwhile investment given Austraia's climate. I lost my first CA due to bearing failure as a direct result of the oil getting too hot.

If you can afford an oil cooler, get one. It won't hurt and it's the sort of thing that you can always put on your next car.

With my A series race engine I ran a large 250hp Permacool (less than $200 for the whole kit!!!) oil cooler and oil temp never got above 65 degrees. One things for sure heat is a killer of engines. Oil coolers are a must for any race engine. It ran over 80psi (past that is off the clock...perhaps more towards 100psi) when hot at 7000rpm...that was running water thin synthetic oil.
I have seen A series crank bearings melt like solder and form ball bearings in the sump (not on my engine...that was on a mini sprint car). So for the price I run one anyway and have fun with your engine knowing that there will be not alot you could do to hurt it.

hey guys, ive just put my turbo a15 in my car without the turbo, runs stock carby etc, and on my oil pressure gauge at ide which,sounds like about 1200 rpm my tacho isnt wired up coz i had to rewire for electronic dizzy anyways, it shows about 20psi oil pressure hot, but cold is like 50psi, but if i drop my idle to normal about 1000rpm, the pressure sits on about 12psi, is this bad or is this about right? will adding oil cooler make it worse or will it just need more oil to fill the system ??? im thinking maybe with oil cooler and turbo might be a good idea to machine meself up a l series/ aseries high volume??

i have monted on my 120y a oil cooler radiator.
the only thing that i buy was the sandwich plate to take the oil out from the engine.
the radiator is from a lancia delta turbo that a friend give me.also i have monted a oil pressure gauge.when the car still do not have the radiator the oil pressure was about 6 bar whit cool engine.after engine runs on normal tempeture the oil pressure drops to 3 bar or less.after the radiator was put in place the oil pressure is 6 bar and drop only to 4bar.never seen less than that.
pictures on my profile

I have an oil cooler on my A15. I think anything that keeps the oil cool is good for the engine. I probably have one of the more complicated systems other than using a dry sump.

I have a remote oil filter plate with a checkvalve so we don't loose prime ( it also keeps the oil flowing to the engine and not draining back so it helps maintain oil pressure, then it goes up to the oil filter mounted on the strut tower, then crosses over the engine to the oil thermostat which sends 5-95% of the oil through the cooler before dumping it back down to the oil pump.

if you have clearance issues get a remote oil filter plate and then you can out your oil filter somewhere easy to get at.

sprite63 if u contact jeff taylor, i think ive given u his details before he can sort you out woth a nic eooler setup well preiced too i think.

Hey all im also interested in an oil cooler setup for my a15if any one has an adaptor plate can you please tell me or of what car do i get it from thanks...

Thanks for all of your advice and PM's guys - all really useful info. If anyone has an oil cooler adaptor that they do not want I'd be happy to talk about buying it. Send me a PM if you are interested.
Cheer's

Matt.

Your Healey would have had an oil cooler as an option anyway. So any Moss agent in OZ should be able to supply an oil cooler. You can get a remote fitting so that you can mount the oil filter off the block and inline to the oil cooler. My MGB has an oil cooler with a standard pump and it has caused me no worries in 23 years of running. I have a factory Datsun Competition oil pump and oil cooler in my GX. I will borrow a digital camera and get some pics. Another source for short oil filters is C20 Vanette ones are nice and short and clear my winged sump.