It has been suggested that one should have an oil cooler on any VW in Australia, plus I have also read about fitting external filters for better engine life.

So with a 1600 motor in a bay kombi, how does one go about fitting one? The engine mount is seemingly too close to the oil pump to fit a full flow cover, but apparently it has been done before so how do you do it without wrecking your engine mount bar? Also where do you run the return oil line and where do you mount the cooler and do they need some sort of cooling fan to work effectively? Do they make a kit that piggybacks off the original cooler under the shroud? That would make the most sense.

And filters, can you mount filters on the same line/run? Before or after the cooler or does it make no difference.

Lots of questions I know but thats why I'm asking the experts.....hopefully!

A stock 1600 in a bay shouldn't need one, if its getting too hot there is a problem somewhere or you are just working it too hard.

They were designed for and worked for decades in climates alot hotter than here.

You can keep oil temps down but its head temps you have to worry about.

But to answer your question 2 ways to go, full flow oil pump which with the right pump choice only requires minimal clearancing of the hanger bar, and add a filter and cooler in the line *or* tap the original doghouse flange for hoses and use a bigger remote filter somewhere.

Only problem with that way is it requires the single port shroud and smaller fan which and also does away with the stock oil cooler.

A remote oil cooler ideally should have a fan as there are times when sitting in stopped in traffic for ages or climbing a steep hill at low speeds natural air flow isn't enough.

They are off with the fairies then

If you are keen on an oil cooler upgrade, you can upgrade to the stock later dog house oil cooler (which you may very well already have). It'll prevent the hot spot on #3 cylinder and prevent burnt out valves there.