HEL Direct Fit Oil Cooler Kit for Honda Civic (FK2) Type R
After the successful development work on the GR Yaris, the HEL (Automotive) Development Centre turned its attention to another exciting Japanese performance car that could benefit from similar treatment, especially given the limited aftermarket options available. Fortunately, the Centre’s former FK2 Civic Type R is now owned by a local ex-employee, making it convenient to borrow for development.
The goal was to create an easy-to-fit oil cooler kit. To achieve this, the engine bay was 3D scanned to identify the optimal solution. As a result, two custom aluminum brackets were manufactured to mount the oil cooler on the crash bar. This positioning places the cooler in direct airflow in the space between the two headlights, an ideal location for effective cooling.
The kit is built around the popular Swedish-manufactured Setrab Series 6 ProLine oil cooler. The 19-row option fits perfectly in the available space, offering an excellent balance between minimizing pressure loss and providing highly effective cooling.
HEL Performance has been utilizing Setrab oil coolers for over 10 years without any issues, and their performance remains unrivaled. While numerous cheaper imported options exist, none match Setrab’s reliability; there are few things worse than a burst oil cooler. In fact, there have even been reports of Setrab oil coolers surviving front-end collisions and remaining fully functional.
This comprehensive kit arrives complete with pre-assembled HEL braided hoses and anodized aluminum fittings. These AN10 high-flow performance hoses deliver and return oil from the oil cooler to a non-thermostatic sandwich plate and a crash bar-mounted inline thermostat, precisely set at 92°C (197.6°F). A full diagram detailing the exact mounting locations for the thermostat and cooler brackets is included in the kit. The 92°C setting provides the perfect balance between effective cooling when needed and allowing the engine to warm up safely. Operating the oil at excessively low temperatures can be dangerous, and the thermostat precisely controls the temperature.
What’s Included
- Setrab Series 6 ProLine 16 row oil cooler with AN10 banjo adapters to maximise clearance and minimise pressure loss.
- HEL custom aluminium oil cooler brackets.
- HEL multi angled solid billet 92°C thermostatic oil filter sandwich plate.
- Preassembled AN10 HEL braided hoses with anodised aluminium fittings.
- Stainless steel mounting hardware.
- Installation instructions.

