Okay, so maybe I just don't get out much, but I've never seen this before, and I'm curious.

 

So I was replacing the brake pads on my friend's Forester, which is a Canadian 1999 LS model (I think) with a phase II EJ25.

 

I got to looking around underneath, and it has a factory oil cooler sandwhiched between the block and the oil filter. It's a water-to-oil job, about 2" thick, with one 5/8" coolant hose coming from the block drain on the passenger side and one going to the thermostat housing.

 

What's the deal with these? Is this the standard setup on those cars and I just haven't noticed before, or is this something only offerred in Canada, or what? I would really like to get one for my EJ22, as I've wanted an oil cooler, but I'm scared to go with an air-to-oil one for fear of overcooling in the winter and because external oil lines frighten me.

Standard on Can and USDM 2.5L Automatic Foresters. Also on all Turbo Foresters. Not on the 5 speed Non-Turbo.