Oil cooler pipe leaks

[haynes]

Any advice on fitting oil cooler pipes. I dont think i have used a copper washer where the top pipe goes into the block, but any advice on stopping leaks? I was thinking of trying that plumbers white tape stuff but dont know if i will be able to get the threads clean and dry enough.

[Cooperman]

If you have the correct pipes you should have no leaks. I know that's easy to say, but it is so.
Always use a new copper washer at the block end. The one into the filter head is a taper fitting (be careful not to split the aluminium housing.
The ones into the cooler should seal OK as they have a tapered internal seating. Make sure you hold the hexagon part of the threaded portion of the oil cooler pipe houising when tightening up the hose as you can split the threaded housing away from the cooler body - I did that once and had to buy a new cooler.

[haynes]

maybe it is down to the lack of a copper washer on the block.

[Cooperman]

That would definately cause a leak. It's just flat surface metal-to-meatl contact there. Even the sump plug will leak without the washer, and there is no actual pressure there. put 70+ psi on that sort of joint and it almost certainly will lea.
Dont't be so mean - buy a washer!!!!!

[haynes]

Peter, do you know if the washer there is the same size as for the sump plug?

[Cooperman]

I'm not sure but I think it's smaller. You need to check it as it needs to be exactly the right size for such an important location.
I could measure a pipe if I could find one in the pre-move shambles that used to be my workshop, but I'm off to Scotland at 04-30 hours tomorrow, back on Sunday, then at home moving house all next week. I'd rather be working on my Minis.
I'll be back on here a week Monday, all being well.

Peter

[haynes]

there was a washer on there anyway, i took the joints apart, cleaned them up and graunched them back on.

[haynes]

Turns out the oil pressure gauge connection was a bit loose so may have been leaking, and also the braided pipe was touching the HT coil and managed to chafe its way through the casing causing that to leak oil.

[johnbullas]

Oil cooler pipe leak? try this.....

at 45mph Solenoid breaks away from clutch housing (dropfronted car), the end of the main battery lead earths out on wanky bradied oil cooler hose (running up to a remote filter head), burns through with enough heat to create oil smoke, hole sprays oil into right hand brake caliper....

I saw the BIG RED LIGHT then the trail of oil in the road, getting off the road was easy as the brakes on the RHS were U/S because of the oil! Nearly took out a lamppost such was the severity of the left hand only brakes..

Fun with cars huh??? http://freeroller.net/page/johnbullas/20040918#table_width_95_border_0 .....bonnet pins? love them!

FB

>> Edited by johnbullas on Wednesday 6th October 08:47

[haynes]

thats what makes modified cars so interesting and not a little bit scary, its impossible to predict the consequences.