Potentially very stupid question Options

[tornik550]

How easy is it to break the lines on the stock oil coolers? The reason I ask is because I have a pretty significant oil leak from the cooler. I had just installed the engine and cooler with new seals. I have checked all of the other normal oil leak locations and they are all ok (sender, plugs...). It clearly is from the cooler. The leak is significant.
I changed the seals a few days ago and the leak is exactly the same as it was.

When I installed the cooler when I rebuilt me engine, I wasn't paying attention and put the cooler studs into the fins and not through the correct holes. It went through pretty easily.

Is it possible that I broke the cooler from doing this? I find it hard to believe that my seals are bad considering that I just changed them again.

[ClayPerrine]

First thing... take the RTV and throw it across the room. Now don't pick it up until after the engine is up and running. RTV should not be used on Type IV oil cooler seals.

Second thing, go buy an oil pressure sender. Replace it. That is probably your leak, not the oil cooler seals. If the pressure sender is leaking, it will look just like the cooler is leaking.

Third thing.. get a new cooler. If there is any possibility of damage, it is cheaper to get a replacement than it is to screw with the cooler.


And make sure you didn't put a washer on the oil cooler studs before installing the cooler. If you do that, it won't tighten down on the seals correctly.