Oil Cooler Pics: Is it leaking?!?

wildrage · #1 (**permalink**) 03-29-08, 10:52 AM

Ok, the faster I can get a response the better...car is apart in
backyard. Below are some pics I just snapped of the oil cooler. There
seems to be a powdery substance all around it. There's no liquid, but
I'm thinking this is dried up coolant. I don't mean to be OCD, but can
you guys confirm?

Also, if it is the cooler, I'm guessing the only thing I definately
need are those sealing washers. Anybody have a part number, where to get them, etc.?
Thanks.

http://www.jamesdelacruz.net/02.jpg

http://www.jamesdelacruz.net/03.jpg

http://www.jamesdelacruz.net/04.jpg

frank moran · #2 (**permalink**) 03-30-08, 09:13 PM

that looks dry to me? if the cooler leaks it's often oil mixing with the coolent. I don't know where you can get just the washers, do a search on this site, I saw one of the guys got just the seals w/o the banjo bolts for the bridge, if I remember the banjo bolts on the cooler are copper washers, from the photos I think you look OK..

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildrage

Ok, the faster I can get a response the better...car is apart in
backyard. Below are some pics I just snapped of the oil cooler. There
seems to be a powdery substance all around it. There's no liquid, but
I'm thinking this is dried up coolant. I don't mean to be OCD, but can
you guys confirm?

Also, if it is the cooler, I'm guessing the only thing I definately
need are those sealing washers. Anybody have a part number, where to get them, etc.?
Thanks.

http://www.jamesdelacruz.net/02.jpg

http://www.jamesdelacruz.net/03.jpg

http://www.jamesdelacruz.net/04.jpg

wildrage · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-08, 09:38 PM

The area definately was dry, but there was an orangish powder everywhere. There was also some sort of film near the opening of the heads (see the middle picture) Could this have come from something other than leaking coolant? The car was driven just the day before. Would it be wet, or would the water cook off from the heat of the block? I really don't want to rip into this if it isn't the problem.

frank moran · #4 (**permalink**) 03-31-08, 09:58 AM

Old or a very fine coolant leak over a very long time will show a rust looking color, it could have come from one of the hose's in that area. Unless you want to get some heavy exercise I would button that back up and wait for a more definitive failure. If you just drove it I would think it would be wet.???

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildrage

The area definately was dry, but there was an orangish powder everywhere. There was also some sort of film near the opening of the heads (see the middle picture) Could this have come from something other than leaking coolant? The car was driven just the day before. Would it be wet, or would the water cook off from the heat of the block? I really don't want to rip into this if it isn't the problem.

wildrage · #5 (**permalink**) 03-31-08, 09:37 PM

I blew a radiator hose about a month ago the rocketed coolant all over the engine bay. Maybe that's where the crusty residue is from? I get smoke coming from the rear right of the engine. HCV was replaces as well as the valve cover gaskets (last week). I still get quite a bit of smoke. No major fluid loss...hard to tell if it's oil or coolant, but smells more like oil to me. Only starts to smoke after about 10 minutes of running..I assumed it took that long for the exhaust manifold to get hot enough to cause smoke.

Before replaceing the valve covers (purchased new covers and gaskets) I observed oil leaking from the valve covers. Replacing them stopped that visible leak, reduced smoke by about 25-50%, but something's still leaking. Not enough smoke to see with the hood closed, but very obvious when hood is open.

While I had everything apart today I pulled the valve cover and re-seated it...hoping that it may have been installed/torqued incorrectly. The first time it was a little tough installing it with the wires in the way. I moved them this time and made sure i eyballed well it before installing. It's dark out now and I haven't been able to test drive, but hoping this solves it...

Anybody else have any ideas?

elvin315 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-31-08, 10:44 PM

You mention changing the covers but what about the gaskets? Did you clean the crankcase breather box?

Elvin

wildrage · #7 (**permalink**) 04-01-08, 10:38 AM

The first thing I did was clean the breather system. I removed the box and nailed it with carb cleaner. I also disconnected each line from the breather box and cleaned it's corresponding port on the engine.

I don't think my breather system was clogged. Some gunk came out of the box, but it wasn't that restricted. Also, the little brass pipes on the engine were pretty clean. When I pulled off the old valve cover the gasket just broke off into pieces. It was hard like plastic. I'm pretty sure that this created the leak.