For those of you with the extra cooling package on your 5.8L F150, you may garner some assistance from this post.

The factory engine oil cooler (MODINE Part) which bolts directly to the engine block, (in front of the oil filter), has an O-Ring gasket which is an integral piece of the oil cooler assy. When changing the oil filter one day I discovered that the oil cooler mounting bolt, which also serves as the oil filter mounting boss, had become loose causing an oil leak between the oil cooler and the engine block. Simply tightening the mounting bolt, (which is hollow to allow engine oil into the oil filter), did not work. The O-Ring had become damaged.

The O-Ring gasket is not serviced by Ford because it is considered part of the factory oil coller assy. The repair I made was affected by using, . . . get this, . . . a GM application oil cooler part made by VICTOR Gaskets. The VICTOR Part # is: GS33281. Since the Ford oil cooler retails at over $234 I decided to try the repair using an aftermarket part. It is CRITICAL that you find the proper size O-Ring for this application or you can suffer loss of all engine oil.

The factory O-Ring is a square cut O-Ring and is glued into the boss, but the replacement GM style part, (which is a true O-Ring style), will work just fine. It is made of a silcone rubber and very pliable.

First, remove and thoroughly clean entire oil cooler assy. from the engine block AND clean the old O-Ring flange of any debris or excess material. Then, use a SMALL amount of RTV Silicone adhesive to hold the new O-Ring in place while you reinstall the oil cooler to the engine block. Place a heavy brick or flat surfaced weight on the O-Ring to hold it in place until the RTV adhesive sets up enough to reinstall the oil cooler. Remove any excess RTV adhesive cause' ya don't want any of that stuff inside the engine oil passages. Nuff said !

The replacement VICTOR brand O-Ring is ever so slightly smaller in diameter than the original one so make absolutely CERTAIN that the new O-Ring seats properly into the oil cooler boss or you will experience the same oil leak problem. The RTV Adhesive will hold it in place if you are carefull.

I also replaced the original factory lower radiator hose(s) while I was here because of their age. Another pricey (specialty) item ($78) but well worth the effort since I was here anyway.

Good luck, and happy motoring.

 

Maybe you should consider making this a tech article for Ken to put into our Tech Artciles section....