Engine oil cooler question.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Troy,Michigan
Engine oil cooler question.
I have a 1996 4wd 7.3L powerstroke, and I need to replace my oil cooler. It is very rusty, and is leaking enough to leave a drip on my oil filter, but not on the driveway, yet. I've read through all the threads dealing with this thing, and I have a question. Do I need to disconnect the LH engine mount to remove the oil cooler? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated, as this is my first oil cooler! Thanks!
Paul
Paul
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,231
Likes: 130
From: Thomasville, GA
No, you don't have to remove the engine mount. You kinda have to turn it a bit but it will come out pretty easy.
Make sure you lube up the o-rings really good before you assemble the new one, a ratchet strap works pretty good to press it together, and get a LONG socket extension to reach the front bolts from the outside of the wheel well.
Make sure you lube up the o-rings really good before you assemble the new one, a ratchet strap works pretty good to press it together, and get a LONG socket extension to reach the front bolts from the outside of the wheel well.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 324
Likes: 1
From: VA BEACH
its a piece of cake, drain your oill and then you can pull the block heater plug out to drain the coolant just remove the inner fender liner and you can access the bolts from there 2 on the front and 3 on the rear. all 10mm if i remember right. twist it a few ways, by the time you get it out it will probally be turned 180 degress from where you started, your truck is 4wd so thats a plus. little bit harder with a big coal spring sitting there. slap on the gaskets and pop it right back in the way it came out.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,231
Likes: 130
From: Thomasville, GA
Mine is 2wd and I didn't have to remove the inner fender and the coil spring wasn't in the way.
Like I said earlier, if you have a long extension you can reach those front bolts easily from the outside of the inner fender...
Like I said earlier, if you have a long extension you can reach those front bolts easily from the outside of the inner fender...
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Troy,Michigan
Thanks for the info guys. I'm ordering the parts from Silver State Ford tonight, and hopefully tackle this project Thanksgiving weekend! Also, will probably put new coolant in too. Oh well, I just did an oil change a couple of weeks ago, but did not think the oil cooler was that bad until it started leaking! I guess I will catch the newer oil with a nice clean pan when I remove the oil filter. 
Paul
Paul
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 324
Likes: 1
From: VA BEACH
your going to need to replace the coolant anyway, really no way to get around that it will go everywhere just make sure you have plenty of bucket for it, nice thing about being lifted i can just stick a 5 gallon bucket under there but that still wasnt enough.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Troy,Michigan
Well, the oil cooler is done! I could not believe how hard it was to push the end housings onto the oil cooler, even after warming the housings in the oven at 150 degrees, and lubing the o-rings(almost got the bar clamp and wood blocks). Messy job, but its done. Everything went well! Thanks again to this forum and replies to my questions.
Paul
Paul
Trending Topics
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,419
Likes: 197
From: AZ
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,231
Likes: 130
From: Thomasville, GA
I'm pretty sure they're the same between 94.5-03 7.3's. Not sure about the IDI. In 96 they switched to a c-clip for the pressure valve in the rear head which is a lot better than the older staked in style like mine had that went bad and killed my oil pressure...
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Cuyahoga Falls Oh
At the sugestion of a friend of mine at a Ford dealer, I pulled my power steering pump and folding my steering shaft into itself to help get my oil cooler in and out. Made the job alot easier. I was also changing my water pump at the same time which made accessing the two front bolts on the cooler alot easier.
As for pressing the unit together, a pair of big Irwin quick-grip clamps made the job fairly easy.
Alot of people just reuse the old cooler with new o-rings/gaskets, but I decided to fork out the money and buy a new cooler unit. I figure I've got it all appart its just extra insurance.
As for pressing the unit together, a pair of big Irwin quick-grip clamps made the job fairly easy.
Alot of people just reuse the old cooler with new o-rings/gaskets, but I decided to fork out the money and buy a new cooler unit. I figure I've got it all appart its just extra insurance.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,231
Likes: 130
From: Thomasville, GA
Well, I wasn't getting oil pressure, so thought the LPOP was bad. Replaced that, still no pressure, so thought it was a broken front cover not allowing oil to get to the HPOP, but got it away from the dealership because they were incompitent (and did some really weird stuff to my truck), took it to a diesel shop that figured out that the pressure valve was missing from the rear oil cooler head. Bought a new one, threw it on there, and problem was fixed.