oil cooler
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,319
Likes: 4
From: Elk City, OK
oil cooler
well, ive been getting oil in my coolant since i got the truck. it was the reason i got the truck for so cheap. so.......... i finally got around to changing the oil cooler "O" rings and gaskets. i read somewhere in here that you had to unbolt the engine on drivers side and jack it up. well, thankfully i didnt. all i had to do was unbolt the steering shaft and move it over. got that sucker right out.... anyways, i took it apart, cleaned the hell out of it and put on the new "o" rings. used some assembly lube and it slipped right in.
Threw some high temp rtv on the gaskets, bolted it on. started with a small leak, 20 seconds later after reving it a few times it sealed up...... 30 minutes later it sprung a huge leak. shut it down, pulled it apart again and the "O" ring was broken in half. i picked up a new one, bolted it back up and theres just a trickle now. its about a drip every 20 minutes. annoying still. thinking about just sealing it up with rtv... what do you think?
also, the tube isnt fully compressed by the ends when it bolts up to the engine. like it could have been 1/4 inch longer and still fit fine. i took a hammer and screw driver agains the stopper and slid it twards the leak until that stopper bottomed out. gotta run flush a few times though the radiator to get all that oil out.
Threw some high temp rtv on the gaskets, bolted it on. started with a small leak, 20 seconds later after reving it a few times it sealed up...... 30 minutes later it sprung a huge leak. shut it down, pulled it apart again and the "O" ring was broken in half. i picked up a new one, bolted it back up and theres just a trickle now. its about a drip every 20 minutes. annoying still. thinking about just sealing it up with rtv... what do you think?
also, the tube isnt fully compressed by the ends when it bolts up to the engine. like it could have been 1/4 inch longer and still fit fine. i took a hammer and screw driver agains the stopper and slid it twards the leak until that stopper bottomed out. gotta run flush a few times though the radiator to get all that oil out.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 950
Likes: 2
From: West Bend
noooooo not RTV heh
be careful with that stuff.. especially on the oil cooler. These weren't huge gobs of silicone, they were small strings folded over on themselves 2 or 3 times. Just an average "ooze" on the inside that eventually broke away and plugged it up. It lost over 50% of it's cooling capacity. Though the previous owner seemed to assemble the entire engine with silicone - oil pan, valve covers, water pump, thermostat....
<img src="http://www.airplanesathome.com/FTEpics/OilCooler.jpg" width ="640">
be careful with that stuff.. especially on the oil cooler. These weren't huge gobs of silicone, they were small strings folded over on themselves 2 or 3 times. Just an average "ooze" on the inside that eventually broke away and plugged it up. It lost over 50% of it's cooling capacity. Though the previous owner seemed to assemble the entire engine with silicone - oil pan, valve covers, water pump, thermostat....
<img src="http://www.airplanesathome.com/FTEpics/OilCooler.jpg" width ="640">
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,319
Likes: 4
From: Elk City, OK
noooooo not RTV heh
be careful with that stuff.. especially on the oil cooler. These weren't huge gobs of silicone, they were small strings folded over on themselves 2 or 3 times. Just an average "ooze" on the inside that eventually broke away and plugged it up. It lost over 50% of it's cooling capacity. Though the previous owner seemed to assemble the entire engine with silicone - oil pan, valve covers, water pump, thermostat....
<img src="" width ="640">
be careful with that stuff.. especially on the oil cooler. These weren't huge gobs of silicone, they were small strings folded over on themselves 2 or 3 times. Just an average "ooze" on the inside that eventually broke away and plugged it up. It lost over 50% of it's cooling capacity. Though the previous owner seemed to assemble the entire engine with silicone - oil pan, valve covers, water pump, thermostat....
<img src="" width ="640">
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 950
Likes: 2
From: West Bend
I just figured I'd caution about the silicone on the oil cooler - makes me glad I proactively did it before I put the turbo on!
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
If you don't hold everything just right as it goes together, the cooler bundle will cut the O rings.
The internal ring is usually the one that gets cut, then you oil/coolant mixes even worse.
The fact your ends could slide on farther makes me think the internal O ring on one end or the other may be cut.
The internal ring is usually the one that gets cut, then you oil/coolant mixes even worse.
The fact your ends could slide on farther makes me think the internal O ring on one end or the other may be cut.
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,496
Likes: 94
From: So. Jersey
All the coolers I refurbed had an alignment tab that didn't allow for you to install the ends on too far. Maybe this is your problem, your pressing the ends on too far screwing up the o-ring. You can see it in SWOOSH's picture.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MAT4Ret
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
19
Feb 16, 2026 12:23 PM
quaddriver
Big Block V8 - 385 Series (6.1/370, 7.0/429, 7.5/460)
9
Sep 9, 2024 12:46 AM
LordKamakazi
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
11
Oct 9, 2016 11:26 PM
RRranch
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
18
Feb 24, 2013 10:29 PM
Ryani99
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
29
Jun 16, 2011 10:46 AM
