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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Oil Cooler leakage
        
(Message started by: ADroste on May 30^th, 2013, 4:28pm)

Title: Oil Cooler leakage
Post by ADroste on May 30^th, 2013, 4:28pm

Wifey reported a big oil leakage on our 2.3 Auto when she returned from work. A small line was visible on the street and already a puddle of oil already under the car in front of our garage. I checked fluids. But except missing a huge quantity of water, all levels seemed ok: motor-oil, steering gear oil, brake fluid and windscreen water didn’t require top up. We are used to remarkable water loss, so I suspected motor-oil in spite. But after I had removed the under floor cover and after some time of search I found the cause: an oil leak at the pipes of the oil cooler for the auto gearbox oil.

I first tried to cure the leak by replacing the hose clamps (without removing the hoses). But this did not help. When starting the motor, a small runlet of oil/air mixture poured somewhere from the 2mm gap between hose and cooler housing. During removal of the two hoses both pipes broke off. Most likely because they were so much corroded that any force let them fall off.

http://thumbs.picr.de/14665622yg.jpg (http://show.picr.de/14665622yg.jpg.html) http://thumbs.picr.de/14665623sf.jpg (http://show.picr.de/14665623sf.jpg.html) http://thumbs.picr.de/14665624jk.jpg (http://show.picr.de/14665624jk.jpg.html) http://thumbs.picr.de/14665625vq.jpg (http://show.picr.de/14665625vq.jpg.html) http://thumbs.picr.de/14665626bz.jpg (http://show.picr.de/14665626bz.jpg.html)

Although we are close to the decision to scrap the scorp, I think I should try to repair it, if it is possible for a low price. So here are my questions:

1) I think, cooler and pipes are of aluminium. Do you think the two pipes are welded to the cooler body? Since it cannot be manufactured in one part, which alternative(s) is(are) possible to attach the pipes to the body in the factory?

2) Aluminium can be welded or soldered at 380°C to 420°C. And I have a suitable torch to do that. Do you have an idea, if such aluminium pre-shaped pipe-ends are offered online and can we soldered to the cooler body? (I exclude gluing because of high pressure and high temperature, which I assume.)

3) Do you have another idea to repair the cooler?

Someone here said that short circuiting the cooler and connecting both hoses togther, leaving off the cooler, would quickly destroy the gear box.

A new cooler would be available at over 450€. This is out of discussion. Going to a scrap yard nearby here in Germany is useless. (Too little Scorpios left.) Maybe I should try online, if repair is not possible.

Any advice appricated.

Regards
Armin

Title: Re: Oil Cooler leakage
Post by Scorpio_Mike on May 30^th, 2013, 5:39pm

Armin,
This is quite a common problem on the Scorpio - just replace it with a universal oil cooler - something like this :
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-16-ROW-OIL-COOLER-UNIVERSAL-Heavy-Duty-oilcooler-/261159617750?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3cce5384d6
You will probably have to adapt the hose ends to fit but I'm sure other owners have done something similar.

Title: Re: Oil Cooler leakage
Post by leewar on May 30^th, 2013, 10:32pm

Armin,
As Mike say's, it's a common problem. It happened to me once and the outlets always seem to break as close to the cooler unit as they can. You may have a serious problem welding/soldering the outlet back on! You could try steel compound, the two part compound when mixed and moulded together that sets like steel. The stuff is very good and worth a try for a few quid. I will also have a look in my stash to see if I have a spare one available but no promises. Cheers Lee

Title: Re: Oil Cooler leakage
Post by leewar on May 31^st, 2013, 7:54pm

HI Armin,
Just to let you know that I don't have a spare oil cooler. I hope you can either repair the one you have or find a replacement. Cheers Lee

Title: Re: Oil Cooler leakage
Post by ADroste on Jun 3^rd, 2013, 9:38pm

Thank you Scorpio_Mike and leewar. In the meantime I was offered a cooler via an Online Breaker Platform for approximately 53,-€ (45,-GBP). 5 weeks of warrenty included. That should be sufficient to find out whether it might have a leak also. I think I will accept this offer.

Regards
Armin