Oil cooler leak.

[SASHO91]

I think I may have an internal leak at the oil cooler.

Anyone seen or heard of this happening? It's an oil leak that is outside of the engine.. in other words, it's not leaking oil into the cooling system. Does the o-ring(internal-small one) that seals around the bolt seal oil or coolant? I'm 99% sure it's oil as the bolt itself is carmel colored.

 

[pccorrig1]

I think you are referring to the power steering cooler, a small 4 x 6 inch "radiator" like part which could me leaking. It is located on the drivers side front cross member, below the starter.

Or oil from some where else could be leaking down onto it. The oil filter area is a good place to check, since any leak there makes its way onto the starter, then down onto the PS cooler.

Is your oil filter tight or leaking? I have had 2 filters in my 10+ years of SHO ownership begin to leak - once at the rolled seam where the case meets the base, and the other at the "O" ring.

NAPA sells a dye kit with a black light that helps pinpoint oil leak sources. My old '94 with 160K seems to leak slightly from all possible sources. Just enough to mess up the driveway, not enough to get worry about. Only a half quart between 3K oil changes. Let us know what you find.

 

[SASHO91]

I'm positive it's not PS fluid as well as the P/S cooler, as it's been relocated and is no longer near that area. Plus it's oil, not ATF.

It could be the filter, but I highly doubt it.

I replaced the cooler-to-block gasket a few weeks back as that was the suspect(normally that's what leaks). But after a week or so, the leak was still there and seems to be worse. Now, the gasket may have moved, but I really don't think it did.

I will be pulling the cooler again to toss another seal on and replace the inner o-ring. I will be installing another oil cooler as well to see if it's leaking at the crimp.

On a side note, I found a good replacement U-shaped hose that will work well for the oil cooler to block line. #4350 @ $15.99

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

On a side note, I found a good replacement U-shaped hose that will work well for the oil cooler to block line. #4350 @ $15.99

Seeing just how tight that hose was bent, I ditched that hose pronto.

Instead, that coolant line goes into a behind the bumper mounted cooler.

 

[SASHO91]

Yeah, that stock hose has a very sharp bend to it. This new one is not nearly as sharp and is a tad thicker as well.