My friend brought his 98 AEB over to check the oil coiler; a shop had told him it is leaking and needs to be changed (some coolant coloration on the outside).

I have two AEB myself, but never had (or read much) about leaking oil cooler.

a) Is the oil cooler know to create leaks?
b) How to check for leaks?
c) If leaking, what part (gasket/flange or internal parts)?
d) Any link for DIY change/inspection/troubleshooting

 

Grab the cooler, does it move at all? Thats how you test, it should be as solid as the rock of Gibraltar. It can cause head gakstet like symptoms of mixing oil/coolant.

 

Oil coolers leaking is pretty common, usually its internal. Oil and coolant pass through the same housing.

If you have a leaky cooler you need one of these below.

Click HERE to order or for more information.


Jason

 

I tried to move the oil cooler a bit, was tight.

The leak appeared to be external around the coolant-color build up around the 2 coolant lines.

Took the self clamping hose clamp off.

Removed some build up and 'massage' the hoses to get them off the tube without destroying them.

Cleaned out slime and some build up inside the hoses.

Used flat head screw driver to remove build up. Used Scotchbright and brake cleaner to get tube surface clean and smooth.

Installed tubes with self clamp hose clamp, but added a 2nd regulator hose clamp.

Removed oil filter for oil and filter change.

After 30 miles of hard driving:

No leaks anymore.

 

Awesome! SOunds like someone mixed coolant g12 + green thats the "sludge" you cleaned out.