Oil Cooler

[Ski]

Hey ya'll, ok, so here I am again....I have developed a leak that is coming from the two hoses that go into my oil cooler. Unfortunately my Haynes doesnt cover this at all. Do I really need an oil cooler? I dont do any towing, and with the way gas prices are dont really see me doing any soon. Can I take it off and replace the radiator hose to the water pump?

 

[Broncobill78]

This was recently a topic in another thread. While yes, you *can* bypass that oil cooler I don't think anyone here will advocate it. Even though you don't tow, cooling your oil really *will* help you to see 200K from your smallblock. Yes you can get rid of it or bypass it but I'll tell ya right now that it's just like smoking cigarettes, you're shortening it's life by doing so.

Having discharged my duty & warned you, if you *do* decide to bypass or remove it I would at the very LEAST switch to 100% synthetic oil to try and recoup some of what you're giving up. I know it's a bitch to fix but you really do want that oil cooler. I WISH it has been available on my 88' and I'll be retrofitting an oil cooler along with a tranny cooler. I don't tow with mine either but when you cool the lifeblood of your truck it just flat out lasts longer and has fewer problems. Simple as that.

 

[Ski]

This was recently a topic in another thread. While yes, you *can* bypass that oil cooler I don't think anyone here will advocate it. Even though you don't tow, cooling your oil really *will* help you to see 200K from your smallblock. Yes you can get rid of it or bypass it but I'll tell ya right now that it's just like smoking cigarettes, you're shortening it's life by doing so.
Having discharged my duty & warned you, if you *do* decide to bypass or remove it I would at the very LEAST switch to 100% synthetic oil to try and recoup some of what you're giving up. I know it's a bitch to fix but you really do want that oil cooler. I WISH it has been available on my 88' and I'll be retrofitting an oil cooler along with a tranny cooler. I don't tow with mine either but when you cool the lifeblood of your truck it just flat out lasts longer and has fewer problems. Simple as that.

Ok I get that. But why isnt this in my Haynes? It doesnt say anything about oil coolers, or how to R2 them.

 

[bidibronco]

Dang, I guess I'll invest in another one then. Next oil change or when the new crank comes in. I didn't know it made that much of a difference. Though my dad did tell me it would be "who of me" to put it back on with the rebuild the two I had would leake like there was no tomorrow. Tranny coolers are great though!

 

[Ski]

Does anybody else have an oil cooler on the truck? Can someone give me information concerning the cooler. Such as why doesnt it show up on any parts list? Is there a part number? How about the hoses? I really need to R2 the hoses.

 

[bidibronco]

I have to ask, what does "R2 the hoses" mean? http://www.autozone.com/R,APP933866/vehicl...oductDetail.htm

Hoses for the cooler too....

 

[Ski]

I have to ask, what does "R2 the hoses" mean? http://www.autozone.com/R,APP933866/vehicl...oductDetail.htmHoses for the cooler too....

"R2"= Remove and Replaced or "R" squared.

So that link is for the radiator hose to the cooler, but it doesnt look anything like the one that is leaking on my truck. It is, I would say, a 1" hose with two hoses that come off it to the cooler, I am guessing an intake and return for the coolant. Is there a IPB for this?

 

[Broncobill78]

Ok I get that. But why isnt this in my Haynes? It doesnt say anything about oil coolers, or how to R2 them.

Well, not wanting to hear from Haynes corp legal dept I'll forego commenting on what I think of their manuals. I haven't bought a Haynes or Chilton's since I got out of high school. The factory manuals published by Helm are the ones I get. Granted they aren't cheap but it's the same manual you'll find in the dealership service dept. Well worth the $$$

 

[bidibronco]

I can't remember what they look like exactally but I believe that hose has the two little hoses you're talking about. The pircture on the page is just a "basic replica" of your average hose. I would run down to the local place and take a look at it. Just what I would do.

 

[Broncobill78]

SKI,

Take a look at this thread in the general discussion forum http://broncozone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12624 It might shed some light on the issue.

BIDI,

Sure, oil coolers are a pretty good idea. No performance gain to be had with them (probably why they flew under your radar <grin&gt but they make a big difference in engine longevity. You should be able to retrofit one from a newer Bronco or a 5.0 HD or Cruiser engine.

 

[bidibronco]

I had one, it leaked coolant, changed the hose, still leaked, changed the cooler and still leaked so I got rid of it. Damn AtoZone (haha didn't say the actual name, they can **** off!) Like you said, you get what you pay for. I may try it again and see what happens. Why not huh?

 

[Broncobill78]

Bidi,

Those coolers can be touchy. Me & another guy used to do some of the light service on the cruisers and those things are a bitch. You can pretty much forget about reusing an old one or something from a junkyard. They're aluminum and the mating surface has a real tendency to destroy itself with time, corrosion & heat cycles. We NEVER got one that had started leaking to ever seal right again, the only fix was to order a new one and clean the **** out of the mating surface on the block. We never got more than 3-4 yrs of 24/7 operation out of one before it started leaking either coolant or oil and after trying for a year or two to clean & reuse them we gave up & just started ordering new coolers once one started to leak. Maybe someone else has had better luck with them but I sure didn't. The salted roads in New England combined with round the clock operation just wore them out.

On the other hand, if you clean the block real good a brand new one from Ford should last you probably 8-10yrs in something like yours. There are also other types of coolers available. No reason you can't combine a tranny type cooler with a relocation kit. If I were to go that route I'd probably spend the coin for one with a double filter. Combine a double filter, an auxiliary cooler AND synthetic oil and you should easily see 200K & considering the bearing/pressure problems you've had I'd give it some thought.

 

[bidibronco]

Well then, sounds like a good plan to me. How about shedding some light on where to get a double filter and such. Anything's better than what I'm doing now. I'll be doing an oil change either today or tomorrow (depending on if the fever breaks or not) and I may look into it. Also, some 15w40 and since I have 4 vehicles if it's to cold an my PSI doesn't jump quick, I'll shut her down and drive something else.

 

[Ski]

Well, not wanting to hear from Haynes corp legal dept I'll forego commenting on what I think of their manuals. I haven't bought a Haynes or Chilton's since I got out of high school. The factory manuals published by Helm are the ones I get. Granted they aren't cheap but it's the same manual you'll find in the dealership service dept. Well worth the $$$

Its not that I necessarily want to get rid of the cooler. Its more of just looking for tech data on it. So where can I get a Helm book?

 

[Roadkill]

I got my complete set from an eBay seller (lorrieandjeff eBay store). They arived quickly and in excellent condition. Very little wear and only a few dirty fingerprints, but what else would you expect from a used service manual. I just checked their eBay store and found these:

'96 Bronco EVTM

'96 Ford Truck and Bronco FACTORY Shop Manual SET

The EVTM is especially usefull figuring out the wiring and vacum demons in the truck. It's even got pin diagrams for all the connectors and a "component locator" that will tell you exactly where to look for a particular component.

 

[Broncobill78]

Bidi,

take a look:

http://www.perma-cool.com/Catalog/Cat_page27.html

http://www.tdperformance.com/TransDapt.html

Both Transdapt & PermaCool are good names and the universal kits are just fine. Most of them will allow you to mount a larger filter than you currently run & then when you run TWO larger than stock filters you're in good shape. Combine that with synthetic AND the fact that you've increased your capacity by a quart then you've really done your engine a favor.

They also offer remote tranny filters. I'm looking into one of those myself. The stock tranny filters are pretty lame & if I can add a remote oil filter type filter to mine then I'm all over it. It just makes sense to me, the factort filters are really just screens and to be able to replace it with a spin-on oil filter is a no-brainer.

 

[Broncobill78]

Its more of just looking for tech data on it. So where can I get a Helm book?

SKI,

Here's the link to HELM but as RoadKill said, Ebay is easily your best & cheapest option. However you get it thogh the Helm manuals are the definitive word in manuals, this is what the dealership mechanics use. It's the Word according to Ford. As far as manuals go there IS no substitute.

http://www.helminc.com/helm/why_choose_hel...1FKPP25C6XP986B

 

[bidibronco]

Right on! Now if I can just figure out how to order off these sites... I'll eventually get it! Thanks Broncobill!

 

[Broncobill78]

BIDI,

Do you not have a speed shop or 4x4 shop in town ? If nothing else THOSE guys can order you one. Some of these online guys are funny like that & they only deal thru their *authorised* vendors. If nothing else try Googling the parts and see if you get some national chain or something, THEY sould be happy to take your $$$. To be honest I really don't understand why so many vendors make it hard to buy their stuff online, but hey, there it is. I hope you find someone. If nothing else ck w/JC Whitney, I know THEY carry this stuff at very reasonable prices.