Oil leak in middle of oil cooler

[red911]

Hello all,

New motor, just started but I have dripping through the middle of the oil cooler onto the SSI headers. Lots of smoke. Any ideas on where the leak is coming from? And can I take the oil cooler off while the motor is in the car?

Thanks in advance, Tom

[edmayo]

Did the cooler leak before the rebuild? There are leakage areas on top of the engine that can leak down and look like a cooler leak. What year car and engine is this? Early cars and post 73 cars have removable plates over the top cooler nuts. I think it was 70 thru 72 (or maybe just 72?) that would require drilling out the rivets and removing the duct to the cooler to expose the top cooler nuts. The cooler can be removed in the car by removing the heat exchanger and side sheet metal part. With the engine running get under the car and spray the cooler fins with carb cleaner, watch to see where the oil actually originates at.

[red911]

Thanks Ed,

When I cranked for pressure before I started the motor. And it started right away, it leaked on the SSI's.

Tom

[red911]

Ed,

What other leaks than the three oil gaskets that seal the oil cooler to the motor can I expect?

[edmayo]

The oil pressure sender, unless yours is a 73 and later with the sender by the right chain housing, and the oil thermostat O-ring. Less likely would be the breather cover gasket.

[beh911]

Ed,

What other leaks than the three oil gaskets that seal the oil cooler to the motor can I expect?

For reference:

[red911]

Thanks to everyone. I removed the cover on the top of the cooler and no leaks detected. My next step is to remove the cooler by dropping the SSI's on the passenger side and have the cooler pressure tested.

Any ideas on who will ultrasound clean and pressure test the installed and spare cooler I have?

[Grady Clay]

The aircraft engine repair industry regularly clean and test oil coolers. This is a high level of confidence it will be done correctly.

If you are local to me, I have a pressure test fixture.

Best,
Grady

[blucille]

Did you replace the cooler with a new one? New oil coolers have been reported to leak....

[speedo]

Isn't there a case through-bolt behind the cooler that can leak and represent a cooler related leak?

Speedo