How to diagnose if I have a bad Oil Cooler...

[korax123]

Ok Ihave the whole cooling system flushed and I am running green antifreeze right now. Car runs fine and I even dove to church and back with no overheating problems at all. Now I couldn't clean the resivior out completely so when the car is parked there is oil on top in the resivior. I don't know if it is new oil or stuff breaking apart in the resivior.

Anyways is there a way to check the oil cooler to see if it is the culprit. I don't think it's my headgasket cause the car runs just as it did before. This weekend I am going to pull the coolant lines off the oil cooler connect them together then cap the oil cooler.

Any idea's or suggestions???

[theneelster]

Originally Posted by korax123

Ok Ihave the whole cooling system flushed and I am running green antifreeze right now. Car runs fine and I even dove to church and back with no overheating problems at all. Now I couldn't clean the resivior out completely so when the car is parked there is oil on top in the resivior. I don't know if it is new oil or stuff breaking apart in the resivior.

Anyways is there a way to check the oil cooler to see if it is the culprit. I don't think it's my headgasket cause the car runs just as it did before. This weekend I am going to pull the coolant lines off the oil cooler connect them together then cap the oil cooler.

Any idea's or suggestions???

Um...aren't we only supposed to run dexcool which is orange?

[Aeain]

Originally Posted by theneelster

Um...aren't we only supposed to run dexcool which is orange?

He replaced all of the coolant...

[billabong9687]

yea as long as he fluched it all, it's fine. It's still a ethyline glycol, it's just that dex cool has some additives that other coolants don't and it shouldnt be mixed

[Shabodah]

I can't think of any easier way to test the oil cooler than taking it off and inspecting it. That however, is easier than it sounds. Other than getting the coolant hoses off (which are only difficult because they use spring clamps instead of regular hose clamps), it is pretty much a breeze.

[billabong9687]

Does anyone know what the cooler sandwiches between the cooler and the block? It's where the oil pressure sensor installs. Also not to thread jack with no help, I think possible taking it off, and filling it with a solvent, or oil and looking for a leak would work.

[korax123]

I think i might just pull the coolant hoses off and connect them together. Then let the car run and if fluids start to come out of the oil cooler then it is leaking. Cause without coolant nothing should come out. Theoreticly(spelling) you should be able to run without the coolant lines hooked to the oil cooler. And would never lose any oil.

And yes I flushed the system like 20 times because the Dex-cool gelled up do to mixing with the oil.

[Shabodah]

I've seen similiar issues with other motors (most notably the saturn 3.0 V6), so, I wouldn't be surprised if this is the issue, but I've never seen it occur on the LSJ yet. Regardless, using coolant to cool the oil is actually a way engineers are getting engines to warm up faster for better emissions testing, as the coolant actually heats the oil when starting up cold.

[korax123]

Well since I have friday off I will get a chance to mess with it more. I am hoping it is the intercooler cause that will be a lot easier and cheaper then a head gasket.