Oil Cooler advise - Engine mounted cooler

[impmad2000]

I have tracked down my oil leak ( or the worst one at least!) to the oil cooler.
Anyone bought a new one, genuine or Aftermarket got any advice ?
I have a spare which I was going to test by filling it with white spirit and see if it weeps out over time. Any thoughts on this ? What pressure do they run at ?
Hopefully fixing this will make following my car more pleasant in future
Tim

[impmad2000]

Ok, to answer some of my own questions.
White spirit in my spare cooler dripped straight out. So that's a dud then !
White spirit in my leaky one barely dripped (no additional pressure) but was leaking on the car.
The oil circuit diagram in Haynes shows the oil cooler in the main pressurised oil circuit. So I'm guessing the cooler needs to be at least 100psi rated.

[Nick Moss]

I think you'll find it's in the scavenge (low pressure) circuit

[grannysmith]

Tim
Mine leaked so I got one from euro car parts. Not made by behr anymore but a genuine part. About £700 but cheaper than OPC.

[grannysmith]

To test the old one I bolted this steel plate to it with the tyre vales fitted to locate in the flow return holes. Pumped in 30psi and stuck it in a bucket of water. Reminded me of that joke about the nuns in a bath

[Nick Moss]

I think you'll find it's in the scavenge (low pressure) circuit

I though you were talking about the front oil cooler.

[impmad2000]

I think you'll find it's in the scavenge (low pressure) circuit

I though you were talking about the front oil cooler.

Ok, thanks Nick, that explains that. I'll change the thread title to be clear.
Thanks Mick, due to importance of this, I'll just man-up and buy a new one.

[dogbower]

Tim
Eurocar parts have 25% off everything this weekend, ends tonight.

Stuart

[impmad2000]

Thanks Stuart, but I just missed that. I've now fitted the new cooler and hope this has now problem fixed. Many people who followed me reported puff of smoke from the off side which I guess was the drips of oil smoking off the heat exchanger.
To test the old cooler, I made a tool.
I cut the flange from a cooler I know leaked.

Using Tyre valve adaptive I bought off eBay, I fitted these to give the means to pressurise it.


So bolt it together with the standard O ring seals. the clamp is just there as a precaution.

And drop it in a bucket of water....
https://vimeo.com/170357485
Actually I could hear the air escaping !!!

Oh and it seems I now have a spare device to adapt the screw on cooler to push on time .