oil return tube question.....

bell · bell's Garage

i switched my oil return tubes this past winter to the collapsable ones from our host, the drivers side front one is sporatically leaking....just a few drops sometimes, leaves a small puddle at other times......
when i installed them this one was the hardest to do (heat exchangers on) but felt like it seated properly and the circlip went right in so i know it expanded to "spec"..........
i'm going to pull it back out, question is ..........can it be re-used? does this sound like it ISN'T seated properly in the head or that there i may have missed some gunk when i pulled the old ones out?
and insight as to why this is leaking will be helpfull before i tear into it

thanks in advance

North Coast Cab · North Coast Cab's Garage

I would say you've got some gunk stuck in there. I removed the original ones recently and had a ton of crap stuck around the openings. I know the one around the heat exchanger is a real pain, but I'd pull it out and check. Also, I would think as long as the o-rings are not damaged you should be able to reuse. Another tip, courtesy of my local wrench, is to put some wire through the circlip so it can't move.

JG

bell · bell's Garage

ok.....this gives me insight

it probably is some gunk...

i used safety wire on the circlips.........i use safety wire for everything, it's a fun tool

barlowdo · 08-19-2003, 10:16 AM

What do you saftey wire the clip to ?
Also how the heck do you get in there with the snap ring tool to get the snap ring back off ?

I myself had to tap the snap rings down the tube and into their respective grooves.

-Don

MarkY · MarkY's Garage

I've heard of the "safety wire" tip before and keep meaning to do it. However, like Don said, I don't know how those damn clips could move without some serious force.

As for reusing the tube, I wouldn't think that would be a problem PROVIDING you can remove it without damaging it. That's the million $$ question.

Dan Owens · 08-19-2003, 12:15 PM

I'd inspect and maybe replace the o ring seals just for good measure since it's leaking. Could be a small nick in one of the o rings.

MarkY · MarkY's Garage

Another thing you could try would be to just rotate the tube. Sometimes that will "reseat" the O-ring.

bell · bell's Garage

i did try rotating it, it went about an 1.8" then hit resistance so i stopped.

i simply safety wired between the 2 eyelets on the circlip

the more and more i go over my car after getting back keeps making me angrier and angrier..........i took it to one of the best bodyshops in ohio..........well the body is great......except for 3 small dimples and a f###ing 1/4" long hair in the front right fender, so that goes on the list.....
but the one that has me REALLY pissed off is the now flattened oil line.........which i noticed AFTER watching one of the front "flex" oil cooler lines in the front fender sweat.......too much pressure? from what? well it HAS to be a damaged line......look under the car and there is a 2" long perfectly flat indentation which has left probably a 1/4" internal opening which is definately restricting flow.....i'm going through ALL my pics tonite......i know it wasn't like that.