Replacing Oil Cooler Seal

[Decolliber]

Noticed a drop of oil coming off the lower oil cooler mount. I assume the seal (Pelican part K-704-173-50) has deteriorated. I thought replacing it would be a simple matter of unbolting the cooler and replacing the seals. But then I looked in Bentley (170-10), and it tells you that you have to partially drop the engine (3") to remove the cooler (in addition to removing the heat exchanger and the a/c compressor!). My experience with Bentley is that it often has you removing more stuff than is necessary to do the job. So here is my question: do you really need to drop the engine 3" to remove the oil cooler? The lower mounting bolts for the cooler are easily accessible from under the car, but I have not check the accessibility of the upper bolts.

[UTKarmann_Ghia]

I dropped my engine a few weeks ago and from looking at it, it would be quite difficult to remove it without at least a partial drop. I've heard this from many others also.

[scphelps1]

I recently pulled my oil cooler without dropping the engine to clean it.

pictures of engine mounted oil cooler

There was quite a bit of reaching involved, but it can be done. I followed a post by Jim Sims, in which someone was asking the same thing. I was unable to find this post, but it involves removing the right side sheet metal, the plastic shroud extension directing air to the cooler, and then 3 (I believe) nuts holding the cooler in.

[PCA7GGR]

I recently replaced the oil cooler seals on a 3.2 installed in a n early '70s 911. It's time concsuming (approx. 2 hours) but can be done with the engine inthe car. A lift helps quite a but since you need to remove the engine tin to get at the cooler.

[john walker's workshop]

cooler seals rarely are the problem. most drips on the bottom of the cooler are from the top of the engine at the thermostat o ring, the oil light switch and the breather hose. check back there with a large mirror and a flashlight before potentially wasting your time.