oil cooler

16V 944 · 01-23-2002, 04:43 AM

While I don't have the problem of a leaking oil cooler it seems up a lot. Has any one tried removing the oil to water cooler and replacing it with an oil to air cooler possibly mounted in front of the radiator?

Britwrench · 01-23-2002, 07:29 AM

It's normally not the oil cooler that leaks. The usual problem are the seals that seperate the coolant from the oil. Even if you installed a front mounted cooler the engine oil cooler would have to be replaced by a pipe ( as in the 944 Turbo) which would still have the same seals that leak eventually..............

I wouldn't worry, if the engine has a lot of miles on it or hasn't been maintained you might want to change the seals and gasket as a preventative measure.

88_944 · 88_944's Garage

16V 944 that is a good idea to change the system. The oil and water mixing is a hassle!

16V 944 · 01-23-2002, 10:08 PM

That's more what I was getting at "88". Theleak causing the oil and water to mix. At least a leak on the pipe seal wouldn't require flushing the radiator and oil to fix.
So other than dubious benifits there is no mechanical problem with changing the system. Would the pipe from the turbo fit a non-turbo car?

Britwrench · 01-24-2002, 07:05 AM

Actually no... if the pipe seals leak the result is the same as if the cooler was leaking. Check out the parts diagram and you will see.

There is no way around it. Replacing the seals and the housing gasket and oil pressure relief valve o-rings is all you can do.
The oil cooler should be pressure tested at the same time.

16V 944 · 01-24-2002, 11:50 PM

Thanks for clearing that up. It's impossible for me to truly know what I'm talking about. I haven't even seen my car yet. It was purchased with $$ I sent home and I won't be there for another 2 months. Too much time on my hands to think about it.....

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Note: the 944S2 had an external oil cooler in the front fender (Pass. side, I think). Because the pumbing was different, there were less occurances of water/oil mixing problem. I am not sure if the 944S is set up the same way.

-Zoltan.

Britwrench · 01-25-2002, 09:38 AM

Actually no...(deja vu feeling) The 944S doesn't have an oil cooler although all the fixings points on the body are there (I have fitted an S2 motor into an S and it all just bolted up).

Also the oil/water mixing is less prevelant in the S2 because around that time Porsche eventually figured out that the seals were not too good and changed the design. Hence that once you have re-sealed an older 944 they tend not to leak anymore.

If the seals fail on an S2, or Turbo for that matter, there will still be oil/coolant mix.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Britwrench
If the seals fail on an S2, or Turbo for that matter, there will still be oil/coolant mix.

Granted, but as you stated, the seals are of a better design, (actually, the whole oil cooler system is better) that's why it's not a major concern for these models.

-Z.