oil cooler leaking a bit

[T86951]

my shop, when they did my belts on my 951, says my external oil cooler is leaking a bit coming out the the engine and a bit at the oil cooler both. Not a lot just a bit. Would this be the O rings on the lines?

anyone have any experince with this. I guess this is where the half quart of oil goes between oil changes which is about once a year as I only put about 5000 miles a year on it in the summer and keep it garaged in the winter.

thanks

[castlesteve]

If in fact your external oil cooler seals have shredded (which they will)... you may get some choclate milk in your WATER.

I found that all the major Porsche shops forgot about this... and the dealer couldnt even find the part in his computer... but after insisting the part exists... he found it. cost for 2 seals was less than $5.... and they are the diameter of your thumb

1) Drain water
2) Pull Oil cooler cover. (oil cooler is mounted inside a cover... because the oil cooler is surrounded by engine coolant).
3) Pull of oil cooler. There will also be a spring loaded valve (looks like a thin pencil and a spring on the end of it). There is an update for this part and since you have it out, go ahead and get a new valve). I dont know what it does, but there is definitely an update.
4) 2 small rings (mine were orange) will be mounted to the fittings on the engine. You cannot see them, just have to feel for them.

Note... most of this work you can only feel... i did this all from under the car and my arm was up along side the engine.

5) slip on new rings and (dont forget the spring valve).
6) push on oil cooler and mount the cover.

7) FLUSH the WATER system. A mechanic told me (and it works) to use WISK laundry detergent. For some reason, WISK works very well at breaking down oil... Seal everything up, put water back in (not coolant) and add Wisk. Run car for a couple minutes and drain (using lower hose from radiator).

8) repeat step 7 a couple of times until not sudsy and not oily.

you shouldnt worry that water got into your oil, because the oil is much higher pressure than the water system... and we know physics...


drop me a line if you need more help.

[T86951]

there is no problem with my oil it is right on the mark and no sign of any coolent in it, it is just seeping a little oil out. just a little not a big flow.

[Mrmerlin]

Hi, the oil cooler leaking on your 951 is probably due to the copper O ring seal on the cooler fitting lines, the oil lines have a bullet tip sealing surface but the fittings that they screw into are sealed with the copper O rings, I replaced all 4 of the ones on my 951 and the leaks went away, also to consider is the oil pressure relief seal and the seal on the oil pressure sender.
The 951 does not have an integral oil cooler like the 944 does , it is an external mounted cooler that is mounted on the right front of the radiator support, and is air cooled , the 944 cooler is water cooled, and if that leaks it will send coolant into your oil pan, and thus mix into the chocolate milk that was referred to.
Happy hunting......Stan

[944TurboRacer]

My oil cooler leaked too. All I had to do to stop the leak was to tighten the hose fittings. They are screwed into the oil cooler itself.

[T86951]

thanks everyone! 944 turbo racer, I will try tighten them a bit but I am looking at it and trying to find them they are well hidden. Do I need to jack the car up? what about the front underpan, does it need to come off, and it seems the lines going into the engine are wll hidden under the exhaust headers. How do I get to them to tighten them???

thanks

[944TurboRacer]

To access the oil cooler you'll have to take the lower (belly) spoiler off and jack the car up. The cooler is in the lower front right hand side of the engine compartment. A large adjustable wrench will work fine. If you find you dont have clearance to both of the fittings you may have to take the oil cooler out to tighten the fittings. Its not a difficult job and you'll be glad when the oil leak has stopped!