Just bought a second hand oil cooler with sandwich plate and pipes etc. I think it may be a good idea to clean them out before I use them. Question is with what and how ?

if it was me id be tempted to wash out with parafin and then blow it out with compressed air and leave to dry fully.

I would just take a good look to see if there are any internal areas that may not dry out easily of if any bits could be damaged with the compressed air.

mmmmmm, tricky one!

You can clean them out with paraffin (pump it through) then blow it out with compressed air.

My only big worry is do you know its history? If not, bit dodgy!

The "turbulator" plates inside them (fins on the inside of the tube plates) can trap all manner of bits after an engine blow up.

For the price of a new cooler vs an engine rebuild I have always gone for a new cooler.

Unless you know its history I also wouldn't reuse an old oil cooler, the sandwich plate and pipes tend to be the more expensive parts so might be an idea to replace the cooler.

playing devils advocate on this one just becaus its lunch time and Im bored.

if you have.

Engine to cooler
Cooler to remote filter
remote filter to engine you should be ok ? discuss

Regards

Agriv8

But shouldn't it go
Engine to remote filter
remote filter to cooler
cooler to engine
so that the cooler but not the filter can be by passed when the temp is not high enough

[Edited on 12/9/06 by Schrodinger]

Yep I belive in theory it should.

But as I am not running an Oil stat.

Just keep an eye on my oil temp. the v8 dosen't take long to bring oil up to temperature. Gaffertape employed for 'Winter motoring' thats the plan anyway.

Personally I Just don't trust oil stats thats all

Regards

Agriv8

Ok understand the stat bit but shouldn't it go through the filter before the cooler to stop any build up of crud in the cooler, as you remove the filter regularly but not he cooler.

[Edited on 12/9/06 by Schrodinger]

doesn't really matter, but why risk an expensive engine for a £50 cooler.

penny wise and pound foolish.

I may be a cheapskate but I don't cut corners. I have used s/h coolers but only from mates cars etc where I know the history, did the engines myself etc.

Thanks people it is an ebay special so I have contacted the seller for some history of the cooler, if it looks dodgy I still have a cheap sandwich plate and some hoses and as NS Dev says a cooler does not cost much.

I have used this chap for oil cooler.

http://www.autos-uk.co.uk/racingcars.php

right last comment before I put the wooden spoon away . The crud that does collect in the oil cooler still has to go through the filter.

All the best chaps and regards

Iain

Thanks Iain, like I said, I'll see what the seller has to say and what the item looks like when I get it.

[Edited on 12/9/06 by givemethebighammer]