Oil Cooler Do I Really Need It ??

[AussieLandRover]

Ok seems that I am suffering the dreaded oil cooler leak on the hoses and I have shopped around for replacements and all expensive so I started to think and ask question on wether we need the oil cooler and why did Land Rover install one in the first place ? I have only found oil coolers on a truck not a 4WD before till now and trucks do alot of driving and the engines run all day long.

Some I asked said no you don't need it unless you plan to go into the outback for very long trips and others have said yes they must have put it there due to an engine design fualt.

So has anyone removed there's and found no problems ?

Is there a place that makes them cheaper ?

[walker]

If you are talking about the auto transmission oil cooler then YES you definately need it. The ZF's tend to get pretty hot. Some of the guys who are chipping their Disco's are even finding it necessary to put in larger coolers.

If it is the engine cooler then I would say - PROBABLY. For normal driving you can probably get a way without one but if you tow or do offroad driving then it is best to keep it.

[Tombie]

Design fault... Now thats precious...

Its there for a purpose, to reduce oil temp... Some engines do it with Larger sumps, others with coolant to oil systems and some use a "radiator" setup.

Whoever said design fault has no clue...

Fix it, short cuts make for poor people (fix once, fix right, spend once)

BTW Some of the worst conditions for engines is idling/low speeds in traffic on hot days... Something to think about.

[Zute]

He must be talking about the gearbox, as any hoses on the engine cooler(TD5 ?) are cheap water hoses. Could also be a manual and it should run OK with out. But it would seem to me to be harder/costlier to disconnect it.

[roverrescue]

ALRover if you have a 300tdi, and the cooler lines that are leaking are for the engine cooler, running from the oil filter housing to the drivers side of the radiator then I would replace them. If you go to ENZED or PIRTEK or other fluid supply company with the leaking hoses they will knock up a set of hoses using your ends... not much cheaper than factory hoses (about $100-140 in rip-off-ville Cairns) but the "new" ones wont leak again. The factory crimps let go after not very long.

Heat breaks down oil... reduce oil temps should increase oil lubrication life and protect the engine.

S

[AussieLandRover]

I'm not talking about the gearbox but the engine.

I contacted ENZED in Geelong and they quoted me over $250 so bugger that just for hoses and I don't think we have PIRTEK in Geelong and I would assume they would quote the same.

I'm just seeing what options I will have.

[Tombie]

1, try TRS in South Australia.. They'll have some good quality second hand stuff.

2, $250 includes hose, fittings and making them (labour), not a lot when you consider the cost of engine wear/damage....

Why is it people want their vehicle to run well, but baulk at spending any cash on it to fix it properly? :cool:

[duncanw]

yep you need the oil cooler, I'm actually looking at getting a bigger external cooler becuase I'm not happy with how hot it gets when in low range or in traffic.

they cost a fair bit because they are high pressure hoses.

[AussieLandRover]

Thanks for all the feedback and I will be getting brand new hoses from Ritter's in Melbourne as they have been the best priced around and genuine LR parts.

I also do find the cooler to be small and a lerger one would better at cooling.

I just hope there easy remove and install.

[mcrover]

If you go to Enzed with the hose in your hand then it will be much cheaper, I wouldnt bother with Pirtec, they are normally more expensive than Enzed.

Also if you specify that you only need 2 wire then it should be cheaper again as you dont need it to hold 3000 PSI so you dont need high pressure stuff.

The standard set up is fine as long as you keep the radiator clean and the hoses are in good nick.

There used to be a Pirtek (I think it was) off one of the side roads off Thompsons rd but then again it was a long time ago and it may have been Enzed or Total Hose Im not entirely sure now.

I used to do the maintenance at Geelong golf club when it was open and I only used them a couple of times

[waynep]

Thanks for all the feedback and I will be getting brand new hoses from Ritter's in Melbourne as they have been the best priced around and genuine LR parts.

I also do find the cooler to be small and a lerger one would better at cooling.

I just hope there easy remove and install.


With respect, if not too late, I think you should take the advice of the others and get made up hoses from a hose doctor.
The OEM ones will invariably start to leak again after a short period and are truly a false economy.
I'm surprised Ritters didn't recommend this too. Most of the aftermarket LR specialists can now replace with made up hoses rather than the OEM. ( I had mine done at Range Rov three years ago and not a problem since. )

Just because it has a LandRover sticker and part no. on it, doesn't ALWAYS mean it's the best.
It is possible I suppose that the design has changed on the OEM ones -but I doubt it.

[jmkoffice]

1, try TRS in South Australia.. They'll have some good quality second hand stuff.

2, $250 includes hose, fittings and making them (labour), not a lot when you consider the cost of engine wear/damage....

Why is it people want their vehicle to run well, but baulk at spending any cash on it to fix it properly? :cool:
Toombie, you are spot on! Bodgy cheap work is a false economy - it WILL cost more in the long run.....

Spend the cash and fix it!

[AussieLandRover]

With respect, if not too late, I think you should take the advice of the others and get made up hoses from a hose doctor.
The OEM ones will invariably start to leak again after a short period and are truly a false economy.
I'm surprised Ritters didn't recommend this too. Most of the aftermarket LR specialists can now replace with made up hoses rather than the OEM. ( I had mine done at Range Rov three years ago and not a problem since. )

Just because it has a LandRover sticker and part no. on it, doesn't ALWAYS mean it's the best.
It is possible I suppose that the design has changed on the OEM ones -but I doubt it.

OEM ?

[rick130]

OEM ?

Original Equipment Manufacture

The oil cooler hoses are a known issue with all Tdi's in Disco's, Defenders and OS RRC's.

All most all of us do is take them off and use Pirtek or Enzed brazed on adapters and hoses.
The problem is the original UK Dunlop hoses and crimps.
The local Pirtek even re-crimped them as a stop gap early on, but they started leaking again quite quickly.

If you don't run an oil cooler the oil temp will be far too high and kill the oil and engine eventually
......And every turbo diesel I know of runs an engine oil cooler, as do high performance petrol engines, it isn't there due to an engine design fault. ;)

<edit> people don't realise how much of the engine cooling relies on the oil, and remember that engine oil sprays are routinely used on the underside of the piston crowns on turbo engines (including Tdi's) to pull temp out of the pistons. That temperature has to go somewhere. Normal engine oil temps just cruising down the highway hover around 90-100*C, up to 110*C in winter just climbing a hill on the highway. This is a pretty average sort of range for any diesel engine.

<2nd edit> Which engine are we talking about ??
Tdi's have the cooler built into the radiator header tank, TD5's have the heat exchanger built into the side of the engine with coolant hoses running to it, just like Nissan and everyone else use.. ??