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[Nathv6]

hi people i am just wandering if there is any one near hemel hempstead area that knows how to do an oil cooler on x30xe lump if o would they be able to give me a hand, obviously  will pay for help etc as i am clueless and dnt really wanna take it into vx thanks

[andyc]

I take it you mean the heat exchanger between the "V".

Not a hard job but leave at least a weekend to do the jod if you have never do one.

You'll need to take off the complete intake manifold incliding the base plate. Once that all off you'll see the top of the cooler.

Shop about for the cooler but make sure its a stainless one and dont scrimp on the gaskest, replace them ALL.

While the inlets is off its worth check all the other bits that go wrong at the back of the engine, eg DIS Pack, HT Leads, Gauge & ECU temp sensors, heater valve and cam cover gaskest as the inlet will have to come of to do any of these jobs.

Oh and remove the wiper scuttle as it will give you more room to play with

Hope this helps

Cheers
Andy

[BackStreet]

This is a copy of a post about replacing the stock block mounted oil cooler with an external aftermarket cooler.

From: "pqwert2003" <pqwert2003@y...>
Date: Mon Nov 17, 2003 3:56 pm
Subject: Oil Cooler MOD... It works great and will save you a lot of money.
Oil Cooler from GM $500.00 Oil Cooler at Napa 47.50 + 6.00 for a 12
foot hose. Note if they do not have an oil cooler a Transmission
cooler will work also. It takes about 5 hours and difficulty level is
a 3 out of 5.

Does your oil cooler have a leak are you getting oil into your
radiator or Dex cool in your Oil? Do you see the white milky Stuff in
you oil Cap.

Do you keep do you keep filling up your radiator and wonder where the coolant is going?

Here is what I did.
1. Take off the plenum and the upper and lower intake to access the
Oil Cooler
2. Unbolted the coolant lines going into the block.
Take off the oil cooler lines. I sucked out the oil in the oil cooler
the best I could and put in two plugs so the Oil Cooler is sealed. I
hacked off the old oil cooler lines from from the top.
3. Under the Car.. Take off the oil filter housing; Cover the oil
filter Hole. Cut the oil lines running up the back of the motor make
sure you have leave enough to put a hose on and a couple of clamps. I
used two clamps to make sure it didn't slip off. Hook up the line
with the hose on it. Make sure you run the lines so they do not get
in the way of the oil filter housing.
4. Put on Oil Filter housing.
5. Take the Front Grill off and Run the hose by the side rail and up
to the Grill, hook up the hose and mount the oil cooler
6. Now put the top part of the motor together and pray everything
works
7. I flushed the radiator system 2 times
8. Changed the Oil 2 times too
No problems yet. runs great.... I think even better.
Please Note I am not an expert or a mechanic and the steps above is
just an Idea that worked for ME… I have over 1200 miles with OUT any
problems. No check engine light problems…
NO leaks… No coolant in the OIL… NO Oil in the Coolant
Please Note it does run a lot cooler like on 1/8 and the hottest it
gets is 1/4 so it stays very cool. It use to run on 1/4 and 1/2 on
the temp Gauge..
I do not lose any coolant anymore either…….
********* Please let me know if it works for anyone else Post it on
the Catera Group ********************
Follow-up post.
**** Update **** Part List ****
( Plug ) 5/8 18 x 5/8 Socket Set Screw Fine Thread Part # 80416(
from Menards) and some Blue Loctite/Threadlocker. If you use Red it
will not come out it is Permanent.
APT.1 -4822 Oil/Transmission Cooler the kit comes with some clamps
and a short hose and a mounting KIT. I did not use the short hose..
12 foot of hose/ I guess it holds
I bought 4 extra clamps too
I wish I would have taken some pictures while it was apart. I will
take some pics this weekend and post what it looks like after the
install.

[tunnie]

This is a copy of a post about replacing the stock block mounted oil cooler with an external aftermarket cooler.

From: "pqwert2003" <pqwert2003@y...>
Date: Mon Nov 17, 2003 3:56 pm
Subject: Oil Cooler MOD... It works great and will save you a lot of money.
Oil Cooler from GM $500.00 Oil Cooler at Napa 47.50 + 6.00 for a 12
foot hose. Note if they do not have an oil cooler a Transmission
cooler will work also. It takes about 5 hours and difficulty level is
a 3 out of 5.

Does your oil cooler have a leak are you getting oil into your
radiator or Dex cool in your Oil? Do you see the white milky Stuff in
you oil Cap.

Do you keep do you keep filling up your radiator and wonder where the coolant is going?

Here is what I did.
1. Take off the plenum and the upper and lower intake to access the
Oil Cooler
2. Unbolted the coolant lines going into the block.
Take off the oil cooler lines. I sucked out the oil in the oil cooler
the best I could and put in two plugs so the Oil Cooler is sealed. I
hacked off the old oil cooler lines from from the top.
3. Under the Car.. Take off the oil filter housing; Cover the oil
filter Hole. Cut the oil lines running up the back of the motor make
sure you have leave enough to put a hose on and a couple of clamps. I
used two clamps to make sure it didn't slip off. Hook up the line
with the hose on it. Make sure you run the lines so they do not get
in the way of the oil filter housing.
4. Put on Oil Filter housing.
5. Take the Front Grill off and Run the hose by the side rail and up
to the Grill, hook up the hose and mount the oil cooler
6. Now put the top part of the motor together and pray everything
works
7. I flushed the radiator system 2 times
8. Changed the Oil 2 times too
No problems yet. runs great.... I think even better.
Please Note I am not an expert or a mechanic and the steps above is
just an Idea that worked for ME… I have over 1200 miles with OUT any
problems. No check engine light problems…
NO leaks… No coolant in the OIL… NO Oil in the Coolant
Please Note it does run a lot cooler like on 1/8 and the hottest it
gets is 1/4 so it stays very cool. It use to run on 1/4 and 1/2 on
the temp Gauge..
I do not lose any coolant anymore either…….
********* Please let me know if it works for anyone else Post it on
the Catera Group ********************
Follow-up post.
**** Update **** Part List ****
( Plug ) 5/8 18 x 5/8 Socket Set Screw Fine Thread Part # 80416(
from Menards) and some Blue Loctite/Threadlocker. If you use Red it
will not come out it is Permanent.
APT.1 -4822 Oil/Transmission Cooler the kit comes with some clamps
and a short hose and a mounting KIT. I did not use the short hose..
12 foot of hose/ I guess it holds
I bought 4 extra clamps too
I wish I would have taken some pictures while it was apart. I will
take some pics this weekend and post what it looks like after the
install.

What the bloody hell!!!??

No cutting is needed!!

Strip off the plenum as he says, get an E12/E14 forget which one for the bagpipes (fuel injection)

Then the plastic cover off the top of the oil cooler, again E12/E14.

Then the oil cooler plate comes off...thats E12 4 bolts

Get a crowsfoot socket, 19mm, un-do these underneath the car at the oil filter. Best done with the oil filter off.

Undo the bolts on the oil cooler pipes in the V, remove old oil cooler.

Clean up surfaces and re-fit, make sure the seal goes all the way around the edge of the new plate.

I have done an oil cooler, took me a while, but i could do one in just a few hours now.... and i know fek all about cars and engines!

[Kevin Wood]

This is talking about fitting an oil-to-air cooler instead of an oil-to-water cooler. Not a wise move, unless you're tuning the engine and need to avoid dumping any more heat into the water. If you have a leaky oil cooler it will continue to leak water even if it's not going into the oil unless you fit some kind of blanking plate.

Then you have to locate the new oil cooler somewhere, run a load of oil pipework around the engine bay, etc.

You will then have an issue that an oil to air cooler will overcool the oil in most circumstances when you're not belting it whereas an oil to water heat exchanger keeps it nicely in line with coolant temperature, and even promotes heat flow from coolant to oil after a cold start.

It's a much better prospect just to change the heat exchanger and ensure the coolant is looked after so it doesn't corrode again.  

Kevin

[Nathv6]

thanks for the advise people ive noticed theres male and female torx bolts on the plenum etc is there any more special tools that i would need?

[Kevin Wood]

As mentioned, a crowfoot spanner to undo the oil lines by the filter (don't be tempted to bend the pipes to get clearance.

Torx fasteners are used throughout so you'll need a set of female torx sockets.

You'll need some sealant for the oil cooler cover plate and a new set of seals for the oil banjo unions and the coolant bridge.

Maybe one or two other items I've missed but that's the important bits covered, I think...

Kevin

[JamesV6CDX]

As mentioned, a crowfoot spanner to undo the oil lines by the filter (don't be tempted to bend the pipes to get clearance.

Torx fasteners are used throughout so you'll need a set of female torx sockets.

You'll need some sealant for the oil cooler cover plate and a new set of seals for the oil banjo unions and the coolant bridge.

Maybe one or two other items I've missed but that's the important bits covered, I think...

Kevin

30mm socket
torque-wrench..

[Nathv6]

right i have found a company near me that can do the oil cooler for me @£150 and have it done in 2 days!!

the oil cooler from vx is £90 plus the gaskets £20 does any one think thats a fair price??

[Big_Mart]

as long as they stick to the quote then thats a fair anough price but make sure they change every gasket they remove.

[MutantCav]

If they are using genuine Vaux parts then yeah...its a good deal

[TheBoy]

right i have found a company near me that can do the oil cooler for me @£150 and have it done in 2 days!!

the oil cooler from vx is £90 plus the gaskets £20 does any one think thats a fair price??

£150 inc parts? Excellent price!

[Nathv6]

no that 150 is just labour costs m8

[tunnie]

no that 150 is just labour costs m8

not so good then.... its a 2 day job because you need to let the sealant to the oil cooler plate harden over night.