Oil cooler

Went in for an oil change and they showed me fairly significant leaking from under the oil cooler. Changed the oil at 227900. How concerned should I be and is this a gasket issue or pull a part and replace. Time to trade in and cut my losses. I drive too much for this to crap out on me.

 

it's just a big O-ring.
You "might" try tightening the big nut down just a hair to see if it stops.
But worst case, it an O-ring.

 

parts

https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/gen...SbgJTYAAAAAGLRhDs=$&vid=0&cid=1&uid=345129&q=

 

Is it leaking oil or coolant? If oil, I would check the o rring under the cooler first.

 

Looks to be oil, the coolant system has already died and been revived.
See thread My Radiator Fan Exploded Today!

 

My question now, is it enough to simply replace the oil cooler gasket as this is what provides the seals, probably would replace the two hoses as well. I'd replace all other sealing components as well. Sounds like the OEM cooler should last the life of the vehicle.

 

O ring is more likely the leak source over the cooler itself. Clean area thoroughly star engine and observe. Should be obvious what is leaking

 

Possible this is part of the problem? It's the only part that I can see when I stick my phone down there. My guess is a hose should be connected to this.

Also, from the top mine does not have the oil cooler component. Remember it is a base model, so maybe that wasn't included in this year? the lack of a hose there seems concerning.

 

AFAIK that nipple is there for temporary use only, DURING an oil change, to channel leakage from the removed filter down into a small cup or bottle. Be darn sure to remove the bit of tubing and the collection container before starting up the engine again! Ask me how I know. (I got lucky, the plastic container I used just made a light rubbing sound against the serp belt, it didn't get sucked into anything.)

In normal every day use nothing is or should be connected there.

 

That's the oil drain port for when you remove the oil filter.
Mine's been off since the first oil change.

 

I wouldn't even touch the coolant hoses. Just pull the oil filter stud, gently pull the cooler away, replace the seal and put it back together.

Very common for those o-rings to leak on lots of different cars

 

Gasket issue on the bottom of the engine? Lot of fluid down there

 

These are from under my truck.

 

Are you sure it's the oil cooler gasket itself? If they didn't put a catch-tube and/or container under that open drain nipple at the bottom of the oil coooler when they removed the used oil filter, they could easily have drained out a quarter cup or more of used oil onto your engine.

I did that once and my fron diff ended up looking almost that wet with oil. Quite a mess.

In fact given the quantity of oil that looks spread all over your diff I would say that might be more-likely than just a leaking o-ring. That looks like a lot of oil.

 

The notified me as they were changing it and I saw the catch cup they were using. So on this change I would say that is not the case. Other oil changes, maybe the one prior, that might have been the case. In terms of brake cleaner to clean the affected areas, is it just apply and wipe down the best I can and monitor it? Make sure it's as dry as possible?

 

It could have been a past oil change, but the oil-covered diff looks shiny enough that it might've been more recent than that. If it was a past oil change that'd have been at least.. 6 months or longer ago.. and probably the old oil would be much more dust-caked and not shiny.

As far as cleaning, brake cleaner will be fine on metal parts but I would use a lot of care to keep it off of rubber hoses, plastic wiring harnesses & wire insulation, and any plastic sensor/actuator housings. Maybe try undiluted Simple Green or a similar plastic-safe degreaser.

 

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What ended up being your issue here? I'm going thru a similar issue and would love to know the outcome and fix for you.