Re: [Oil Leaks, Part Deux]

[Iain Mannix <mannix@privateI.com>]

>The car has an oil cooler. The connection between it and the actual filter
>are OK, no leaks, but on the (NATURALLY, IMPOSSIBLE to see) connection btw
>the cooler and standard mounting location facing the block, there seems to
>be more dripping.


>
>So, my questions are:
>
>1> How does that oil cooler connect to the standard mounting surface?
>Specifically, how do I remove it? Any pointers?

Two bolts and a gasket?  I believe that is how it works.  Same as the
non-cooler cars, AFAIK.  To remove it is strange, though. Unscrew filter,
then there's a nut on the filter threads - this holds the cooler on(maybe
it is just loose?), and then the cooler slides off a long (3" or so) pipe.
A friend and I tried to take the cooler off his GLI, got to that pipe, did
not see how the pipe could be removed, so we put the cooler back on(and
disconnected the coolant hoses - we suspected the cooler was putting oil in
the coolant, but as it turns out, I think it is the headgasket - uggh).
Maybe that nut is loose - once you take the nut off, there is a rubber
o-ring on the top of the cooler similar to that of the filter.  Check the
nut, 1 1/16", I believe.  Something like that.  How the filter mount
attaches to the block is, I believe, two bolts.  Never had to remove one.

Have you checked the dipstick plastic thingy?  The red thing?  Is it
broken?  Mine was, it was spraying oil.  I put some radiator hose over
it(had no time), fixed it.  Recently, oil began reappearing - took rad.
hose off, it was broken.  Got a plastic thingy, $2, all gone.  Duh.
Anyhow, something to look at.  Wenzez' dipstick tube was leaking at the
block, too - maybe?


>2> How much oil can I expect to loose pulling off the filter/cooler? The
>car has been sitting for 3 awful scirocco-less days. I'm driving a
>cavalier now.  Ack.

Well, as far as removing the cooler, I _think_ you need the filter carrier
- another one - as I could see no way to unscrew the rod from the carrier.
I thought we could unscrew the pipe through the cooler, remove cooler,
reattach filter - not easily, anyhow.  About a quart(or less) will be lost
- less if you keep the filter upright/crap out of it.

>
>3> I started putting 100% synth in this puppy when I picked it up in june.
>It's always had normal oit before. I'm sure this is resulting in some of
>my leaks. Does anyone think I should perhaps switch to a blend or back to
>normal? I'm not all too crazy about fighting more leaks.

If it got from June to now on synthetic, I'd bet it is OK.  IMHO, use
normal oil or full synthetic - I don't "buy" these blends.  It sounds to me
like a mechanical(failed gasket) leak more than the "synthetic seep" type
of leak, which, incidentally, Mobil claims to have "fixed."  I'm surprised
they admitted it as being a previous problem, but they did, and supposedly
fixed it.  I put synthetic(Valvoline 10/30 synthetic) in my 140k+ engine,
no more leaks than before - it already seeped a bit here and there, and the
oil did not cause any more.  YMMV, but at this point, I'd doubt synthetic
would be the problem.  Best of luck!


I.Mannix

>
>~C
>
>
> --                                                                 --
>     Christopher Mende             ICEMT         O: 515-294-6738
>     www.icemt.iastate.edu           @           F: 515-294-5531
>     bayern.me.iastate.edu    Iowa State Univ    H: 515-292-6658
>
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