In the next few weeks i am going to start re-assembly of my freshly refurbished 4.2 engine, i am going to take every measure i can to ensure that this goes as well as it possibly can.

When it comes to putting it all back together in the car i am nervous about the old oil cooler, there are no leaks and nothing for me to suspect there is anything wrong with it other than that it contains the residue of the oil from the engine before it all came apart, the last thing i want to do is introduce any contamination for this new engine so need some advice on how best to proceed..

Is there a way for these oil cooler (and Pipes) to be professionally cleaned so they are spotless inside? Or would i be better thinking about a new cooler and pipes (Best part of $500).

I would love to hear your opinions on this

Thanks

Russell

 

I just ordinary solvent/mineral spirits/paint thinner to clean 'em. Add solvent, slosh, drain, repeat, repeat. Let drain and dry thoroughly....or do a final sloshing with some light oil to carry away any residual solvent that would break down your engine oil

Others will chime in


Cheers
DD

 

|Nah! I think you've covered it.

Recently been impressed with Viro-sol as a cleaner so might use that first or after the solvent.

 

dont use expensive solvents, good old petrol works fine

 

At the petrol prices here in the UK, there's not much difference!! And thinners seems to work better for cleaning oily greasy stuff.

 

premium petrol here is around $1.40 per litre, cheap thinners is around $27 per 5L and im kinda cheap

 

I'd use mineral spirits or similar. Petrol is so flammable it's not worth the risk to me. All the cleaning isn't gonna help those weeping hoses though, and they'll leak all over your new motor and engine bay. And you rarely get the hoses off the cooler without stripping the threads...

 

Yes to what slofut said about the hoses -

I have a spare oil cooler with hoses stored in my garage - thought I had let the oil all drain, boy was I wrong - It came sloshing out while I wrestled with the seemingly impossible to remove without breaking hoses. Its still out there in the garage turned upside down with hoses still attached tucked away just in case.

 

Well, my 4.2's cooler and hoses left with the carcass!


Were I to use one, I would consider splitting the hoses away for new.
Have a radiator or engine shop "boil" out the matrix.


New hoses, squeaky clean matrix?? Probably over done, but satisfying...


I've no issue with Doug's more practical flushing approach.


The LT1 in my car provides for an engine oil cooler in some applications. I felt it not necessary in mine. So far, so good.


Carl