Oil cooler housing seal

[craiginuk]

Hi, my 87 turbo oil cooler/oil filter housing is leaking. Is this a big job to do? Car is in having a replacement steering rack fitted. Apparantly eaasier to do with rack and bits off. But still looking at around £340 to rectify. Is this something i could do myself or are ther lots of bits i need to take off to get to it?

Thanks
Craig

 

[craiginuk]

Also, could someone please explain - does an '87 turbo have a separate external oil cooler? If so then what is in this actual housing? Is the housing empty? If it is leaking am i right assuming it will only be oil leaking out and there is no route for oil and water to mix?

Have been reading a few articles online but have confused myself. Also the car is not here with me so its a bit tricky to have a look

Thanks
Craig

 

[robwright]

The turbo oil cooler as opposed to NA cars is external yes. It is also air cooled not water cooled like NA cars. The oil cooler is located in the front right hand side of the engine bay behind the bumper. It is a small radiator looking object about 8 x 6 in sq. It is quite hard to see let alone get at.

 

[craiginuk]

Thanks Rob - is that the same for my 220 turbo?

 

[nick_968]

There is a route for oil and water to mix, the housing has water running through it was well as oil its just there is no heat exchanger in there. The seals and o rings are about £50. While they are in there it should be a 2 - 3 hour job to do. £340 sounds like a lot to me unless they are charging £100 per hour. It is quite a fiddly job but I did mine on my driveway no probs.

 

[nick_968]

If you are thinking about doing it you will probably want to read this...

http://members.rennlist.com/tom86951/oil_thermostat_housing_seal_repl.htm

 

[craiginuk]

Thanks Nick,

That doesn't look as daunting and confusing as the other instructions I've been looking at. Might just give that a go myself.

Edit: Did you use the alignement tool or did you just use the oil pressure relief valve to line the housing up?

 

[nick_968]

I used the tool, but I believe it is not as critical with the newer style valve.

 

[bert gear]

ORIGINAL: nick_968

There is a route for oil and water to mix, the housing has water running through it was well as oil its just there is no heat exchanger in there. The seals and o rings are about £50.

you should be able to buy this kit from independent porsche parts supplieres for half that !!!

 

[nick_968]

ORIGINAL: bert gear

ORIGINAL: nick_968

There is a route for oil and water to mix, the housing has water running through it was well as oil its just there is no heat exchanger in there. The seals and o rings are about £50.

you should be able to buy this kit from independent porsche parts supplieres for half that !!!

Indeed I am sure you can, but my personal experiences with OEM spec parts has not been great in the past so I tend to buy most of my stuff from Porsche, especially lower value stuff. This is not directed at your service, I just pick and choose what I feel is safe and worth the risk to buy from independents. I did buy a steering rack from you a while back, a high value, low labour item that is easy to fit and it has been fine. Something labour intensive to get to where the parts are not high value I tend to go original parts just to remove the hassle factor if they don't quite match up and I have everything apart. Just a personal preference.