oil cooler, check it ain't rotten

[Crawford_S2]

Just had to replace the oil cooler on my ABY coupe cos it was leaking. Wasn't prepared for what i found

The cowling that is supposed to channel cool air to the cooler is made of what looks like old fiat panda, or at least it rots the same. It had completely corroded and when i tried to remove it it turned to dust Also the mount that connects the cooler to a hanging bracket was the same.

But the thing that really bugs me is that it was so rot it had started to corrode the coolers lower edge, and it was now leaking

As you can see the lower edge has been eaten away and you can see whats left of the mount once i'd ripped it off, no persuading needed.

[Crawford_S2]

picture of shiny new one

[Crawford_S2]

This is where it goes, the plastic tube holds wet leaves nicely so the steel surround can disintagrate at its leisure without the owner noticing.

[Crawford_S2]

New bit in situ, only 180 ish from the VAG part gang

Mate made the new bracket out of 4mm ally sheet so it don't disappear again, why Audi didn't make it out of something sensible in the first place i don't know. Also note gap left for wet leaves, debris, e.t.c to fall out and not attack the new cooler. Leak fixed, happy

[horvathg]

I have seen this before...........on Russian Ladas.....
Groofo, it looks shyte and dreadful. And could cause fatal eingine oil starvation if unnoticed. Lucky you didn't have to replace the oil ducts too. They are kinda costly...

[Crawford_S2]

Shyte, yes thats what i thought

[4WheelDrifter]

When I first had my S2, I had a leaky oil cooler. I left an anti rust coating over everything. When I tightened up the hose connection, that turned out to be loose, and cleaned off the oil, it all looked like new.

[curlyks2]

But the thing that really bugs me is that it was so rot it had started to corrode the coolers lower edge, and it was now leaking

General rubbish (dirt, fallen leaves, etc) tends to collect in the airway to the oil cooler... this will hold in the moisture which is really not wanted. It's a good idea to clear out the oil cooler airway every now and again!
Ck.

[WabTheKing]

aluminium still disintegrates, especially if its touching anything thats steel because over time it oxidizes and turns to dust so if you havent treated the ally with anything you wont have gained anything over making it out of bare steel so id atleast paint it with something, to get the longest life it wants anodizing but i would just paint it

[S2-racer]

it looked as though the oil cooler on my car had split, didnt look to corroded.
still, it aint leaking now!

think im gonna need to put notes in a diary or somethin, "check for leaves, etc in oil cooler duct"..... lol

[Crawford_S2]

Will treat it to a coat of something when i get time but had to fit it in a hurry to free up the ramp yesterday, fuel pipes on a nice RS2 had rot to powder too in the moisture trap behind the heatshield for dp! It must be catching!

[NoNonsense]

looks great, groofosp! you should have taken the opportunity to put a larger oil cooler in, no?