Oil Cooler ABY problem

[Ski]

Hi Guys,

Long time no speak. Well it lasted me 2 years more than i expected, but it finally went on me.

Its a very small leak for now, but i want to replace it asap without paying mega prices but ofcourse it has to be a solid solution.

What would you guys recomment? the oil cooler is battered, brackets have snapped, hoses look ok but like to replace them as well.

Have you had such an issue? How did you resolve it?

[A80Avant]

never had an issue on the oil cooler,but i did replaced with a bigger one due to high temps in Greece.However in order to replace it with something bigger,it need some work to be done,as besides new hoses that need manufacturing,there have to be new mounting brackets to be made as well.
Of course if you also want to keep the oil cooler at it's original position then the lack of room will disable you from buying a really big 16row oil cooler.You can still get a bigger one,but not that big without some serious cutting here and there.However you can also find a different place to mount the cooler such as the front of the main radiator and that gives you lots of space there.

Finally a nice solution is to just get from vagparts the rs2 oil cooler which i think for UK temps is very good,and overall is easier and cheaper to fit

[Al Wyn]

ABY/ADU are the same iirc about £150 from vag

[220bhp]

If you suspect a leak replace it now before you spray oil everywhere even worse loose oil pressure. BTDT

[Ski]

Yes im trying to replace now before i have to replace the engine.

Is the rs2 one lot better?

[Al Wyn]

Read 2 posts back

[terrybullwon]

I have a used one if you like? I have a 23 row one now

[Ski]

Thanks guys for all your replies.

I think im going to go with a direct original replacement. Just waiting for a quote for all the parts. since everything is so rusty under there Im going to replace every screw.

[Error404]

Go with A4 marine grade stainless, soooooooo much better (and cheaper) than using VAG nuts and bolts and will last a lifetime

I can highly recommend www.a2a4.co.uk

[Ski]

Well, I went with the original replacement guys

around £550 or so. That includes the cooler, hoses, brackets, holders, nuts, bolts screws casings etc.. infact, it includes everything to do with the cooler excluding the plastic bit... everything else pretty much rotted away. I guess if your gonna do a job do it right.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips or any BTDT ? Obviously the bumper will need to come off and maybe the hoses will be seized on but any other issues I might be faced with?

[S2central.net]

I've still got to do mine - have a new OEM cooler and full set of new brackets and bolts cos there is so much rust and crud down there.

Need to renew sump gaskets as well - it looks pretty gnarly down there. Losing very little oil in reality but it looks like a big leak as it all sprays rearwards.

[Ski]

Yes same situation as me. I will document any prob's I come across to give you a heads up

[butchers2]

I had to mine last year as it started peeing oil all over the exhuast smoke every where i s**t my self thought i had really ******ed it up.
best to get it done as soon as.
liam

[Ski]

I managed to change the oil cooler, hoses, air duct and bracket without taking off the bumper! winner!

If ur under the car looking up at the cooler, the old hoses went over the top of the bracket. after I refitted i left the hoses under the bracket reason being.. they didnt want to twist as far as the old hoses and I didnt want to force them. They are still secure just a little bit more exposed but what can i say, the last hoses lasted 224,000 miles and 12 years.