Just trying to confirm mysuspicions this is a cronic issue with GSL-SE's. My first attempt at a poll.

How many of you GSL-SE owners have had a problem with this. In your replys, it would be good to hear how you have dealt with it.

My story, I bought my GSL-SE a couple years ago. Obvious the oil cooler had been leaking for some time, bottom was drenched in oil. My fix, replace it with one from a 79-80 SA. Not a perfect fit, but fit well enough and no problems in the 2 years it's been there.

Since there are so many of you GSL-SE owners out there, thought this would be a good one.

 

I guess I've been lucky.. bought my GSL-SE two years ago, haven't had any oil cooler problems until recently - the O-rings are starting to leak a little.. gotta replace those.

But I don't know if I have a stock oil cooler.

 

i fix mine about a month ago. that right that i have to spend about $200. betwen new line, fitings, and bronce o rings, but i dont have any oil leak

 

Guess this problem isn't as prevelant as I thought.

Anyone else?

 

Well, the forum is usually pretty slow on Fridays.

I went to Felix's RX-7 website, and one of the links on there says that on '84 - '85 GSL-SEs, the bosses (on the oil cooler where the oil lines attach) tend to crack and leak, due to metal fatigue or stress. The link goes on to describe how to repair the cracks.

Another link says that the earlier oil coolers "work better" because they're up near the radiator, but I've never had any oil-cooling problems with the '84 - '85 SE oil cooler location. Maybe it depends on the driver?..

 

I heard that a place called Sun Auto has a fix for these coolers. Worth a shot!

 

Yes Donnie Peters at Sun Auto is the place to buy an oil cooler. If I had a leak, I would not try to fix it or replace it with any other year, I'd just buy one from Donnie. That's what I've heard from many people.

http://www.sunautorx7.com/

 

I have been told my recent problem is likely to be either the oil cooler or sending unit. Neither of which do I have any knowledge or experience with. I look forward to tearing it apart this week and finding out but this is the first issue I have ever had with oil ANYTHING on my 85 se with 150k miles.


Am I reading this right? ~$250 for the oil cooler and ~$65 for the hoses. WTF, I thought this thing was attached to the radiator which in it's entirety only cost me like $250. fock

 

Donnie will charge $250 + core for something that anyone should be able to do much cheaper. First get a piece of 1-1/8 aluminum round bar. Cut 2 pieces the same length as the bosses and have a machine shop drill and tap 16mm threads. Any radiator repair shop should be able to cut the old ones off and weld on the new ones. this should not cost more than $100.

 

My mothers new 85 gsl-se has an oil leak that I haven't positively identified the source of yet. I'm pretty sure it will be oil cooler inlet/outlet fitting problems talked about earlier. I plan on weld repairing the original fittings with my tig welder and adding a aluminum bushing/sleeve on the outside of the original fitting and welding them to the cooler and the original fitting prior to threading the fittings back home. I'm pretty sure this should prevent future problems.

Don

 

The price Donnie is charging for the OC may be well worth it. Over the past 2 years I've picked up 2 GSL-SE's and have had OC's go bad in them both.

My local radiator shop couldn't fix aluminum, and my local weldor DESTROYED my OC. I ended up having to find a junkyard one for one car, and the other car I was lucky enough to locate an aluminum weldor here in my local Hooterville.

Yes, these things notoriously go bad. Hard high RPM driving will kill them. So will pussying around town. One resto I have is NEVER abused and rarely driven. It went out too.

The problem with these things is the connector on the OC isn't very durable. I've had hoses to go bad too, but this is rarer.

It is possible to find a weldor who can replace the connector with something more durable. If you're able to do this, he can also repair the crack you get on the aluminum connector. It may be cheaper than replacing the unit or replacing the connectors.

The last guy I got who could do the aluminum welding, charged me $45 to fix my cooler. Not a bad deal...

jeryj

 

I have a 84 gsl and I "just" took it off yesterday because it was leaking at both connections. Hairline crack on both areas at the hose/oilcooler connections. I don;t know any one who has not had this problem...very common. I am going to have the cracks alumimun welded . I hope it will not be more than 45.00. new one is 350.00 ouch!!!... I hope I am lucky and this will do the trick...will let you know and how much....cjf

 

One way to kill an oil cooler is improperly loosening/tightening the cooler lines. It's a weak spot. Then again, the vibration transmitted from the engine via the hoses is gonna be enough too, given enough time.

 

I've had mine welded twice.

The first guy had welded the crack only. It lasted three years. The second guy welded a large bead all around the base of the fittings for re-enforcement, along with the new crack. $30.00 at the time. It hasn't leaked in the 12 years since.

It is common, but not chronic. I'd say it depends on who's doing the welding.

-John.

P.S.: Good poll, HOZZMANRX7, it's a common question.

 

i have had 5 gsl-se's
brown: one went 83k before the cooler went out, the car had been run over a few curbs
maroon: one 105k, it was so bad it got the side of the car wet, this car had been run over something too
metallic black #1: 212k it had been repaired.
metallc black #2: 222k i think its been replaced with a new one but it doesn't leak so i dont know for sure
charcoal grey: 183k it leaks....

a couple of other tidbits: the factory installed oil coolers were painted gloss black, the replacements are natual aluminum. what usually breaks are the "tubes" that the hoses thread into, and it iether breaks from overtightening the fittings, or hitting the ground (ive seen dents on the undercovers), or just plain gravity

mike

 

Good answers. Good tips.

Thanks to all.

 

I don't know where I would put it so I am not going to get one, but what about after market oil coolers? I was in Pep boys and saw "Oil Coolers" for $50 that basically looked like 1/4 radiators. Short and wide, but still kind of large, seems good, but is this the same thing?

Oh and hey, lets so those pictures of these things and how they connect. Mine appears (as referred from Hayes) to be ~ 1litre semi round container located on the driver side of the bottom of the radiator. Is that correct? But from first inspection, I only see one hose coming from the system. Does another enter from the bottom?

 

Try this link. It has a pretty good discussion and picture of the problem. http://rx7.voodoobox.net/howto/coolerfix/coolerfix.html

Don

 

Ok, I am ready to get the OC out after taking a good look at the area and removing small things in the way like the battery. After looking at the situation, I am unsure if the problem is a hose or the OC. I would prefer to replace both hoses with something of a stainless steel nature or if not, atleast something new. Possible? And what do people think about aftermarket OC's? I am heading to OSH for a 21mm wrench tomorrow and I will measure the OC to see if the aftermarket will fit. Basically, I'm looking to REPLACE any of those pieces in there with new or better parts.

(Since the manuals say a 21mm and a cresent wrench but it shows 2 x Open End Box Wrenchs, should I get 2 of the 21mm or is one some odd size?)

OT, can I pressure wash the front of my radiator or will that someone get into the radiator?

PS, you shoulda seen the huge black widow kickin it under my hood near the OC. Imagine my surprise when I pulled myself under the hood.

 

Oh it's Possible.


Racing Beat Oil Lines for GSL-SE

You'll need these as well to go with it.

3 of these 11901
And One of these (11902)

If you do a seach here, other people have found cheaper alternatives as well.

 

It's not too tough to find someone locally that will be willing to do custom lines for you. Two race shops said they could do it and my tuner said he is just starting to do it. And I really haven't looked, just kinda one of those, "Oh, and by the way, do you guys do custom oil cooler lines? Cool, just wondering."

 

Sun Auto isnt in the RX-7 business anymore.

 

I took my cooler with cracked fittings to a place that welds aluminum..had extra aluminum built up around each of the fittings so that they are now more than twice in thickness. These bad boys are super tough now. Cost a mere 20 bucks.
Got the RB SS lines and no problems at all in 10 years.

 

Is this the sun auto in Pennsylvania? I used to live near it and the guy was cool, got me some cheap parts and had a few nice 1st and second gens for sale, and well priced. That web site didnt work listed above, and i would like to check it out online. Someone send me a PM is you know the right link to the site.

 

That was a good link, thanx. The photo of the cracked fitting looked just like mine did when it started leaking some years back. I had it welded, but it still leaked. The crack on mine hadn't progressed as far as the one pictured so I got a tap'n'die set, ran the threads deeper into the tube, and then cut the cracked part off. Voila! no more leak.