I started to pull my '87 apart today in order to get the engine out for a rebuild, and I came up with two questions about the oil cooler.

My engine was leaking oil really badly from the rear rotor, and because of the undertray, the oil splashed on everything. The oil cooler is now soaked in oily gunk, and I am wondering what the best way to clean it is. Obviously pressure washing or any kind of scrubbing are out of the question. Should I soak it in something to loosen the crud?

Also, I attempted to remove one of the lines from the cooler to the engine, and the elbow near the fitting on the engine twisted. I was trying to remove the line from the engine end first, and now assume that I should have removed it at the cooler first. Is this correct?

 

Take it and the radiator to a rad shop and have them both flushed. Cost me 32$. You should do that anyways since you are getting a new motor. And I took the oil cooler line off first, then the reducer on the engine.

 

Clean the oil cooler out with oven cleaner, that stuff takes paint, dirt, and whatever all is there.

 

That really doesnt do **** as far as cleaning the inside of it... the more important part IMO.

 

Do a search for oil cooler cleaning. I would say avioid a radatior shop like the PLAGUE!!!

The best place to take it to get the inside cleaned is an aircraft repair facility. They clean oil coolers all the time and know about the thermostat.

I believe you will be hard pressed to find a radatior shop that has a clue on how to PROPERLY flush your cooler.

I could type a page on the right way to clean it. So just do a serach on it. You will find tons of stuff.

James

 

Oh I thought he ment the outside maybe I read the thread wrong, but anyway to clean the inside just take it to a machine shop that works one engien blocks and have them solvent dip it. That is sure to clean it out, and it will take all the paint and crud off of the outside to.

 

With the thermostat removed wouldn't the cooler be fairly easy to flush?

 

Any of the typical cleaners will work on oil soaked crud.&nbsp My favs are Oil Eater, Castrol Super Clean, and Simple Green.


-Ted

 

You can also talk to diesel repair places about ultrasonically cleaning it (I think it was 'ultrasonic'...).
www.mazdatrix.com has some info on it somewhere. And they do it.

 

Here you go. My 2 cents on HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE!

I did find United Accesories in Garland TX that will flush and test the operation of the Thermostat for ~115 + shipping. They are a FAA certified facility. Contact Gary Woodard @ 1-888-cooler2
3121 NATIONAL CIRCLE
GARLAND, TX 75041

Phone: 972-840-1077
Fax: 972-278-8943
Toll Free (within the US) 1-888-COOLER-2


http://www.oil-cooler.com/index2.ivnu

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...light=flush%2A

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...light=flush%2A

 

If you simply remove the thermostat to flush the cooler any fluid you force through the cooler will only pass the endtank. Not much fluid will goo through the cooler.

In order to flush it properly you need to plug the small hole the thermostat plugs when it goes open.

See this post:

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...ght=oil+cooler

James