Factory Oil Cooler

[Jimmy85]

Looking for suggestions for my leaky factory oil cooler. Its the fitting from the cooler to the line. I looked close enough and can see the female housing is cracked and the flare fitting can't tighten enough to seat properly. I can't buy just the 3" line & fitting, and not willing to spend $300 on another oil cooler with fitting. I've hit my junk yards with no results, and can't find anybody parting out a blazer or burban. Being as I just bought new lines, I would like to keep the factory setup. The best idea I've come up with is some AN fittings and some braided steel line. Any other suggestions?? (89 k5)

 

[beags86]

One ton and heavy duty trucks had them too.
You should be able to to get a replacement fitting at a hydraulic hose store. I did the same a few years ago at a Parker hose and supply. I think they fixed mine for around 100 bucks with new lines.

 

[Jimmy85]

I have place here I get hoses made for my tractor. I'll go by Monday. Great idea!

 

[diesel4me]

I by-passed the oil cooler on my 6.2 by using copper tubing to join the two ports the cooler hoses went to..
That was about 8 years ago,it hasn't blown up yet..(but will now that I typed that probably )...

Point is I have seen many "deleted" on cars and trucks and nothing happened..if your not towing or working the truck hard,or drive thru death valley daily, you don't really need an oil cooler ..

When I learned a local cranberry bog's fleet of old 1 ton dumps with 6.2's had their oil coolers by-passed and they still hauled 2+ tons of berries 50 miles up the highway several days a week in picking season,I figured my daily driver pickup didn't really need one ..

The mechanic I know who maintains the fleet told me he deleted them "10 years ago I think" when one leaked into the radiator and trashed the engine,his boss said "We'd better check ALL the trucks--several had the cooler hoses crimp collar look great on the side facing you,but the crimped collar in the side facing the block you cant see,were almost completely rotted ,enough to let the hose blow off the coupling....

He had him delete them all...but he just put pipe plugs in the block!--I was told to join the ports together (like the cooler was still plumbed up)..but their trucks ran just the same..there is a by-pass valve in the block that opens so the engine wont starve for oil should the cooler plug up,but the pressure is reduced some..
The cooler hoses on my 6.2 had aluminum crimp collars and they were just as I described too!....

I trust the copper tubing more than GM's crappy hoses...I made a pigtail coil in the tubing ,I figured it might cool some and help absorb vibrations..driven it 10,000 miles with no leaks..not saying this is the best or right "fix" but it works for me and the fleet of berry hauling trucks..

 

[onetonbb74]

I removed the oil cooler and lines. Just bolted on a spin on oil filter adapter to the block instead of the oil cooler line spin on adapter. The cooler lines get in the way of the bolt on ORD brace anyways and dont want it rubbing a hole in the lines. It gave me room to mount the power steering cooler in the same spot as well.

I have my old cooler if your interested, its off an 89.

 

[Jimmy85]

I spoke to soon! Hit the pick n pull today and there's 2 burbans there. 30 bucks later, I've got something to do tomorrow.
I realize the oil cooler really isn't needed, but I like the idea of it. Thanks for input though