Oil cooler question

[BigBK]

Have a 1987 5.7L with alpha 1 outdrive. Is the oil cooler just for the power steering? Reason for asking is after yesterdays fun in the sun i notice when i took out the drain plug there was oil mixed with the little water thet came out.
After looking i found the power steering fluid was low and there was oil all over the oil cooler.

 

[Don S]

Re: Oil cooler question

Yes, the coolers on the 5.7 are PS only.
Check the hoses going to the cooler. They are more likely to leak than the cooler itself. The hoses are just clamped to the cooler.

 

[BigBK]

Re: Oil cooler question

Thanks Don, i did notice they were but did not want to disconnect until i was sure. Again thank you....Bob

 

[Bondo]

Re: Oil cooler question

Ayuh,... And don't even Think about By-passing it,... You'll Smoke the pump in short order....

 

[BigBK]

Re: Oil cooler question

Ayuh,... And don't even Think about By-passing it,... You'll Smoke the pump in short order....

Had no plans to by-pass it. had plans to repair the leak. My idea is to leave anyting i work on better then I found it.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Oil cooler question

Had no plans to by-pass it. had plans to repair the leak. My idea is to leave anyting i work on better then I found it.

I wish more people thought this way...

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Oil cooler question

Is there a way to pressure test the oil cooler to find out where the exact leak is? I think mine is leaking but I'm not getting oil in the bilge. Not trying to hijack the thread, I thought that the pressure test question may be relevant to the poster's question.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Oil cooler question

Ok, now this thread has be curious.. how come it will fry your PS pump if you bypass the oil cooler? The PS on a car doesn't go through any type of cooling device does it?

 

[BigBK]

Re: Oil cooler question

Is there a way to pressure test the oil cooler to find out where the exact leak is? I think mine is leaking but I'm not getting oil in the bilge. Not trying to hijack the thread, I thought that the pressure test question may be relevant to the poster's question.

As for pressure testing i did mine. I used a plumbing rubber endcap on one end and used a air fitting and furnco fitting (rubber connector) at the other end. Put 5 pds of pressure on it, lissoned for a leak where the PS lines connect did not hear anything. let stand for an hour and it did not lose any pressure so i guess it was fine. Bob

 

[BigBK]

Re: Oil cooler question

Ok, now this thread has be curious.. how come it will fry your PS pump if you bypass the oil cooler? The PS on a car doesn't go through any type of cooling device does it?

I do not have an answer to that question. LOL but i figure, all the boat engines ive had has had one so it has to be there for some good reason. My guess would be unlike an auto there is no air passing around the engine compartment like in a auto and it will heat up more because of this factor. Maybe Bondo will answer this for both of us.

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: Oil cooler question

Most bigger trucks will have a cooler, my Jeep also has one.

I would say that BigBk is correct.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Oil cooler question

That's pretty much what I figured -- a boat engine works in a hotter environment..

 

[Bondo]

Re: Oil cooler question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cptkid570
Ok, now this thread has be curious.. how come it will fry your PS pump if you bypass the oil cooler? The PS on a car doesn't go through any type of cooling device does it?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I do not have an answer to that question. LOL but i figure, all the boat engines ive had has had one so it has to be there for some good reason. My guess would be unlike an auto there is no air passing around the engine compartment like in a auto and it will heat up more because of this factor. Maybe Bondo will answer this for both of us.

Ayuh,... I've Never seen a power steering system that Didn't have a Cooler....
Many times on Autos,..
It's nothing more than an extra few feet of tubing run along the frame/ crossmembers in the air flow...
Always on the return side,..
No much to it, but it Works...