Oil coolers
Malfunctions, causes, remedies
Information on diagnostics
The service information for oil coolers emphasises the importance of regular oil changes, as well as the importance of monitoring the oil temperature and the temperature of the entire cooling system. A modern cooler that allows effective heat exchange through a targeted air flow prevents potential problems such as oil loss. Precise assembly, for example using correctly tightened screws, ensures the function of the engine block and transmission, while a special transmission oil cooler helps to provide optimum cooling.
Water and air are mixed in the application to prevent overheating, while the use of an engine oil cooler in combination with the oil pump and an intact hose prevents foam and air bubbles from forming and makes defects visible at an early stage.
Further maintenance instructions as well as information on malfunctions and their causes can be found in the following article.
Oil coolers are usually made of aluminium or stainless steel. Several plates positioned on top of one another create separated channels, with channels containing oil alternating with channels containing coolant agent. For improved heat transfer, the channels usually include fins to increase their surface area. The coolant agent used is typically either a coolant or airflow.
For engine parts subjected to high levels of stress, such as pistons, the engine oil is not only used for lubrication and ultrafine sealing around the piston rings, but also as a cooling agent. The oil cooler, which is integrated into the closed oil circuit, provides additional cooling for the engine.
Oil coolers are robust components. Any damage is almost always caused by external influences or incorrect handling.
Malfunctions, causes, remedies
The following symptoms and malfunctions may indicate damage to the oil cooler:
- Oil in the coolant
- Excessive loss of coolant
- Increasing engine temperature
- Reduced engine performance
The causes of this can be:
- Congestion in the channels due to dirt particles
- Leakages caused by stone chipping, warping during installation, driving the vehicle on uneven ground or corrosion
- Fitting error
Oil coolers can become dirty or even clogged as a result of abrasion or chips. Dirt particles cannot be completely removed from the fine fins by cleaning them. If an old oil cooler is reused, these dirt particles can work loose, enter the oil circuit and cause engine damage or premature wear. For this reason, the oil cooler should not be cleaned when reconditioning an engine, instead the oil cooler should always be replaced.
Most mechanical damage is caused by external influences, such as stone chipping or corrosion. The soldered or crimped fins may splinter if the vehicle suffers an impact when driving over bumps in uneven ground. Leaks can also occur due to incorrectly installed, misaligned seals or incorrect tightening torques.
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