Author Topic: Oil cooler  (Read 1911 times)

Offline TreadGingerly

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Oil cooler
« on: 09 February 2010, 21:08 »
Water light started flashing, went to top it up and found the header tank full of a gunky, oily mess. Immediate thought was head gasket but the car wasn't overheating. Someone has told me it may be the oil cooler, anyone have any experience of this? ta

Offline Alec

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Re: Oil cooler
« Reply #1 on: 09 February 2010, 22:53 »
I have heard of this but its never happened to me (touch wood)

I believe there is an oil cooler where the oil filter sits and is cooled by water but dont quote me on it lol I am still fairly new to the golf scene.

Might be a good idea to post something in the "Garage" section aswell if you are in a hurry to get some help

Offline Logie

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Re: Oil cooler
« Reply #2 on: 10 February 2010, 09:26 »
This pic shows the oil cooler


Offline rubjonny

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Re: Oil cooler
« Reply #3 on: 10 February 2010, 12:46 »
yep mine did this, bypass the oil cooler by joining the two pipes to it together, then flush the coolant system.

disconnect as many hoses as you can and blast out with a hosepipe, then fill system with plain water andf a cupfull of bio washing powder. run engine till it gets hot then allow to cool and flush again. repeat till all oil is removed, then refill system with water & antifreeze and drive it for a week to see if oil comes back.

also, oil dripping out the oil cooler pipes is a giveaway that its dead
Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.

Offline jimojameso

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Re: Oil cooler
« Reply #4 on: 10 February 2010, 13:03 »
Mine did this too!!  :cry:

Offline beechymonza

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Re: Oil cooler
« Reply #5 on: 10 February 2010, 17:41 »
Yeah this happened 2 me, 6 months after fitting a new cooler from euro parts, 1st the oil seal split so i replaced ir with original 1 from vw, Then i started gettin milky slimy water, So i robbed a vw oil cooler off mk3 from scrap yard an it been ok since,
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Offline TreadGingerly

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Re: Oil cooler
« Reply #6 on: 12 February 2010, 10:09 »
Thanks, I've changed the cooler, just going to flush the system and hope it's all fine! That 'large nut' is 27mm, nice obscure size!!

Offline XTC

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Re: Oil cooler
« Reply #7 on: 12 February 2010, 22:14 »
Mine also did this but did overheat! went to local parts retailer and spoke to a 20 year ex VW mechanic and suggested this may be the case but he assured me in 20 years of working on golfs he has never come across this

£70 later and a few days wrestling with bolts and cleaning my cooling system out, re-assembled and ready to go! after 20 minutes of running the exact same thing happened!!!

Bypassed the oil cooler as this is all i could pin it down to and allas! oil sitting in oil cooler after a minute or so of engine running! running bypassed now with oil cooler taken off and filter retaining rod out of 1.6 driver as is short but have never got rid of the coolant flashing on the dash since!!! any ideas anyone?


Offline Alec

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Re: Oil cooler
« Reply #8 on: 13 February 2010, 00:19 »
Maybe the sensor in the expansion tank? Or the cap on the tank?

Offline danny_p

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Re: Oil cooler
« Reply #9 on: 13 February 2010, 00:52 »
oil coted pickup in the tank, that normaly stops hem sensing pritty well, clean or replace
all the VW's have gone bar 1.