changing v6 oil cooler pipes

[jellyhead]

Hi all,
Got a 3.0 v6 ex old bill estate and been trying to do the oil cooler change job. Due to problems undoing the nuts on the pipes by the oil filter started to cut the pipes so i could get a socket over the nuts to get them off. Then managed to free them off with a combination of three types off spanners so i could get the angles required. I'm not sure how close i am to cutting through the pipes so don't want to chance them. Is it possible to change them with the engine in the car and if so are there any tricks changing them. Any help would be gratefully recieved.
Brilliant forum with lots of very helpfull advice.
Chers
Mark

[tunnie]

your cutting the oil cooler pipes?  

I have had experiance replacing the oil cooler and it's not a fun job, Markie here is also having problems with it.

Not sure on changing the pipes, but from what I remember it would be very difficult to do this. Probably impossible with the engine in, due to the route the pipe takes. How much have you cut away?

[Marks DTM Calib]

19mm crows foot spanner is the tool of choice to remove the fastenings at the oil filter end.

[Markie]

cutting through the pipes....hmmmm. Well to replace them you will need to remove them.

As Mark says 19mm corws foot down below either side of filter - not at oil cooler end.

Currently doing this myself and its fiddly  :-/

[Matchless]

iirc there is a sprung clip/clamp holding the oil cooler pipes at about the level of the head - block joint. I guess it is fastened to one of the bell housing bolts. If you can release the clip or unbolt it then the pipes come out with a bit of wriggling.
The crank sensor wire is clipped to the pipes so take the opportunity to re-route this up the side of the engine bay, behind the brake pipes.

[jellyhead]

Hi thanks for the info.
Heard the name of a crows foot spanner but not sure what it looks like. Is Crows foot the make?
Was told about the clip last night by a helpful bloke at the nearby vauxhall dealer and will give it a try, cheers about the tip with the wiring.
Mark

[Essex_Andy]

Replaced the oil cooler cover on my omega today

Couldnt get one of the oil lines undone by the oil filter so gently bent it out of the way.

I was thinking of getting some high temp rubber tubing suitable for oil and sorting it that way but managed to refit the original metal pipes ok.

I recommend using new banjo bolts and obviously new crush seal washers

And new cooler to cooler plate nuts and O-rings

When undoing the old cooler to cooler plate fixing nuts undo 1/2 a turn then do up a 1/4 and repeat until fully undone.....the threads tend to strip easily I have been told

[TheBoy]

Replaced the oil cooler cover on my omega today

Couldnt get one of the oil lines undone by the oil filter so gently bent it out of the way.

I was thinking of getting some high temp rubber tubing suitable for oil and sorting it that way but managed to refit the original metal pipes ok.

I recommend using new banjo bolts and obviously new crush seal washers

And new cooler to cooler plate nuts and O-rings

When undoing the old cooler to cooler plate fixing nuts undo 1/2 a turn then do up a 1/4 and repeat until fully undone.....the threads tend to strip easily I have been told

We recommend that oil pipes aren't bent as if they dont go straight back on they can be a bastard. Been there, done that...

[BigCat]

Hi Mark,

Crows foot refers to the shape (designed to be used with a socket wrench) try these or something similar:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-8-DRIVE-CROWFOOT-CROWS-FOOT-TOOL-SPANNER-SET_W0QQitemZ150079342351QQihZ005QQcategoryZ30917QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

(BTW: Delighted you've rescued the old girl, it should make an excellent tow car for your rally car when you're finished)