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[Bumbazor]

Can anyone tell me what the symptoms of a failed oil cooler are?

Such as oil leaks, where it would leak and smoke, coolant leaks, etc...

I've just changed cc gaskets in an attempt to fix an oil leak which manifested itself with smoke off the nearside exhaust manifold... but it still does it. So now I'm exploring other things which use oil. Next on the list is the oil cooler but I don't know enough to diagnose. And no, I didn't check the V when I did the gaskets. Was running out of time and couldn't be bothered to undo all the bolts from the black inlets.
Just to remind you, it doesn't leak when the engine is not running and it's not the cc gaskets. Also it looks like it's smoking from below the top of the cam block (the bit where the cover goes).
I'm not losing loads of oil and in 3 weeks of doing it the oil level doesn't look to have dropped. In fact it looks the same although I know gradually it's reducing.

Thanks

[TheBoy]

If oil cooler fails, the only place oil ends up is in the coolant

[TheBoy]

Is it oil smoke of coolant smoke?  Only place that can leak oil on to top of exhaust manifold its cam cover gaskets, or poor airm when topping up oil.

[Bumbazor]

Is it oil smoke of coolant smoke?  Only place that can leak oil on to top of exhaust manifold its cam cover gaskets, or poor airm when topping up oil.

Honestly I wouldn't know but it smells smoky. I've had the poor aim when topping up problem but it's not that as that was months ago and like I said I did the gaskets yesterday and even before then I was sure they weren't the problem.

However, it's interesting you mention coolant smoke as my coolant level is dropping and I haven't found the leak yet. Problem is I don't know what symptoms coolant smoke gives...
If it is that where could coolant leak onto the nearside ex manifold from?

[TheBoy]

Is it oil smoke of coolant smoke?  Only place that can leak oil on to top of exhaust manifold its cam cover gaskets, or poor airm when topping up oil.

Honestly I wouldn't know but it smells smoky. I've had the poor aim when topping up problem but it's not that as that was months ago and like I said I did the gaskets yesterday and even before then I was sure they weren't the problem.

However, it's interesting you mention coolant smoke as my coolant level is dropping and I haven't found the leak yet. Problem is I don't know what symptoms coolant smoke gives...
If it is that where could coolant leak onto the nearside ex manifold from?

Coolant, cold be top hose, these sometimes go a bit pourous. Or from valley and leaking out that side. Or if its a 1998 3.0l, HG leaking on NS rear corner.

Possibly HBV, but that tends to give steam around back.


Coolant tends to have a 'sweet' smell, rather than the choking, rancid smell of oil.

[Bumbazor]

I'll have another smell later but it does smell oily.

Forgot to add, the oil drips under the car; but I did notice some coolant dripping off underside of bell housing.

[TheBoy]

I'll have another smell later but it does smell oily.

Forgot to add, the oil drips under the car; but I did notice some coolant dripping off underside of bell housing.

For coolant leak then, HBV is first check.

Oil, can you clean it up, and trace the oil up?

[Bumbazor]

Yes, thought about HBV for coolant, especially as now I found it dripping off bell housing.

For the oil I think a clean up is best but it's fairly manky down there and I wouldn't know how to get it clean.

Would putting too much oil in cause the leak?

[Welung666]

Yes, thought about HBV for coolant, especially as now I found it dripping off bell housing.

For the oil I think a clean up is best but it's fairly manky down there and I wouldn't know how to get it clean.

Would putting too much oil in cause the leak?

http://www.gunk.eu.com/html/products/731.html

[ians]

are you sure its not oil from before you replaced the cam covers finding its way down there - it does take a while to burn it all off.

[Bumbazor]

are you sure its not oil from before you replaced the cam covers finding its way down there - it does take a while to burn it all off.

Yes, quite sure, although time will tell.

[Bumbazor]

Above is a picture (not my engine) I have used to show you where the smoke is coming from. It is coming out from under the top heat shield. I can't tell if the oil is on the top of the manifold without removing the shield (will do this weekend) or if the oil is leaking onto somewhere below the immediate 3 pipe manifold.
In any case, the oil is not leaking onto the heat shield. It is finding its way by drip or otherwise straight onto the manifold.
Like I said I changed the cc gaskets and it's not them anyway because I've checked.

Until I remove the top heat shield to get better views, any more comments?