Cleaning out oil cooler after bearing failure?

Whizbang · 07-18-2013, 09:45 AM

are there methods for cleaning out an oil cooler after having bearing failure? or perhaps is it a professional job? Id rather reuse this one, than have to buy a new one.

Fendamonky · 07-18-2013, 10:42 AM

Bawbers and I were just talking about this over the weekend... apparently the old school trick was to soak/flush them with kerosene then flush 'em out with oil.

We were talking about it because the oil temp in my bimmer is too high, figure there is buildup in my oil lines or oil cooler..

Whizbang · 07-18-2013, 11:01 AM

i could probably funnel it in there and slosh it around. repeat a few times til it comes out clear.

JL1RX7 · 07-18-2013, 11:08 AM

If your cheap use water then a dose or two of Kerosene and oil.

Whizbang · 07-18-2013, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL1RX7

If your cheap use water then a dose or two of Kerosene and oil.

how did you know. Well, that would get more pressure going through...

JL1RX7 · 07-18-2013, 11:19 AM

Fluid is fluid. Normally you would want to flush your coolers with what your normal fluid is. Pressurize the system and flush away. Have to have some sort of filters to catch the bad stuff. Now the kerosene will cut the oil sludge that is in the cooler and flush it out when you dump it. All those microscopic pieces are the hard ones to get but it will work.

Water will do some of this. Not as well and will mostly float over the oil sludge that is built up inside. But it will get the big chunks out and then on to the other stuff.

I flushed many a hyd system on jets and god knows how many times on the radar cooling systems. There was a little easier since we had GSE to support the flush and fill.

Whizbang · 07-18-2013, 11:28 AM

yea i have a bucket, a hose, and a 5 gallon gas can. maybe a funnel

JL1RX7 · 07-18-2013, 11:30 AM

Trying to offer a good time?

Whizbang · 07-18-2013, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL1RX7

Trying to offer a good time?

mmmmmaybe

JL1RX7 · 07-18-2013, 11:32 AM

crap I forgot this isn't the lounge.... Sorry.

Fendamonky · 07-18-2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jl1rx7

crap i forgot this isn't the lounge.... Sorry.

FC Zach · 07-18-2013, 02:30 PM

I used a cheap universal fuel pump and a large pan filled with a few quarts of kerosene to circulate kerosene through the cooler till the fluid coming out the other end was clear. Seemed to work well and I didn't waste much kerosene either.

WE3RX7 · 07-18-2013, 04:23 PM

I've used mineral spirits before as well, flush it good and call it a day. I would do an oil change within 500 miles after running everything though, just as added (cheap) insurance...

FC Zach · 07-18-2013, 04:40 PM

^ Good tip, I did the same. I checked my filter, cutting it open and found brass in the filter element even after flushing the crap out of the cooler. It was that way for a couple oil changes, gradually cleaner each change. I guess the flushing only gets most of the debris.

Fendamonky · 07-18-2013, 05:23 PM

Where did you get the pump you used Zach? I had complete bearing failure due to (unknowingly) dumping all my oil while driving down the highway... I'm thinking that a flush like what you did would be just the ticket for me!

07-18-2013, 09:45 AM	#1
Whizbang Respecognize! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Δx = ħ/2Δp Posts: 3,190 Rep Power: 20	Cleaning out oil cooler after bearing failure? are there methods for cleaning out an oil cooler after having bearing failure? or perhaps is it a professional job? Id rather reuse this one, than have to buy a new one. __________________ For current updates and event coverage check out Follow on Twitter! @WhizbangRally Whizbang Rally's Webpage \| Facebook

07-18-2013, 11:01 AM	#3
Whizbang Respecognize! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Δx = ħ/2Δp Posts: 3,190 Rep Power: 20	i could probably funnel it in there and slosh it around. repeat a few times til it comes out clear. __________________ For current updates and event coverage check out Follow on Twitter! @WhizbangRally Whizbang Rally's Webpage \| Facebook

07-18-2013, 11:28 AM	#7
Whizbang Respecognize! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Δx = ħ/2Δp Posts: 3,190 Rep Power: 20	yea i have a bucket, a hose, and a 5 gallon gas can. maybe a funnel __________________ For current updates and event coverage check out Follow on Twitter! @WhizbangRally Whizbang Rally's Webpage \| Facebook

07-18-2013, 02:30 PM	#12
FC Zach RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eagleville, TN Posts: 2,267 Rep Power: 20	I used a cheap universal fuel pump and a large pan filled with a few quarts of kerosene to circulate kerosene through the cooler till the fluid coming out the other end was clear. Seemed to work well and I didn't waste much kerosene either. __________________ 1993 Yamaha GTS1000 1992 Celica Turbo AllTrac 1987 RX7 Sport 1979 Yamaha G1, KM24 powered 1975 Dolmar KMS4

07-18-2013, 04:40 PM	#14
FC Zach RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eagleville, TN Posts: 2,267 Rep Power: 20	^ Good tip, I did the same. I checked my filter, cutting it open and found brass in the filter element even after flushing the crap out of the cooler. It was that way for a couple oil changes, gradually cleaner each change. I guess the flushing only gets most of the debris. __________________ 1993 Yamaha GTS1000 1992 Celica Turbo AllTrac 1987 RX7 Sport 1979 Yamaha G1, KM24 powered 1975 Dolmar KMS4

07-18-2013, 11:08 AM	#4
JL1RX7 Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Front Royal, VA Posts: 487 Rep Power: 18	If your cheap use water then a dose or two of Kerosene and oil.

07-18-2013, 11:19 AM	#6
JL1RX7 Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Front Royal, VA Posts: 487 Rep Power: 18	Fluid is fluid. Normally you would want to flush your coolers with what your normal fluid is. Pressurize the system and flush away. Have to have some sort of filters to catch the bad stuff. Now the kerosene will cut the oil sludge that is in the cooler and flush it out when you dump it. All those microscopic pieces are the hard ones to get but it will work. Water will do some of this. Not as well and will mostly float over the oil sludge that is built up inside. But it will get the big chunks out and then on to the other stuff. I flushed many a hyd system on jets and god knows how many times on the radar cooling systems. There was a little easier since we had GSE to support the flush and fill.

07-18-2013, 11:30 AM	#8
JL1RX7 Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Front Royal, VA Posts: 487 Rep Power: 18	Trying to offer a good time?

07-18-2013, 11:32 AM	#10
JL1RX7 Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Front Royal, VA Posts: 487 Rep Power: 18	crap I forgot this isn't the lounge.... Sorry.

07-18-2013, 04:23 PM	#13
WE3RX7 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA Posts: 1,812 Rep Power: 19	I've used mineral spirits before as well, flush it good and call it a day. I would do an oil change within 500 miles after running everything though, just as added (cheap) insurance...