Someone Ruined my Bank Holiday Weekend

[ukkid35]

Sadly all hope of attending the TVR NL Car Club day at Zolder tomorrow slipped away today as I failed to fix an oil leak.

Last night when I started to do an oil change in preparation I found I had a severe oil leak from the oil cooler, oil was pooling under the radiator and then leaking out. I stripped out the front of the car but couldn't undo the oil cooler lines, I assumed this was because I didn't have a suitable spanner to counter hold.

So I arrived a Racing Green 8am this morning hoping to pick up an oil cooler, but to no avail. When I called RaceTech they very kindly suggested that Serck would be able to supply one off the shelf. When I called Serck they said sure, but bring in your old one to ensure we supply the right fittings.

And then it all went wrong, I simply couldn't undo the unions (with my new collection of extra large spanners). Eventually I used a jigsaw to cut one of the hoses so I could put my foot on the cooler and try to undo the other hose.



Still almost impossible, but eventually I got it out, but too late to get to Serck and Pirtek.

Game Over.

The oil cooler was dated '97, so it was the original fitment, but who did this?



I never stood a chance...


(edited for typo - Serck not Merck!)

Edited by ukkid35 on Friday 24th May 06:23

[esso]

...i know that feeling Buddy....i was on my way to Chatsworth and my driveshaft broke....commiserations.

[Jhonno]

Gutted..

[FarmyardPants]

yea know that feeling.

The day before I was due to drive to the south of Spain I noticed some oil under the car. Oil cooler was shot. APM was willing to fit one that night(!) but couldn't get one. Gutted. Took the family car.

Ok not quite as frustrating as DIY fail but annoying

[pmessling]

I got a couple of hoses at home should you need them Paul. Although you know now think its 30 or 32mm the spanner size.

[ridds]

Thinkauto is your friend, they keep that cooler in stock.

[pmessling]

Yes think auto. It's a mocal one. Could fit an oil stat as well?

[ukkid35]

pmessling said:

Yes think auto. It's a mocal one. Could fit an oil stat as well?

Thanks both, very useful. In fact both Serck and ThinkAuto are just 5 miles from me, doesn't get much more convenient than that.

Also, the cooler in my car is definitely labelled Serck, although I guess it could be a re-labelled Mocal.

[New POD]

I've got an oil cooler off an astra GTE somewhere in the garage. It's got pipes and hoses attatched. You can have it, although it might not fit and is probably full of engine.

[M3John]

If its any consultation I had exactly the same problem on my oil cooler when I had to replace it. Unlike yours though my union wasn't damaged. It simply wouldn't undo - even with the application of a bit of heat. I think it was simply a case of the steel and alloy fittings oxidising together over all those years !

[tr7v8]

If you can't undo the union then a dremel disc down the side of the nut will free it up so it can be undone.

[ukkid35]

tr7v8 said:

If you can't undo the union then a dremel disc down the side of the nut will free it up so it can be undone.

I'll remember that for next time - thanks.

[Alistair H.]

ukkid35 said:

I'll remember that for next time - thanks.

Really sorry to hear of your woes Paul. I was looking out for you coming. I am the the only UK Cerbera here. But there are 4 or 5 continental ones.

Just about to go for the awards dinner!

[ukkid35]

nemasis said:

In 1997 that would have been me that fitted the said componant at the factory,oil cooler and pipe work, but looking at the pictures i cant see that it has lasted 16 years without some one noticing an oil leak from there so im not taking the resonsibility for this one..........

Thanks - I'm sure you're right, someone's been in there since it was first fitted.

If I'd accepted defeat and cut the hoses rather than wasted time trying to undo them, it is just possible that I might have made it to Zolder, although I'd probably have been too tired to make the most of the day.

However, I knew that I'd be looking at minimum of £80 per hose, plus the £170 that RG wanted for the oil cooler, mounting costs were enough to encourage me to persevere on my fruitless quest. I also wasted time when it came to trying to cut through the hose, my hand tools were completely hopeless, I needed jigsaw to do the job.

I don't begrudge the failed oil cooler, it lasted 15 years after all. However the RG markup (100%), when they don't even keep them in stock, is a bit much.

[softtop]

That is a shame to hear Paul. You were missed.