Oil cooler connection(s)

[mc72]

Could anyone confirm if they've had any issue with the connections to the oil cooler at the front of the car behind the grill below the number plate. I think I may have a slight leak there and wAnt to know if anyone else has had this before tackling the problem. I think the connections may be aluminium although not entirely sure and would prefer a bit more information before tackling the job.

I'm looking for anyone on here to let me know if they've had a similar problem and also if it resulted in the need to replace the oil cooler.

Would appreciate any feedback from anyone whose experienced this and resolved the problem.

Thanks

mc72

[grizz]

Very common problem , You can remove the pipe if great care is taken , If not you'll need a new oil cooler as well ........£££££

[adsgreen]

Make sure the old pipe connections are cut off.
The nut will be seized to the cooler as part of the corrosion.
If anybody tries to undo the nut with a spanner it'll wreck the oil cooler and that's very expensive.
If you cut the nut perpendicular to the run of the pipe then use pliers or similar to remove the cut bolt the pipe should pull out without damaging the cooler.

[mc72]

Thanks for the feedback.

I assume the nut that gets removed needs to be replaced by an OEM one from Audi? Does the pipe need to be bought with the nut,and is the nut a specific material with a specific thread type/pitch?

I appreciate the help so far,I expect it could've been due to corrosion on the nut and as per the feedback so far didn't want to just tighten the existing connection for fear of damaging it,as has been suggested.

mc72

[adsgreen]

I think the accepted repair is to replace the oil hose.
The hose comes with the correct attachment fitted.
In theory you could remove the end fitting and replace but might as well do the hose as a unit.
Iirc the nut is captive on the standard oil pipe fitting.

The problem is that the oil cooler is aluminium and the fitting is brass/steel.
Two different metals/alloys so unless the cooler connection is properly lubricated and sealed you get a battery effect and this is the corrosion.

[charlieferrari]

My '07 RS4 is on the ramp at my local Audi centre right now with the same fault.

The service manager and the tech told me that the cooler itself had corroded. Having read this thread I asked whether they were absolutely sure that it wasn't the hose. "Yes," he said, "leak in the cooler not the hose. We need to replace the whole lot". £900 and something for parts plus VAT and fitting.

"Really, the aluminium cooler has got a corrosion hole in it?" I asked. "Yes, pinhole leak in the actual cooler body", he said. "Come and have a look."

So we did. The nearside hose has corroded right through in the rigid section close to the nut that connects to the cooler. Nothing wrong with the cooler itself.

"Well we always replace the whole lot", he says, "because they break when you try to undo the nut".

"Can you try and cut the nut and peel it off to save me £500, please?"

"Yes, I can try that. Would you like me to?"

"Yes. Please"

He's cutting away as I write. I'll let you know how he gets on...

[lengster1]

Using a junior hacksaw (if cooler still fitted to the car) cut carefully until you see the threads then start addind wd40 or similar while cutting a little further into the thread,try and keep the cut clean and then you can use a suitable flat blade srewdriver to prize apart the nut a little breaking the seal between the two,i made two cuts on mine and plenty of wd40 and hey presto,poor quality material has been used in the pipe manufacture by the looks of it.

[RSKiwi]

My '07 RS4 is on the ramp at my local Audi centre right now with the same fault.

The service manager and the tech told me that the cooler itself had corroded. Having read this thread I asked whether they were absolutely sure that it wasn't the hose. "Yes," he said, "leak in the cooler not the hose. We need to replace the whole lot". £900 and something for parts plus VAT and fitting.

"Really, the aluminium cooler has got a corrosion hole in it?" I asked. "Yes, pinhole leak in the actual cooler body", he said. "Come and have a look."

So we did. The nearside hose has corroded right through in the rigid section close to the nut that connects to the cooler. Nothing wrong with the cooler itself.

"Well we always replace the whole lot", he says, "because they break when you try to undo the nut".

"Can you try and cut the nut and peel it off to save me £500, please?"

"Yes, I can try that. Would you like me to?"


"Yes. Please"

He's cutting away as I write. I'll let you know how he gets on...

Would be keen to hear how this pans out.

Even with cutting mine in the same way it turned out it was too badly corroded and still cost me a new cooler! Good luck. I guess this would be the wrong time to tell you MRC use Audi parts and its a LOT cheaper than Audi....

[mc72]

Thanks to all who have posted on this thread. I've found out that the cost of the pipe is around £120, whilst the cooler itself is closer to £600 plus vat.

The pipe connects to the opposite side of the engine from the connection on the cooler, I'd be grateful if anyone could confirm how difficult it is to remove the old pipe (after disconnection/cutting off from the cooler) and also to route the new pipe?

Thanks

mc72

[grizz]

It's not hard at all , Once the bumper is off and the pipes are cut off / removed ..