I was looking at the hoses going in to my radiator today, for the engine oil cooler. It looks like you have to change the whole cooler just to replace the rubber hoses. The rubber hoses are crimped on to the metal lines. Has anyone else replaced just the rubber parts?

 

I dont know if it is the same on a 92 as a 90 but I would think that it is.If you are talking about the two little rubber hoses right at the oil cooler that the oil filter is attached to,I just went through this putting it mildly ,IT SUCKED! I dont know if you are wanting to replace them because they are kinked or leaking.But here is what happened with mine...I started noticing little drops of oil on my driveway,since they were toward the rear of the engine,I thought,great my rear seal is gone.Well when I changed the oil I noticed quite a bit of oil on these two hoses and the filter.I thought that one or both of them were leaking and the oil was just blowing back on the filter when I was driving.The oil spots on the driveway were getting much bigger and figured I had better try to fix this.I got some heater hose from the parts store,I think it was 3/4 inch,as it turns out oil does not even go through these hoses,coolant does duh.I just ASSumed it cooled the oil the same way it cools the tranny fluid because the tranny fluid does travel up to the radiator.Anyway as you have seen there is very litttle space between the metal lines and the cooler so make sure you cut them to the exact length,I cut one 1/2 to long and had to take it back apart to cut 1/2 inch off! I am finishing this on another post because this one almost has too many characters!I have never had to split a post

 

Anyway,the way I had to do mine was to attach the rubber hoses with the cooler hanging loose and then slide the cooler onto the threaded shaft(make sure your clamps are put on so that you can get to the screws to tighten them!)then put the nut on that holds the cooler on.There is also a C clamp that goes on the shaft between the cooler and the nut.Well when I finally got it back together I started the car and watched in horror as a stream of oil ran down the filter,I tightened the filter a little more and wiped it off. It is certainly not leaking like it was but is still leaking a little.The dealer said it could be the gasket between the cooler and the engine,$19 ,and if it is not that maybe the cooler itself is cracked,$375 or some crap !! I think it is just the gasket.But if there is a plus side to this novel,the rubber hoses were shot,they were all swolen and could have burst at any time meaning all coolant would have shot out . Sorry for the long post,I mean posts,everyone, just trying to help out .

 

Yeah, both ends of my cooler. The rubber is starting to dry rot. Thanks for the response. Boy this sounds like it is going to be a project.

 

It was not any fun that is for sure,but I think what made it so bad is that it is such a tight space. I forgot to mention there is a bracket holding the metal lines in place,I think it is attached to the frame with one bolt(it may not be the frame but something down there)anyway take this loose and it will give you a little more flexibility to move the metal lines around.You said in your original post that they were like crimped on,if I am understanding you right,that sounds like them factory clamps.Mine must have already been replaced once because it had the aftermarket clamps that you tighten with a screwdriver.Somehow three of the four clamps screw heads were in a position that was virtually impossible to get to.I dont even know how they tightened them.Dont forget there is coolant in these lines so do it when it is completely cold.Also if yours is not leaking oil like mine was I think that your not supposed to tighten the cooler mega-tight ,the same as an oil filter,this will squish the $19 gasket.

 

Let me remind you that you don't "NEED" this cooler. It may help a bit, but it isn't necessary. When I swapped in my 406, I removed all of the plumbing for it and used a standard SBC oil filter block adaptor.

Consider doing it, especially if you have an automatic...I don't think the coolant radiator should have to cool the trans fluid AND the oil as well as keep the engine itself cool...

You may find it helps you if you have heat-related issues too.

Good luck