1998-2002 Crown Vic P71

[brianl703]

On the 97 and prior P71s, because of the unavailability of the oil cooler hose assembly from Ford (the newer style which is all that is available requires a new filter adapter), it is apparently a common practice when the hose leaks to disconnect it from the engine end at the filter adapter and plug the 1/2 NPT holes where it was connected with brass plugs from the hardware store.

It has been suggested that this is bad for the engine, as it reduces the oil pressure.

I have a '97 P71 where this was done. My temporary work-around is to replace the brass plugs with hose barbs and loop the input to the output with 3/8" oil cooler hose. (That costs a whole $3 more than using brass plugs!)

Long-term work-around is to get the newer style hose (available as an aftermarket part from Dorman) and have a hydraulic hose shop put 1/2" male NPT swivel fittings on the engine end.

Anyhow, I wonder if this hack "fix" of plugging the oil cooler connections might contribute to the demise of some engines.

 

[methusaleh]

I have driven both the 92-97 CVPI and the current generation, and while I did not take much of a role in maintaining the cars, I did take an interest in their mechanical condition.

I have not driven an older model for quite a few years now, but two things that stick in my mind are defective hood releases and factory brake lines being prone to rust.

As someone mentioned, erratic fuel gauge behavior on the latest generation. Also the smaller agency I worked for had their 98-?? cruisers almost literally eating ball joints. I do however wonder if it may have been somewhat due to lack of proper preventive maintenance on the part of the town's highway department (who did daily checks on the cars). Some cars were only back in service for a few weeks before the front ends were creaking again...and back into the Ford shop they went. It was very noticeable during hard u-turns, which of course were frequent when running moving radar on country roads.

There's also the notorious frame rot issue. I worked for an agency in Massachusetts and as I understand it we were "the place" to be for that to crop up, due to heavy salt use on roadways. I have even seen it in later year CVPIs, so apparently it was not remedied.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
On the 97 and prior P71s, because of the unavailability of the oil cooler hose assembly from Ford (the newer style which is all that is available requires a new filter adapter), it is apparently a common practice when the hose leaks to disconnect it from the engine end at the filter adapter and plug the 1/2 NPT holes where it was connected with brass plugs from the hardware store.

It has been suggested that this is bad for the engine, as it reduces the oil pressure.

I have a '97 P71 where this was done. My temporary work-around is to replace the brass plugs with hose barbs and loop the input to the output with 3/8" oil cooler hose. (That costs a whole $3 more than using brass plugs!)

Long-term work-around is to get the newer style hose (available as an aftermarket part from Dorman) and have a hydraulic hose shop put 1/2" male NPT swivel fittings on the engine end.

Anyhow, I wonder if this hack "fix" of plugging the oil cooler connections might contribute to the demise of some engines.

Yes it is bad. It only has a small passage between the in and out ports designed to aid flow during the warm up period. Unless you are towing or using it hard, the oil cooler is unnecessary and you could simply replace the oil filter adapter with its civilian counter part.
http://www.p71interceptor.com/oilcooler/index.html

 

[1 SX]

Well, this is one of the reasons i would like to get a P71, Trans cooler, Engine oil cooler, and the whole car is beefed up..

 

[Colt45ws]

All 98+ Vics get a nice thermostatically controlled O-T-A transmission cooler.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
the oil cooler is unnecessary and you could simply replace the oil filter adapter with its civilian counter part.


That will probably cost more than getting the newer style hose re-worked to fit the old filter adapter.