any info about VW/Audi oil-to-coolant cooler gasket

[mjo]

Hi Everyone,

I am interested in putting this on my '95 Saturn - it has the exact same oil filter thread and width (3/4x16 and 2.98" diameter). If you aren't sure what I'm talking about, this is the circular heat exchanger that resides directly under the oil filter where the heater hoses are connected to. I've read that these little devices warm up the engine oil on startup, when the coolant is much warmer than the oil, and then keep it within a certain temperature range close to the coolant temperature. I've found a few of these on Ebay. Anyway, my question is that I wanted to know what kind of gasket is used between this cooler and the engine block to make sure that it will seal correctly. Thanks.

 

[Tyrolkid2]

A rubber O-ring is used. It's not round in it's cross-section though, It's more flat with a round lip.

 

[ChrisW]

If you have the room, go for it. The only thing I'd worry abot besides the gasket is everytime you want to put on or off a filter, the cooler has the chance of unseating and twisting off as well. But of course, I would think you could use soem sort of thread locker on the threads.

 

[mjo]

Ahh, good thing I have a bypass filter installed for my motor oil, the ff filter stays much cleaner and only needs to be changed a quarter as often or longer. Thanks for the advice.

 

[srivett]

I would use a VW gasket and nut.

The nut is about 1.5" wide so it is easy to torque down. The gasket I had got melted in an engine fire so I don't really know what it was supposed to look like.

If you go down to your yocal VW dealer just tell them you have a late '80s 1.6 litre turbo diesel with over 1,000,000 miles (if you say it only has 60k on it you'll get slapped in the face

). It will take them all of 10 seconds to look up the parts on the computer. I wouldn't buy the actual cooler from VW as it will be too expensive and used ones are false economy.

Cheers, Steve

 

[Gradient]

mjo,
There is a picture of the gasket at:
Oil Cooler Seal
StopShopandDrive.com has the Oil Cooler and seal for about $55 delivered.

 

[Gary Allan]

mjo,

The VW/Audi cooler is fastened with a double ended nipple and a flat nut ..and not an extension like the Modine/Ford/Mopar/(and Permacool for that matter) sandwich oil coolers of like design. The VW/Audi cooler's center hole is not big enough to use one either.

Just as long as you're aware that you have to remove you original filter thread ..and that it also has to be 3/4-16 on the interior ..some are not.