So, what’s the oil cooler in your car?
If you’re keen on keeping your car running sweet, you’ll want to know a bit about the oil cooler. In plain English, it’s a little radiator (sometimes built into the main radiator) that keeps engine or transmission oil from getting too hot. It’s especially handy for folks driving up and down Te Rapa Road in heavy Hamilton traffic, bombing over potholes in Dinsdale, or tackling all those stop-starts through Rototuna or Glenview.
These oil coolers aren’t just for mad-performance cars or utes either – we see them in plenty of everyday rides, like Toyota Estimas, Mazda Atenzas, or even the odd Peugeot 3008 that come through from Morrinsville or Cambridge.
Basically, the oil cooler runs oil through a bunch of tubes with cooling fins. These help to ditch heat into the air, which means your oil stays cooler, your engine or gearbox works better, and you’re less likely to cop big bills for fixing heat damage. If you want more ins and outs on all that check out this piece.
What stuffs up an oil cooler?
Most people don’t even know they’ve got an oil cooler until it goes wrong. To be fair, they usually just get on with the job. But we have seen our bit of trouble, especially after a knock on the front (bit too fast over a Borman Road curb maybe?), or just from age. Here’s what typically goes pear-shaped:
Oil leaks – Any crack or dent can have oil dripping. Saw this on a Honda Odyssey a week back after a loose trolley at The Base clipped the front.
Busted tubes or hoses – All the shakes from potholes or finishing school run laps around Frankton can cause the tubes on an oil cooler to split or pop. Means oil can’t cool down right.
Low coolant – If your coolant’s leaking (bit of a theme on aging Mitsi Outlanders and older Mercs in Whitiora), the oil cooler can’t do its thing, and you’ll risk overheating big time. Want some tips on coolant leaks? Here’s more about that.
How do you know if the oil cooler’s gone bad?
If something’s up with the oil cooler, your car will let you know eventually. Look out for:
Overheating – Super common. Engine or gearbox gets way too hot. Like that late-model Nissan X-Trail we had in from Tamahere – temp gauge went up, transmission slipped, cost a fair whack to sort. If you spot the temp rising, best park up and call us rather than push your luck. Here’s a yarn on what to do if your car overheats.
Oil leaks – Oil puddles under the car (in your Hamilton East driveway or under the Pak’nSave carpark) can mean trouble. Could be the cooler, could be something else. Either way, don’t leave it – oil is your engine’s lifeblood.
Oil and coolant mixing – If you see gooey sludge under your radiator cap, or your engine oil’s gone milky, reckon your oil cooler’s mixing things it shouldn’t. Needs an oil and coolant flush, and probably a new cooler, ASAP.
Do you need to sort an oil cooler fast?
Absolutely, mate. Letting a rooted oil cooler slide can toast your engine or transmission, especially in stop-start Hamilton traffic, or hooning over to Raglan for some surfing. Early fix means smaller bill and less headache. Quick oil cooler swap is heaps cheaper than a new engine or gearbox, trust us.
Need an oil cooler inspection or replacement in Hamilton?
If you reckon your oil cooler’s had it or you’ve spotted any of the symptoms above, swing by and we’ll run a proper check. The Grimmer Motors crew has seen the lot – from quirky European hybrids to trusty old Subaru Outbacks. We’ll quickly let you know if the oil cooler needs replacing, a flush, or just a tweak. Could save you a ton of hassle and dosh down the track.
If you need car service in Hamilton, a WOF, or just want it checked before another school run up Peachgrove Road, give us a shout.