Spreading topsoil at my home last week and began losing power and noticed a trail of oil. After shutting down I could hear it pissing out of the hose above the fuel tank and realized it's the oil cooler return line. I ordered a new one but in the meantime started cleaning up and wanted to get the ends loosened up. Tonight I got the end at the control valve loosened but the end at the oil cooler is giving me the heebie-geebies. Although I've worked on all my vehicles since being a teen, this is my first skid and I'm not very experienced with wrenching on it. The end at the control valve has a crimped on elbow and the one at the cooler connects to an elbow at the cooler. The area is very tight and I'm scared of ruining the cooler nipple. I noticed tonight the connection on the cooler looks black... and plastic? I don't have the new hose in yet so don't know if that end just connects on the opposite side of the elbow, which would make sense to me instead of having to remove the elbow. The issue I'm seeing is that if I wrench on the line it may put pressure on the elbow and thus the nipple. I realize I need to use two wrenches to not allow pressure at the cooler but it's really tight against the frame. Any tips for those who have done it before? I see a slot underneath the radiator where I can access the end of the elbow on the cooler side, and the nipple also has a hex so you can tighten the elbow to it properly. Wondering if it's easier to disconnect the elbow from the nipple, then swap the elbow to the new line and repeat? I don't think the new line will come with this elbow -- I've seen it has a 90 but I definitely have a crimped one on the end at the control valve and assume it's that. Any tips would be appreciated!
LS170 oil cooler line blew - any tips?
- Thread starter BobbyP
- Start date
