Need help with oil leak

[darkblue]

Hello

Maybe someone can help me with my problem on my 87 Turbo HC.

There is a leak at the connection of the oil pipe that is fixed to the oil cooler at the front of the car. This oil pipe goes through the whole car ( chassis backbone ). I've tried to fix it with some silicon but after a while it starts loosing oil again. So I decide to take out the pipe and replace it. (or maybe it is possible to take off the metal connection from the hose and fix it again.?).

Has anyone done this before?. Is it difficult to put the pipe back again.?

I would be glad if someone could help me before I start.

Best regards,

Richard

[WayneB]

Is it the fitting thats leaking or where the thread joins to the cooler? I have seen Matrix coolers leak there before, usualy cracked due to the vibration and pulsing of the oil as it passes through the cooler. Dont try and repair cooler, replace(easyly available) same for pipe or fitting. Whilst you have the radiator out have it flow checked as they tend to sediment up and loose efficiency over time (18 yrs would do it)

[darkblue]

Hello WayneB

The leak is at the end of the oil pipe between the rubber (hose) and the metall connection.

The cooler is OK. I have asked my mechanic, he was not happy about my project but he said there is a company who can repair it, they will shorten the pipe and fix the metal mounting back with some special equipment. But I worried if we take out the pipe from the chassis backbone, we will get problems in putting it back as the hole looks small.

Thanks,

Richard

[WayneB]

It might be easier to cut the rubber pipe slightly shorter and use a Russell or Aeroquip type barbed end with a clamp on it (instead of disturbing whole line)

[darkblue]

Yes, sounds easier. I hope I can repair it without making any changes to the car, until now everthing is like it has left the factory. (Except the smaller Momo sterring wheel).

I will post next week what happend.

Thanks a lot,

Richard

[WayneB]

If I remember correctly, the rubber hose is crimped to the main oil line. You could carefully cut through the crimped band with a junior hacksaw pull off the rubber line then either cut rubber line slightly shorter(exposing good part) or replace whole rubber line , securing it to hard line barbs with a couple of hose clamps. Good Luck

[darkblue]

Thanks,

I will write you what happened.

Best regards,

Richard

[darkblue]

Hello WayneB

Today I started fixing my oil leak at the front of my car.

I decided to go the hard way and replace the oil pipe.

I can tell you it was hell of a job and I'm lucky to have help, it's a two men job.

The two pipes are fixed to each other inside the backbone so we had to take out both. The pipes are fixed with these plastics? and at one point the pipes stucked inside the backbone.

I removed the interior at the gear shift and there was enough space to cut 4 fixers through the hole inside the backbone.

After that it was easy to take the pipes out. Tomorrow I will rebuild the leaking metal end.

Here are some pics of the job.

regards, Richard

[WayneB]

Glad to see you decided to fix it properly! (even though it is a hell of a job)

[darkblue]

Glad to see you decided to fix it properly!  (even though it is a hell of a job)

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Have new oil pipe and paid $ 80. Don't know if the price is OK but they made it in 1 hour.

[WayneB]

$80 sounds a fair price to me

[darkblue]

$80 sounds a fair price to me

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, I'm sure original Lotus parts are much more expensive and you have to ship them. Going to look after the price just to see how much I saved.