Oil Coolers and stone impact - anyone else?
 

Owned my 8 for a year and a half. Noticed for last few months that both engine oil coolers are getting more and more impacted and damaged by road debris, presumably small stones (thankfully no small animals yet). I`m concerned about it though..because all the small impacts have bent over the cooling fins inside the front face of the heat exchangers. I`m worried this will lead to a loss of performance and a higher running temperature for the engine oil. There is no doubt that the things are quite badly damaged now. Anyone any ideas? Should this be a warranty claim?

Regards

Tom :(

I would think it was designed this way and that it is made to standup to everyday driving knowing that the front is going to get hit by objects like most cars, but then again I could be wrong

they'll chalk it up to nromal wear and tear until enough epople bitch and hen they might do a recal and put a screen or something over them.

That's the reason why so many of us add the oil cooler grilles and a grille to the lower opening in front of the AC condensor. Check out a search on oil cooler grilles. Its also in the DIY section.

OK, I'm installing the grills this weekend. Cleaning out a huge grasshopper sucks. Question before I do it tho. I'm going to clean out the oil coolers as best as I can, should I re bend the cooling fins to their original shape?

You can get a radiator fin comb from an autoparts store and 'comb' the fins straight... would probably help keep cooling at a maximum.

4 August 2003.....
 

The 'definitive' DIY for protecting your coolers was posted in August 2003!

Time - 5 minutes
Price - 67 cents
Tools - scissors
Immaculate two-year-old oil coolers - Priceless!
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doc

Link, for the 'search impaired'.... ;)

Thanks, didn't know those existed. Damn good idea too.