I need help, I'm pretty sure I have an engine oil cooler leaking. I cannot find one for the life of me and I do not know if I can change it myself or do I have to have a mechanic look at it?

Any help is appreciated!!!!

 

OK it just might be my oldtimers disease but I don't know what an oil cooler is.
I know that we have auto trans coolers but not oil coolers.

 

It's easy to replace.
The cooler is behind the oil filter.
Drain antifreeze.
Remove the oil filter then remove the the bolts that hold the oil filter housing on and you've got it.

p/n from Cummins for a '97, think they are all the same though

(1)oil cooler gasket- 05003481AA
(2) oil cooler- 04713985
(3)Oil filter head gasket- 04882997

 

i wonder if thats this guy's issue. http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/991997240.html that would be a steal if so.

 

That or maybe a head gasket.
That truck looks like it was rode hard and put away wet.
Notice how the rear end sort of sags like it was overloaded a lot.
I sort of get a feeling it wasn't maintained very good either.

 

Good eye... I didn't even notice the sagging! It would take a LOT of abuse to do that to one of our trucks!

I'll bet the Dana 80 held up just fine to all the bumper dragging towing and hauling though!

 

maybe he has a load in the bed in the picture? i have never seen this truck even though we live in the same small town. so i'm not trying to sell it but whats a little work and towing going to hurt on our trucks that's not replacable or rebuildable. maybe i'm on last years prices or CA prices for CTD's but this seems like worth checking out. isnt the nv4500 worth half what he is asking?

 

Back to the oil cooler. Different years have bigger coolers. If you buy used, make sure everything is the same. I believe they interchange is you use all the parts. Cooler, plate, correct gskts, and housing from same year.

 

Just get the engine number and call a cummins dealer. Or put the engine # on here and ill tell you what part number you need to get.

 

that's the best way.

also there are 2 diff gaskets that can go between the core and cover so make sure you get the same one you have if you don't get it from Cummins. if you use the wrong one you can have very high or very low oil pressure.

best to just go to cummins but be ready they are not cheep.

You can pressure check the core to see if its good. Do you have any oil in your water. usualy do with bad oil cooler

 

Almost certain all the 12 valve have the same cooler, they for sure all have the same filter housing.

on edit: Just checked the part number for 94-96 oil coolers is the same as the '97.
Interesting thing is the '94-'96 parts manual says there is a core charge on the cooler.

 

This is the thread that came up when i googled oil cooler 1992 12 valve . but your part numbers are different so i will post the inter cooled ve pumped 12 valve oil cooler part numbers. attached quote from cummins with numbers