Hello,
The oil cooler lines on my 240D are in pretty rough shape. Here in Maine, it's not too often that it gets hot enough for the oil thermostat to open up, but I should really take care of them before summer arrives. Reading all of the various oil cooler threads, it seems like this job can be a major PITA, possibly more trouble than it's worth. What I usually do when a repair is more trouble than it's worth (vacuum locks, A/C, cruise control, EGR) is to remove or disable the part in question. I figure since Euro models get by without an oil cooler, it's probably not a necessary item in a northern New England climate. I plan to remove the oil cooler lines and "screwed nipples" from the oil cooler housing, then replace the nipples with a couple 18mm x 1.5 oil drain plugs that I bought from the local parts store. It's a hack job, I know, and if anyone thinks I'm making a horrible mistake, please tell me. I'd also like to know if it would be a better to use the metal washers that are already there between the nipples and the oil filter housing, or to use the black nylon(?) washers that came with the oil drain plugs. I'm also a bit curious about the oil thermostat... is it possible to remove or disable in the "open" position? Without the thermostat, those holes for the oil cooler could be used for one of those neat TP bypass filters... hmmm... well, one project at a time!

Thanks,
Nate

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1985 300DT, Classic White, California, 175K
1984 300TD, Classic White, Euro, 285K


"When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not. Hmm?" - Yoda