The oil cooler on my '82 300sd has for the past year has had a very small leak starting at the very top of the fins. If I wash the oil off, it will take about a week of driving before it wets down the top half of the cooler. This isn't coming from the oil cooler hose as I replaced those this past fall. As a side note, the hose couplings came off very easy with no striping or galling of threads.

My question is, can a leak in an oil cooler be repaired? I called a radiator shop locally and they said it was made of aluminum and fixing it was questionable. I have a line on some used coolers but don't want the same problem again if these are prone to leaking. Thanks in advance for any advice!

D Anders
'82 300sd 280k mi.

That sounds like a tiny leak..... and you have nothing to lose trying to fix it... as long as you have a replacement lined up and you don't mess it up on a weekend....

Can you get a pic of what you have described ? If you clean the spot perfectly and maybe scratch it will a little sandpaper... and use JBWELD to hold on a patch of aluminum or Brass..... and don't start the car until 24 hours later..... there is a very good chance you can fix it... even if you had to take out a fin or two.... to get to it... would not hurt... I have fixed many a radiator,oil cooler and gas tank with this method.... but cleanlyness and waiting till it has completely cured is critical.... good luck,,,, Greg

Radiator shops will boil out but typically they will not repair the oil cooler. Get a used one, have a radiator shop boil it out and your back in business.

Henry

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87 300SDL 135k
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Thanks for the replys and suggestions. I don't feel brave enough to try patching the cooler as I really can't see exactly where under the top tank it is leaking. I have a line on some reasonably priced used coolers and will pick one of those up and have boiled out.

D Anders
'82 300SD 280k mi.

Well, there is not much bravery needed on this one.... it is not like you are taking it apart and putting it back together...

A try at patching it would take about $10.00... and would leave you with mostly full containers of the JBWeld and Berryman spray cleaner to use on other stuff...

A patch try would have almost no chance of increasing the leak....

It has a chance of fixing it..... How much are you looking at cost wise,,total,,, for the other fix ? It is your choice.... Greg