I'm about to spring for my oil cooler lines, and the only one I can find for one of them is Trucktec; I see that there are mixed reviews... With that in mind, I'm considering Mach4's approach...

Converting Oil Cooler Lines To AN Stainless Braided Hose

The downside of that is that this is my daily and I don't have any spares to cut into and have brazed. I like the security of braided lines, especially for engine oil, but...


Opinions?

Oh God, I'm glad I looked at this thread. That job is a royal dirty mess and PITA. I would hate to do it twice or worse have my engine blown due to 3rd world labor and material issues.

Are there any acceptable OEM-quality brands still available?

Thanks,

Dkr.

Trucktec is a "reboxer" that is located in Germany but they just buy mostly cheap parts and resell them. They are not a name brand and the fact they are in Germany is just a detail.

Oddly, my parts supplier told me that their ignition cylinders (keyswitches) are the only good parts they sell.

If you want to use Mach4's method, check out the used parts listing here on the forum and post a "want to buy" ad. Chances are someone will come up with a spare set you can buy.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

That is not 100% correct. I have personally seen plenty of Trucktec parts with their name on them. While Trucktec may also rebox SOME parts, FEBI is a true re-boxer of other firms' parts, but makes nothing of its own (except cardboard boxes).

Here is an example of one that I came across, a year ago, when I was doing a transmission R&R on my wife's E320 wagon. This is the plastic plug that covers the hole to access the flywheel bolts.

A simple Google search pulled up other examples of "branded" (not just re-boxed) Trucktec parts:

Thank you for that list!!!

Interesting I had been under the impression that CRP was a trusted brand

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Nosce Te Ipsum "Know thyself"

This is a Trucktec valve cover vent grommet (p/n 6010160163) on my son's 92 300D 2.5Turbo. Complete fitment failure at less than 1,000 miles! The one next to it is unused. What a waste of money.

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Peach Parts W124.128 User Group.

80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic

You haven't filled out a profile so no idea where you're located but if you're in a temperate area you should be able to get a set of cooler lines and an oil cooler for not a whole lot of coin at the local self service junk yard. That way you could modify your cooler connections and braze on the adapters on the cooler lines at your leisure. Then swapping in the modified components should only be a couple hours of time.

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Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

Febi makes some of their own parts as well, I have found those to be good quality. I have seen radiator hoses, rear suspension links, and a few other items with Febi branding

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

You can also have your own made at any decent hydraulic shop (like NAPA). I would do that over uro or truktec any day of the week.

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1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

CRP = Continental Rubber Products. They have slid downhill in recent years in terms of quality. If you can find alternatives, I'd pursue them before using CRP stuff.

+1

I should do that, will do...

Western Colorado, pretty much a wasteland. I might try to go get a set locally, but it isn't the best time for a few reasons.


With these few examples, I ain't buying Trucktec now, no way.

The highest normal Oil pressure you can have is 110 psi as that is when the Pressure Relief Valve will open in your Oil Pump.
The Max I can get out of mine is 97 psi hot or cold.

What that means is you don't really need Braided Steel Hoses.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Need? No, but it would be nice for peace of mind...

I talked with a shop here, and he suggested just high pressure hose for redundancy. Might do that.