Revisiting 616/617 Oil Cooler Line Replacements - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JHZR2 · #1 07-03-2018, 08:05 PM

I just removed the lines on my 81 240D. They were the original (manufacture date 01/81), and they flexed well and looked good. But since Im doing mounts and other things, I figured it was a good time and good insurance.

Had talked about it a few years back, and a the time, I ended up going with OE MB hoses from Phil for my 300CD.

OE or hydraulic shop oil cooler hoses

Thing is, for my 240D, one of the hoses is discontinued. Even MB Classic Center recommended taking them to a shop; my correspondence with them today came with the recommendation to find an AC shop as they have the most appropriate crimping tools. So Im back in the thought process. And it seems like many other folks have done custom hoses since then...

I had read once long ago that doing work on 240D cars is easier than 300D. I dont know. This car is completely corrosion free and in nice shape, but nuances to accessing everything exist all over the place... No easier, IMO.

I barely got both hoses out. It was really tough, and I had to lift the engine (should have done it when I had the mount I just installed out, but that's another story.

So, three things:

1) Does anyone recall the oil cooler hose thread where someone had quick release connections put on one end of the lines? Ive been on here since 2002 or so, so I recall a lot of old history, but I can't find that one. Maybe Im wrong. I know the pawoSD approach, which I like:

Oil cooler line thread size

and also the more recent Mach4 approach. But didnt someone do quick connects?

2) What would the reasons be against doing a quick connect on one end of each hose? Braze on the male and then make the females on the rubber hose. Would substantially improve installation, I think...

3) Why dont more people remove the engine mount ARM? If were already going through the hassle of lifting the engine and removing the mount, it is only marginally easier then to remove the line. If that engine mount arm was removed, it would be more or less a lift-out process, wouldnt it? Sure seems like that to me.

Thoughts?

Diesel911 · #2 07-03-2018, 10:04 PM

I think I have read where people removed the Oil Cooler and pulled the hoses out through the front.

I am not sure what type of quick release connectors you are speaking of. Also how often to the Oil Cooler Hoses need to be replaced.

I am 66 years old now. If I replaced hoses today and they lasted 20 years I doubt if the rest of the Car would even be around because at some point it is going to be too expansive to fix.

Then there is that other nagging issue of the Vacuum Pump falling apart and the parts of that falling into the Timing Gears and killing your engine regardless of how good the Oil Cooler Hoses are.

JHZR2 · #3 07-03-2018, 10:12 PM

LOL, arent you full of sunshine

I did pull the cooler today. Doing the job in a heatwave at 100 degrees (stupid me but I wanted to get work done when I had time) didnt help, but there was just no real way it was going to go. Pulling the cooler helped maneuverability a tad, I guess, but in reality its the giant "square" downward bend that is the issue...

Its true about if they last another xxx years, that's good. But for low mileage examples, and people of my age group, the car may still be running and ready for a third or fourth set. So if there's a way to make it easier next round, its a good investment in buying time.

Vacuum pump... Yes... Should look at that next on my two cars...