I just got done replacing the oil cooler lines on my wife's 300SD.
Sure didn't appear to be all that hard at first.
Then reality came in like a dark cloud.
This was one of the top 5 most exasperating car fixes I've ever done.
I think because it looks easy, just adds to the frustration, hehe.
This was Jaguar V12 frustration territory.
I expect that thing to be a pain no matter how simple the repair is, Not the Benz.
It took me over 3.5 hours, plus clean up and test drive! So perhaps over 4 hours total, sheesh.
Fiddling around with those hoses, OUT and IN was like working on some d*mn toy puzzle.
It LOOKs like they will slip right out, but they don't, even with the engine mount and shock unbolted.
Then it LOOKs like the new ones will just slip right in, erm nope.
I'm sure dreading doing my TD when needed.
My wife's car has 225,000.
They had been seeping for a while.
Mine are dry and tight at 116,000.
Perhaps I'll pay to have mine done, I wonder what a shop charges?
They must have some tricks I don't know about.
Anyway lemme replace an alternator, A/C, do a valve adjustment, replace hoses, radiator, anything but oil cooler hoses.

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85 300TD FED-Daily
84 300SD-Wife's
86 XJS-Sunday
66 GMC-Work- Given to my stepson
83 BMW Airhead- Given to my stepson

Great. I have a set on order for my 300D. Fun fun (sarcasm).

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

All of the hose connections were VERY tight. I soaked them in Kroil everyday for two weeks before trying to loosen them. I ground down one wrench to hold and made another out of a box end to turn. I thought that breaking off the lower oil cooler fitting was going to be this job's main problem. I had to heat the fitting with a torch, and it STILL wouldn't release, so I tried TIGHTENING it slightly. It moved. Shot some more Kroil on it and worked it around, and it finally came off. The top fitting was no problem, as was the top on the oil filter housing. The lower one was a bit of trouble, but worked loose, after a bit of fiddling.

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85 300TD FED-Daily
84 300SD-Wife's
86 XJS-Sunday
66 GMC-Work- Given to my stepson
83 BMW Airhead- Given to my stepson

I too soaked my fittings in kroil and ATF with lubecontrol LC20 mixed in. They were tight, but they came off without real issue.

I'd say it took me more than 3.5 hours from jack up to final restart, but I lifted and dropped the engine a few times, messed with the mounts a few times, etc.

I think any shop will charge 3.5-4 hours. In the end I do not see it as that bad of a job though.

The key for me was to jack the engine up, take off the brackets and hold-downs completely (including the two bolts on the engine block), and then have my wife look and advise from up top while I pulled down below. Having her help by making the rubber ends negotiate along really made it easier.

The two of us together got both lines in in less than 10 minutes, because she could help guide them from above (including the rubber ends again) while I fed them from below.

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

I'm just waiting for the new ones I ordered up to come in before tackling this fun job on my new 300TD , the hose has two spots rubbed on it from the power steering pump's pulley .

I made a field patch and drove it a long ways home but I don't want to run it much until they're both replaced.

I usually de-grease the engine before doing this then again after it's done .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

If the PS Pulley cut into it; most likely the Mortor Mount needs replacing also. So say several members who have had the same issue.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

This is the car that the DPO drove into a ditch with....

Being in Farm Country the edge of the ditch had an old tree stump that passed underneath the Euro bumper and bashed the air dam (wrong word , I'm tired) then pushed the radiator core support back 1/2" or so ~ it needs some body work too but I just want to staunch the leak for the moment .

I'm sure I'll be replacing the Motor Mounts and a whole raft of other things too as I go through the car ..... typical " Cheap Mercedes " things , you know the drill .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Hey NoSparkNeeded,

I've recently done this job too but I had a somewhat different experience. I'm not trying to gloat. I think I had an easy time because I've got no A/C compressor or cruise control fitted on my Euro W123 300D.

Even so I'm working on a theory that by removal of some additional bits the job is easier - will you take a look at my thread and tell me if it would help you on your oil cooler line job?

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=273282

It might have made a difference if the radiator was out, however I have not had a chance to compare the 300TD to the 300SD. DieselGiant tutorial
also said to remove the lines out and back. I didn't end up doing that. I got them out the front and in through the front. His tutorial was of a 300D
though, so there must be a bit of difference between that and the SD. I'd
say the only things I've ever done that were more frustrating, were putting a stage 2 shift kit in my Jag from underneath, replacing the clutch tranny in my GMC truck, alone with no help, changing the plugs and wires in the V12 Jag. The front plugs on that car take a couple hours a piece.

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85 300TD FED-Daily
84 300SD-Wife's
86 XJS-Sunday
66 GMC-Work- Given to my stepson
83 BMW Airhead- Given to my stepson

Thanks for the details. I guess that kills my plans to off-road my Mercedes.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Jeeze , I sure hope so !

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better