Leaking oil cooler fittings on Z1 kit
 

Hi all,

I tried to get feedback from Z1 on the issue with no response to multiple messages. So I have to turn to the masses now :)
I had Z1 oil cooler installed last week by very reputable local shop. Within 30-40km of driving I got a huge oil leak which ended up on my parking floor and sprayed on exhaust(it was smoking!)
Next day I raised the car and located the leaks. Two of the fittings were leaking-as indicated by arrow, where angled elbow goes into the nut. With engine running, leaks were like from running faucet-leaving trail of drops behind the car.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sashaa...in/dateposted/
One at the filter plate and one at cooler itself. NOT the threads. I started tightening them little bit by bit-took 3 retightening/test drive sessions to eliminate constant hanging drop. After about 2 hours of city driving this week I rechecked it again-same places still had oil "sweat" and drops on the undertray. Now, they are damn tight and I am afraid that I start breaking things.
Car is built to be track driven and I cannot afford ANY indication that fittings are leaking, even the tiniest bit.
I am considering having completely new hoses built with Aeroquip fittings and hoses to ensure that components match. I am worried though that threads on fittings will not match fittings on the oil cooler/adaptor plate. Will they?
Is there another solution? $ is secondary consideration, I want to have it done right.

Thank you for any input!
Alex

This is direct link to the image:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sashaa...in/dateposted/

I'm not seeing the leak? It is leaking at where the hose should be compressed by the fitting or leaking at the sand which plate? If at the plate maybe take it apart and apply Teflon pipe thread sealer to the threads on both the sandwhich plate and AN threads? I installed mine about a month ago and then had a little sign of sweating but I have taken the plate on and off multiple times trying to get it routed how I wanted so now I need to recheck after spraying it all down with cleaner.

P.S. I had rerouted mine cause I had it similar to your but did not like that the fitting hangs lower than the subframe. No I have them at 3 o clock and feel much safer about it. Not sure how to add a pic here.

It is wiped down. It leaks only during driving, not at idle or when engine is shut off No, it does not leak at threads, compression spot or sandwich plate. It leaks at angled fitting itself-I guess there's an o-ring inside or something.

Thank you,
Alex

I just checked mine and looks like its held. There is some other seal in the fittings as you say because they can swivel and still hold but if that is what is leaking then I would say your hose was assembled wrong and needs to be replaced.

Exactly-the swivel point. Damn....

Take it back to the shop and get them to fix as they fitted it!

The shop didn't assemble the hoses they come pre assembled.

Probably going to have to re do it. I recomend putting the sandwich plate with the fittings at 3 o clock when you do so then you never have to worry about ground objects hitting the fitting.

I took another look today. Fitting at sandwich plate was OK. I repositioned it a bit-it was too close to sway bar and IF it had contact there's push to untighten. Since I messed with it, I had to loosen/retighten it which put me again to square 1.
Still sweaty at cooler junction.
Will check again tomorrow.
Thank you for the input so far

Alex

glad to see someone else with this issue, Mines been seeping for over a year, I can't get anyone to fricken tighten it. An I can't get the car up in air enough where I can slide under it and tighten them, I tried a few times when I did my oil change but zero luck, ( Cause I can't remove my Z speed shield, so I have zero space.

I can't see the holes to reattach the shield, :( Taking it off takes 4 mins but going back on takes like a half hour.

Z1 s not helping you wth this? Shame on vendors to sell a product and then ignore customer.

Are you sure it's leaking? Kinda looks like oil that dropped on the lines when the oil filter was changed.

Ok I would contact z1 and see what they say.

It will definitely be faster to call Z1. I have gotten good customer service from them, as recently as last week when they let me exchange some differential bushings that I had already installed.

Mocal sandwich plates usually come with 1/2" BSP female ports. It looks from your pictures that an AN male fitting was installed into that port, and then an AN hose end was assembled onto the hose. I am guessing you could measure that fitting and hose and compare to the AN standard to figure out which sizes you need... Or just call Z1. They can probably give you all the information in a matter of minutes and may even be able to help you resolve the leak since it looks like your hose end has some kind of defect.

Bump does anyone have a resolution to this? Mine is also leaking at the hose end where it meets the fitting to the core. Its exactly as the OP said just small sweat drops.

there is a petroleum safe loctite thread sealant. I have some in the garage and can get the product # when I get home. PM me if I forget.