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.

Thanks I appreciate it!!

Permatex 59214
http://www.the370z.com/members/chase...safe-59214.jpg

This stuff is the the bomb.

I had the same issue with the fitting leaking. I ordered a new hose and that solved the problem. Z1 charged me for shipping but the hose was free.

Good to hear.

Z1 has gone above and beyond taking care of me. Great vendor.

Mine is leaking as well..

Wth? Why are so many having this problem? I am looking into buying an oil cooler this spring, but don't want to get one from Z1 only to wait for it to start leaking....

I wouldn't say there is that many. If you think about how popular this kit is (seems to be the most common) vs the few with the issues you % good is still pretty dang high. Still not a drop from any of my fittings.

I had small leaks on the AN fittings the first time i installed my z1 oil cooler, as i didnt have much room to put a good wrench on. I went out and got a huge 1" wrench and all is good.

I feel like i have a small pinch leak on my lines now- wet spots on the under tray but no oil elsewhere leading to it.
I would recommend getting the sleeves as these lines DO run right by the stillen g3's if you have one and it can help with any rub.


I have had the bumper and tray off and had let the car run and revs to see where its leaking but no avail. I messaged z1 about just the lines and sleeve pricing weeks ago and havent gotten a reply.
Not bashing or anything, just my experience. Stillen had a good few weeks wait time when i tried to order them.



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You should call them. I tried emailing as well and got nothing, but I called them today and I got some new lines and an oil sandwich plate gasket for 170 shipped.

To say that percentage wise it's good, is kind of redundant. When I order one it'll be stillen or I'll make my own. Don't want to pay shipping on something that shouldn't have needed to be shipped twice.


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Yeah, I've also had problems with Z1 products, three times now. They are very nice and helpful resolving problems but they are still costing time and money having to remove, ship back, and then reinstall parts.

Mention that and ask them for an additional discount, free shipping or at least some free stickers and hats.

:facepalm::wtf:

I already have, and they have a "note on my account for a discount on my next order".

Should of went with fast intentions.

Surprised to see so many people with this problem... I got curious so I went and looked at the Z1 install manual, and I would be willing to bet the problem is right here:
Either these aren't getting tightened during install, or the rubber washers aren't sealing well. I'd probably try removing them and using the thread sealant mentioned earlier in this thread instead.

If it does turn out to be something like this, you could tell Z1 to update the kit/instructions to include sealant.

For those of you wondering if the thread sealant works. The permatex stuff that ChaseZ recommended to me worked great and now I dont have any oil seeping through the fittings. But I did buy new lines, fittings and a new gasket for the sandwich plate just to be safe. To be fair to Z1 I bought this oil cooler used so thats my fault. I called Z1 and they said they updated their lines because of this reason.

How much did that cost you since you didn't buy the cooler direct? I am buying used as well and am concerned I will run into this issue.

If I were to do it over again I would just buy it new. I got my oil cooler for 350 then spent about 160 on new lines/fittings. Im still coming in under what a 25 row would cost with setrab/thermostat but, I would have gladly paid the extra $60-70 to have an oil cooler that was just one and done. When you are buying these things new you have to consider that there are rubber gaskets everywhere so when you unscrew it the gasket no longer seals correctly, add into the high oil pressures these things see and its easy to see why its leaking. If you are going used I recommend you buy new gaskets for everything including the sandwich plate.

Definitely not the answer I was looking for. I'm getting the setrab/thermostat 25 row with sheathed lines and ~3K on it for about 100 off retail.

I guess my remaining question is how many of these issues come from those who installed themselves as opposed to letting a good shop take care of it or didn't tighten those fittings. Guess we'll find out.

Mine has been on the Z for 6 yrs now. Still tight.

I just checked mine about 2 weeks ago doing oil change. 20k mi since install and not a drop.

Wow, this thread still alive. Sorry that I abandoned the thread.
Solution was expensive.
1) I replaced ALL fittings with Aeroquip. That solved fitting leaks, but at $35 x 4 plus work to take all apart and put back together.
2) Mocal core burst. I called Z1 and they informed me that Mocal is not good for Z because of spike in oil pressure on 370 cars at start up. They no longer offering Mocal core with that kit.
3) I ordered Setrab 19 row core and sent back Mocal core to Z1 for warranty refund. Incremental cost(net of refund) was about $100
New installation costs....don't want to talk about it :(

All work was done by very high end shops catering to track day crowd-I am not familiar with fittings/fluid lines to tackle it myself.

At the end all is working and no leaks.

I appreciate help from Z1, but they really need to look into what brand/quality fittings are used on their hoses.
tip: you have to use "shorty" oil filter with this kit, unless you have very tiny and burn proof hands and a LOT of patience:)

This is my 2nd oil cooler from z1 and love the quality and customer service