Reusing an oil cooler and lines?

[kristmen]

Is there any reason why a person wouldn't want to use a second hand 90 style oil cooler and oil cooler lines on a freshly rebuild engine?

I am just about done rebuilding my block and I've converted to a 90 style oil cooler housing and I picked up a use 90 oil cooler and lines.

The guy who is rebuilding my engine is saying I shouldn't reuse an old cooler and lines on a fresh rebuilt engine because the could be dirty and you cant clean them out. He thinks I could guy a Setrab cooler, -an fittings and ss line. I'm broke though and I picked up this 90 cooler and lines from TRE for like $10 bucks used off one of there guys old cars. Looks to be in good shape to me.

Any input on reusing or cleaning?

 

[dave99gst]

i can see were he is coming from -- but i think you should be able to get most debris out of the old cooler.

 

[kristmen]

Ya I think I'm going to disconnect the lines from the cooler and spray the piss out of it with brake parts cleaner and degreaser into a bucket and see what comes out.

 

[Defiant]

The guy who is rebuilding my engine is saying I shouldn't reuse an old cooler and lines on a fresh rebuilt engine because the could be dirty

Yeh, could be. They could be full of gold dust, too. They're more likely full of nothing but whatever oil the old owner used.

and you cant clean them out.

That could be just a challenge to him. Does he sport black rings around his inner nostril, or black fingernail tips?
Before running solvent through the used parts, cut open a Chlorox bottle, or kitty litter jug, or some other white pan and run some clean oil through the used cooler and lines and see if it comes out reasonably clean. After that, if the connectors don't show signs of being dabbed in the mud, I'd call it clean and safe for use.

However, it does sound like your rebuilder has a good sense of caution, and I think that sounds good.

 

[pweizman]

What did you do at the oil filter mount? Did you get rid of the donut all together? I am thinking of doing this on my '91.

Thanks,
Patrick

 

[dave99gst]

most people use a 1990 oil filter housing.