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  #1  
Old 09-01-2015, 09:39 AM
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Oil cooler thermostat gasket?

First time posting (long time lurker). My wife's E70 4.8l recently started leaking oil on the driveway. I got under the car and noticed that the leak comes from around the alternator. After cleaning the area and putting dye in the oil, I saw fresh oil dripping from one of the cooler lines. Does everyone concur that this is the dreaded oil cooler thermostat gasket?

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Old 09-14-2015, 11:41 AM
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that's the one, I need to do it also....
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Old 09-14-2015, 06:22 PM
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That's it but the one that is dreaded is the alternator bracket gasket which is basically a block off plate for cars without oil coolers. Your job is pretty easy.
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Old 09-18-2015, 04:41 PM
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Where is this oil cooler located at? Can I see it with the hood up? Or do i need to go under the truck? Also, do I need to take the plastic underbody protector off to see/access it? Thanks, Sam
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Old 09-18-2015, 04:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam617 View Post
Where is this oil cooler located at? Can I see it with the hood up? Or do i need to go under the truck? Also, do I need to take the plastic underbody protector off to see/access it? Thanks, Sam
There's three lower grills on the front. Passenger, center, driver. The passenger one is fake, if you have an oil cooler you'll see it behind the driver side one.
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Old 09-18-2015, 08:39 PM
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I see wsmeyer answered before me, but yeah, what he said.

As an update, I got in to do the job and after removing the alternator I got a better look and found that the upper timing chain cover is the source and the oil is just running down the lines.

If you are looking for the actual area that the lines go into the cooler thermostat, it's on the driver side attached to the block right behind the alternator. It's incredibly difficult to see and or get to. I took this pic by sliding my phone up into the engine compartment from underneath. Taking the plastic off the belly and around the lower control arms gives you a little better look.
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Old 09-25-2015, 07:47 AM
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I'm waiting for the part tonight (Thermostat oil cooler plus gasket), ordered thru Pelican Parts next day, so I will be able to work on it this or next weekend depending my work load, anyone did it before?, any advice?, thanks in advance...

Last edited by guscavalieri; 09-25-2015 at 07:50 AM. Reason: more info..
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Old 09-26-2015, 02:45 PM
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It's not really a difficult job but you're going to need plenty of patience as you cannot see what you're doing, it's all by feel. You need to remove the alternator, which is very heavy btw, then just follow the oil lines down with your hand and you'll find the thermostat housing.

Referencing the pic above, that one center bolt holds both lines onto the housing. There's o-rings sealing them to the housing so after removing the bolt twist and pull the lines off.

Now is the frustrating part. You need to remove the 4 e-torx bolts holding the thermostat to the block (one is hiding behind an oil line in the pic above). The one lower left in the pic is partially obstructed so you cannot get a socket on it straight.

My advice, do whatever you have to to get them out and then replace them with socket head cap screws so you can put them back in with a ball headed hex socket. See below.

Good luck!

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  #9  
Old 09-26-2015, 03:48 PM
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Thanks for your help... I'll be ready, keep you posted...
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  #10  
Old 02-07-2016, 08:24 PM
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I just did this job. you MUST have a 1/4 drive E10 socket. I had a 3/8 socket it was way too big.
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