Oil cooler cap

[Pierce]

The 'top' of my oil cooler assembly looks awful. I tidied it up a long time ago but it needs a refresh. Now for the BIG question, can i remove the cooling part leaving the carrier bracket and filter in place? Look simple and I reckon if I disconnect the water hoses first I can avoid mixing the two liquids. Any opinions?

 

[Old Guy]

I haven't done this; but, I think you are good to go. You can't leave the filter in place because the filter is on the other end of that center bolt assembly. You have to remove the filter to get the bolt out and the cooler off. The pedestal does not have to be removed; but, I have this recollection that you might want to remove the pedestal just to get at the hoses. You definitely need new O rings for the oil cooler and if you remove the pedestal you need a new pedestal base O ring. The pedestal uses bolts with sealant on them. The manual says replace with new - some people don't. If you are 'in there' I would definitely replace the two oil cooler hoses since they have a tough life with the oil exposure and heat.

So, you are going to spill some oil requiring a top up or do an oil and filter change at the same time. If you leave the hoses in place and just clamp them at the cooler end you may be able to get away with just a coolant top up. If you replace the hoses you are going to loose fluid which means you are probably into a cooling system top up and then purge.

If this is purely cosmetic I would leave it alone until you need to do some related work like a cooling system flush or planned hose replacement.