This is awful, but I've been driving around with a leaking oil cooler line for (ahem) 4 months. Well, truthfully, 2 for sure, the other 2 I'm just guessing. I bought the part, heading to my trustworthy mechanic tomorrow, but I'm still curious how screwed I may be. I have been checking the oil levels and topping off as needed. Out of speculation - do you think there could be any major damage to the engine? I have 177K miles on her, she's been a faithful friend, so I'm not ready to send her to the farm.

 

How low did you let the oil level get? If you kept it filled properly, there won't have been any damage done. If you let it get almost empty, then that might have done some damage.

I drove around for a while with oil pouring out of the lines and adapter block. At one point I was putting a quart in every 200 miles! It took me three different times, and two different gasket sets to get both sets of lines replaced, and the adapter to stop leaking. I never let it get more than a quart low, and even with 252K miles, it never worried me about engine damage.

The only damage that came from it was my parking spot at work! Looks like the deepwater horizon was parked there!

 

I let my oil get below the "add" line today. I was a little shocked, actually I was more concerned than shocked. I hadn't checked in awhile (2 weeks, ~300 miles) so it's been leaking way more heavily lately. What concerned me most today was that I had parked on an incline at work and within 6 hours I had my own deepwater horizon! After I said a few expletives, I was bound and determined that Maggie Mae is going to get fixed tomorrow.

 

As long as you can see oil on the dipstick, I wouldn't worry. Unless you're doing some sort of extreme driving, towing, etc. it will be fine.

I don't even want to park in my spot anymore! I've tried to convince some of the new guys to get a can of denatured alcohol and wire brush from the store room and clean it after I leave, but they aren't up for it.

 

Make sure you get ac delco if you are replacing the oil lines. I got a set from dorman and the block to filter blew a hole in the hose while driving down the road and it was only 2 months old

 

** whew ** that's good to hear!

I already bought the part from Summit Auto - Dorman - so I just need the labor. Living in the DC area I have to deal with ~$95-105/hour. Hopefully it won't cost me more than 2 hours of labor. I hope.

 

Well, that's not good. Already bought the Dorman so my fingers are crossed. Ugh.

 

Mine were less than $20 for both sets of lines. Several feet of 1/2" rubber pressure hose from the auto parts store, and 8 hose clamps. re used the stock metal ends. Haven't been on there long, maybe a couple thousand miles, but no leaks so far.

 

Thats what im doing but im useing push lock hydraulic hose with clamps since the hose my local part stores have is similar to the ones that were originally on the cooler hose