Oil cooler leak / coolant

[Cutwater28GG]

Has anyone had to change the gaskets on the oil cooler or heat exchanger? I think mine are starting to fail and Im seeing a little oil in the coolant, which from my research can generally only occur at the high pressure end of the oil system and is pretty common on these volvo's.

Im curious if anyone tackled the job themselves, whats involved and if you had a mechanic involved what they charged?

 

[Martin610]

Hi Gavin. I've had a couple of issues that could possibly be related.

In 2020 my starter failed. To replace it my mechanic removed the entire cooling assembly on that side of the engine. Looking everything over before putting it back, he saw a leak between the oil cooler, and I think, the fuel cooler. That dripped sea water on the starter motor. However, it wasn't the gasket, I had some corrosion on the oil cooler itself. Replace oil cooler and added a galvanic isolator.

Last fall I had the heat exchanger serviced and of course we replaced all the O rings. Some of them looked deteriorated. Small oil leak I had went away.

I think taking the cooling assembly out by yourself is a bear, which is why I didn't tackle it myself. When the mechanic was here I had to help. Darn thing is heavy. Last fall the boat yard had two guys on it. You have to be very careful putting it back in as the O rings can fall out/shift position.

I have a 2013 C28, very close in age to your boat.

-martin610

 

[Cutwater28GG]

Hi Gavin. I've had a couple of issues that could possibly be related.

In 2020 my starter failed. To replace it my mechanic removed the entire cooling assembly on that side of the engine. Looking everything over before putting it back, he saw a leak between the oil cooler, and I think, the fuel cooler. That dripped sea water on the starter motor. However, it wasn't the gasket, I had some corrosion on the oil cooler itself. Replace oil cooler and added a galvanic isolator.

Last fall I had the heat exchanger serviced and of course we replaced all the O rings. Some of them looked deteriorated. Small oil leak I had went away.

I think taking the cooling assembly out by yourself is a bear, which is why I didn't tackle it myself. When the mechanic was here I had to help. Darn thing is heavy. Last fall the boat yard had two guys on it. You have to be very careful putting it back in as the O rings can fall out/shift position.

I have a 2013 C28, very close in age to your boat.

-martin610

Thanks Martin. Yeah I think it will go to pacific power group for this one.