Need help with the leaking oil cooler in new to me 460cid-sorry not new tech

[IHI]

Bought a 93 F250 ext cab 4x4 with a 460 the other day for plowing/sand salt application, truck is near new condition inside and out and motor runs like a champ. Previous owner told me it had a leak near the oil filter location on the front of the block, but did not know what it was or how to fix...wonder if this is why price was soo cheap LOL!!

Took it to the shop immediately after getting it home due to excessive oil leaking. They just called and after dying the oil said there is a crack in the factory oil cooler. They provided a faxed drawing and it says at top:
1993 F250
60-Engine
8cyl 7.5L
Oil Cooler

The picture looks like a strange looking adaptor that bolts to the driveer side of the engine block on the driver side and then turns forward so filter can be screwd on from front of truck. Now on top of this adaptor thing is a "holding tank" that from the drawing looks like engine coolant goes through and I guess this is the "oil cooling" part of the equation. I was told a price that knocked my sokcs off since it's dealer only-literally half of what I paid for the truck LOL!!

My question, this looks like something can be redone for ALOT less, like installing a remote oil filter kit (aftermarket) and then plumbing these lines through an external oil cooler...but before I get all excited and start buying parts, I need to know if that will work, or if there is a better alternative. Is an oil cooler even needed, I would guess since this will get worked it's a good idea, but it will go through no more than my f150 has ever done and that has no oil cooler.

Or if somebody has one lying around that is good, e-mail me at j.meighan@mchsi.com

Please help and tell me this is as easy of a fix as I'm picturing in my head looking at the drawing.

[DieselDeaf]

I just scrapped a 460 dually that had the exact same part you are describing. I had a coolant leak in it once but was able to patch it up without too much problem. I would think you could probably just eliminate it, at least until next summer. or unless you decide to move to Texas [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I would start looking in the wrecking yards, plenty of 460 trucks have been scrapped over the years and I'm almost certain you'd find the part in short order. If you are really in a pinch I could go by the yard where my old truck is at, maybe still there or maybe not. My patch was holding up as far as I can remember. With the high price of steel these days yards are really bare as far as the older stuff goes these days.

On a similar note I picked up a fix it upper dirt bike for $200 and now find that it needs a new starter, $500 dealer only, and not available anywhere else, used or reman that is.

[OT]

My 88 F250 w/460 had the external oil cooler mounted up front behind grille next to rad. 2 lines were plumbed thru an adaptor plate for o/f. (not remote) as I recall. Seems possible to make conversion if parts avail. but dont know cost VS replace with OEM. As mentioned, maybe try junk yard? No real help here, just surprised on change.

Apparently cooling accomplished thru "coolant". Maybe that's more effective than remote air cooled cooler? Keeping oil cooler by what ever means seems a good idea on that big 460. Seems all engines would benefit from oil cooler. JMO!

FWIW...Dont know on 95. Recall 99 F150 had oil cooler.

[IHI]

FWIW, i tore it apart myself shortly after posting this, cooler and adapter looked fine, we pressure tested and found unit to be tight. Installed new O rings throughout and re installed on truck. Took it for a drive and still leaking...not at idle though.

Cleaned it all up again underneath the truck, this time had helper hold the throttle at 1500rpm. Then I found the true source of the problem. The timing chain cover had a nice hairline crack in it below a bolt...like someobdy had overtightened it, or just possibly a bad casting. Anyways, got all the new parts in and just waiting on the shop to get it all installed. Figured so long as their in there I would have them install a new timing chain, and water pump too.