Chevrolet Repair: 1992 4.3 vortec oil line change, wire ties, mid line

Question
I have purchased a new oil cooler line for my S-15 Jimmy, and was hoping you had a list of the best way to tear down, replace the parts, and put it back together in good detail.  I can't seem to find any info in my repair book, or on the internet about it.  Thanks for youe time.

Answer
Hi Joe,

This is not a fun job.  Is this the oil cooler, or the lines supplying the remote filter?  Where is the line leaking?  

Here is the procedure.  This is based on trucks I have fixed, and may not be exact to yours.  But it probably is.  

You must disconnect the line from the radiator.  Easy.  Then from the motor.  Holy-Moly.  This is bad especially if you have to move one to access the other.  You will only get an 1/8 turn at a time, and the fitting will fight the whole way out.  Then you have to disconnect a hold down at the frame, right where you can barely see the screw…forget accessing it.  Once this is all out, you now will fight the fitting to start to thread at the motor.  Once it does, you will fight it all the way in…1/8 turn at a time.  Sometimes, this is easiest if you are able to lift the motor a bit.  Not always.

Now for my advice.  ELIMINATE IT!  Do you know what this line is for?  It is to keep the oil cool in extreme conditions.  Most trucks don’t have this line.  If the oil gets too hot, it will break down and be like water.  Extreme conditions are heavy-heavy trailering or hauling, often.  Off-road driving or mud bogging.  Mostly uphill driving, like mountains, over 45 degree angle, often.  Lets just say, most people don’t need to worry about this cooler line.  

To keep the line:  If the leak is mid-line, you can cut the line at the motor and the radiator, leaving a 2” or so extension.  Then buy a rubber hose and some clamps.  Slip the hose over the extensions and clamp them in place.  Then return the new line.  This is not high pressure.  40 psi most cases.  Use wire ties (the zip kind) to attach the new hose to the old one, to hold it in place.  

To Eliminate the line:  
You can cut the lines at the motor, put a socket over the fittings and remove them.  Then replace them with pipe plugs.  Probably metric, take the old fittings to size them up.  That is it.  

Or you can cut the lines leaving the 2” extensions, then attach a hose, connecting them together.  This could leak eventually.  

Hope this helps.

C J S