I just recently spun a bearing and now I just got a new 2.3 stroker. I was wondering if just cleaning the oil cooler out in a parts washer and then running some gas through it and then finally rinsing it out with water is good enough?

 

You won't like this answer but you should throw it out. You will never be sure that everything is out of it. Replacements from the factory are expensive so it might be best to consider something aftermarket and do AN lines from the filter housing. It's simply not worth the gamble.

 

AMS has a nice oil cooler that I would consider in this situation. They mention this situation specifically.

 

I have heard people taking there coolers out, Is this possible till I can get a replacment?

 

Sure, just loop the lines. It's winter, you're in MN.

 

What if my car is around 500whp? Is this still fine?

 

Its pretty cold up here right now, you'll be ok.

 

Mine is all smashed up, how should I go about changing it? just swap it with a new one? Do I need to do anything else?

 

I'm guessing you'd probably want to try to fill the replacement cooler as much as possible with some oil before you install it.

 

Avoid gasoline. Use diesel fuel with 5 good washes fresh each time. Mineral spirits (oderless) would also do the trick. Using water as a final rinse might turn in to an emulsified mess.

 

Im really just thinking of eliminating the cooler till spring and buying a brand new kit. I really dont feel like taking the risk and maybe wrecking my engine.

 

research ultrasonic cleaning, that is how aircraft oil coolers are cleaned. a lot of the porsche guys use this.

 

I like running parts cleaner fluid through it at pressure repeatedly and then high pressure air.

 

I used parts cleaner today and pumped it through there for around 2 hours, then I poured some gas in there and drained it.

 

I still find it unusual that people will risk several thousand dollars on a motor build to run a used, possibly contaminated, oil cooler and get the old metal particles that no one can guarantee that they got out of the oil cooler in their new engine. The size of the particles and the nature of the oil cooler make it impossible to clean all of the contaminants out of it. The practice of looping the oil lines to route the oil back into the motor and bypassing the cooler has been done for a long time on built motors with no ill effects. This is much better than risking the motor on a "cleaned" oil cooler.

End Rant.

Josh