oil cooler lines

[caw_86]

like every gmt400, the oil cooler lines start to leak eventually at the hose metal crimp, which mine are doing. searching for a suitable replacement that never needs to be replaced again doesnt really exist unless you make it your self. At work i have access to all the stainless steel tubing and swagelok fittings i could think of. before i go trying make my lines, would a solid tube have routing issues trying to get it in place, id love to eliminate the hose part of the line which seems to be the weak link.

 

[Supercharged111]

If you can do the swagelocks, why not have sections of flexible line? FYI I put AC Delco lines in my dually in 2017 and they're still dry. How long are you gonna have this thing?

 

[caw_86]

If you can do the swagelocks, why not have sections of flexible line? FYI I put AC Delco lines in my dually in 2017 and they're still dry. How long are you gonna have this thing?

having flexible line is not a problem, just dont want any rubber metal crimps i guess

 

[Schurkey]

The engine shakes. The radiator doesn't. Thus the need for a flexible section somewhere in the oil cooler plumbing. The problem is not "hose", it's "rubber" hose that cold-flows under the crimped connection.

Using Teflon (PTFE)-liner hose instead of rubber-based hose eliminates the cold-flow problem. Metal sections similar to OEM, but not the rubber part.

My cooler hoses may/may not be leaking. IF they leak, it's not enough for me to care about. When they leak enough that I do care, they'll get replaced with Genuine GM hoses having steel tubing instead of the Dorman aluminum-tube replacement hoses. I'm not averse to building hoses, I just don't plan to invest the effort into making tubing/hoses for this application.

 

[caw_86]

The engine shakes. The radiator doesn't. Thus the need for a flexible section somewhere in the oil cooler plumbing. The problem is not "hose", it's "rubber" hose that cold-flows under the crimped connection.

Using Teflon (PTFE)-liner hose instead of rubber-based hose eliminates the cold-flow problem. Metal sections similar to OEM, but not the rubber part.

My cooler hoses may/may not be leaking. IF they leak, it's not enough for me to care about. When they leak enough that I do care, they'll get replaced with Genuine GM hoses having steel tubing instead of the Dorman aluminum-tube replacement hoses. I'm not averse to building hoses, I just don't plan to invest the effort into making tubing/hoses for this application.

i did not consider the engine vibration vs a fix point, this does seem like an important reason to have the hose portion.

 

[454cid]

The Sunsong lines are supposed to be steel, too. I would not ne surprised If the ACDelco hoses are made by Sunsong.

 

[GoToGuy]

Engine moves, has vibration. Any fixed static tube would eventually leak at fittings, crack tubes or have some other failure at the worst possible time.
Mine blew a hole in rubber crimp area at 65 mph, on way home from work still 101° outside.
I had new lines at home. Triple A ride home.
I left the radiator slide as is with o ring seal. Changed out filter adapter to male npt to male -8 AN. Then cut off QD nipple on new line, installed AN "B" nut and sleeve flared to 37°. To eliminate the dripping, leaky " push to connect " on the adapter.
Now eight months and no leaks, no drips.
That's what I did, yeah I could have went all out, new Stratoflex, or Aeroquip, and AN fittings but it just needed a better attachment at the filter adapter. That worked for me.
Your results may vary. Good luck!

 

[GMCTruck]

How come the transmission lines last the life of the vehicle and the oil cooler lines last until the following Thursday?

 

[GoToGuy]

Mine are all steel from trans to radiator.
GM engineers could have used better hose material, and a better filter adapter connection. There are easy methods to improve it. Who knows, cost, incomplete test parameters, we're using them way beyond expected service life, ( I'm shrugging shoulders) who knows why some people choose poorly....

 

[GMCTruck]

I had to go check mine to be sure. On my 95, the bottom transmission line is all steel but the top line has a section of crimped on hose

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