The oil cooler is a car part that ensures the engine oil in your car is cooled. The engine oil's job is to continuously lubricate the moving parts in the engine. These moving parts get very hot when driving. If the moving parts are sufficiently cooled, wear and tear is significantly reduced. The engine oil is taken into the oil cooler and cooled down. The cooled engine oil then flows back into the engine. Without the oil cooler, the engine oil would not be cool enough for the moving parts in the engine, which could lead to wear and tear. This makes the cooler an essential part of the car.
Faulty oil cooler
A faulty oil cooler prevents the engine from cooling itself. This can result in the engine overheating. An overheated engine can cause a lot of damage and wear to the engine. It is therefore important to identify a defective oil cooler in time.
Symptoms of a defective oil cooler
Several things can point to a faulty oil cooler. For example, the oil cooler may be leaking, in which case you will find a puddle of engine oil under the car. Another symptom of a defective oil cooler is leaking coolant. You can also recognise this by a puddle of fluid under the car. Another symptom is the engine overheating, in most vehicles the engine warning light will illuminate on the dashboard. Coolant can also enter the oil because the cooling system is under pressure. This will result in a lack of lubrication, which can seriously damage the engine. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to take action.
Replacing the oil cooler
An oil cooler should last the lifetime of an engine. However, even with very good maintenance, it is possible for the oil cooler to become defective. Have you noticed the above symptoms? Then take action as soon as possible to limit engine damage.