so i noticed that i have a little oil drip from the passenger side front pumper. i removed the splash guard and discovered that the oil seems to be coming from the oil cooler. i noticed that around the bottom looks like its oil covered. after doing research on these forums i am wondering if its the oil cooler itself or the oil cooler lines. it only apears on the passenger side. I dont seem to loose pressure and oil level stays about the same, and the leak occurs once the car has been driven for a bit.(after wiped off and let sit does not continue to leak.) im guess im asking if there is a way to tell for sure if its the lines or coolers themselves. Any advice??????



04 MT 60k miles

 

The cooler lines have been known to leak due to corrosion. Do you see any around the ends of the lines on the connectors?

 

only way to find out will be to clean everything and then find where the leak is coming from after the next drive cycle. I'd be more inclinded to think it was one of the banjo fittings

 

i didnt notice too much around the lines at first glance. i plan to look again today and try cleaning everything off and doing another drive cycle. to diagnose if it is the banjo fittings whereabouts should i look? thanks for your help and ill let you know what i find.


edited:

i didnt notice excess oil around the lines but much of the area had some oil all over, i.e over the bottom part of the cooler and the surrounding areas. made me wonder if there was a hole in the cooler itself but dont see how i would get a hole that low, (when looking through the front oil covered part seemed to be below grill opening for bug or stone to nick it. i didnt notice too much rust and coorrosion but i was looking quickly and am not too sure. will need to inspect again today.

 

If it does turn out to be a pin hole leak in the oil cooler lines due to corrosion, this thread might help:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/rusted-oil-cooler-fittings-183281/.

 

thanks for the info. I was able to check it out yesterday due to bad weather but i got a chance to look at the wheel well. I noticed on the plastic that is up against the cooler with the small openings that there was a bit of oil residue surrounding that area. Almost like it is spraying up and around the area and dripping through the vents which seems to point to a pinhole type leak. Hopefully today i can investigate further. I was researching online as well and have to ask a question. it is probablly a stupid one but i just need to clarify. when i search for "oil cooler for RX8" i get a lot of results saying "transmission oil cooler". is this the same thing i am having trouble with or is the "oil cooler" a different product? Yes this is more than likely a bad dumb question lol.

any ideas where to look for these parts? i saw racing beat for lines but am hoping to fix this a little cheaper than that.


Thanks again

 

Check out post by 9KRPMRX8 at the end of the thread copied in earlier for a home built solution. 9K is a frequent poster on this site and might be willing to walk you through his approach if you ask. If a home built option isn't for you, I think you'll find the Racing Beat aftermarket lnes are cheaper than factory replacements. Of course you can try to pursue the Canadian recall angle as I did first and see if that gets you anywhere.

 

so after taking a further look last night and taking it for a drive i think that my problem is the cooler itself. The two lines i see going to the cooler dont seem to have any rust or corrosion so it keeps pointing me to the cooler. After wiping everything off and taking a drive i noticed lots of oil on the right side of the cooler. I think you will notice in the pics below. Am i correct in your opinion that the cooler itself is the problem. And if so anyone know where to get a new cooler from for best price.











Thanks for the help all.

 

^................I'd post up that you are looking for an oil cooler, or maybe do some searches in the "For Sale" thread. There are sevveral people that are parting out cars right now, so that would be a good place to look(search) as well.

 

Thanks thats always an option as well but i was thinking of looking for new to at least get prices. Google search leads me to transmission oil coolers and call me dumb but is that the same thing im looking for?

 

You can find a used cooler in the f/s section, always someone parting out a car.
No, the MT does not have a dedicated transmission fluid cooler, I think the A/T does though.