Delayed Oil Cooler leakage - LotusTalk

Randy Chase · 05-24-2005, 11:19 AM

As I understand, the leaking oil cooler problem was fixed later down the line, but those with early cars need to keep an eye on it.

I thought if my car was not having this problem, then it was not a problem for me. I was wrong.

It passed an inspection a couple months ago (9000 miles and 6 months of use) and was fine. Now, I am getting some oil accummulating around the front of the passenger tire wheel well.

Keep an eye on it. I am not getting any drips or anything visible. It must be a very slow seepage than then gets soaked up by the foam at the cooler.

APOGEE · 05-24-2005, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Chase

As I understand, the leaking oil cooler problem was fixed later down the line, but those with early cars need to keep an eye on it.

I thought if my car was not having this problem, then it was not a problem for me. I was wrong.

It passed an inspection a couple months ago (9000 miles and 6 months of use) and was fine. Now, I am getting some oil accummulating around the front of the passenger tire wheel well.

Keep an eye on it. I am not getting any drips or anything visible. It must be a very slow seepage than then gets soaked up by the foam at the cooler.

I will check to see if we have a RS oil cooler in stock in the A.M. Don.

edaddy · 10-22-2005, 03:58 AM

Just short of 3500 miles and my oil cooler (driver's side) had a puddle under it yesterday.... so Randy's right, keep an eye on it. Luckily, I had just gotten home and the oil level was down only roughly a half quart. Jan '05 build, #2116 FWIW.

DaCrema · 12-29-2005, 09:12 AM

A friend, Dan, just purchased a 05 Elise from Chriswell a month or so ago. He is still breaking the car in. He mentioned that oil was under the front of the car and the dipstick showed low. Sadly I do not own an Elise and have not been able to stick my head inside one enough to know where anything other than the motor & trans are located. I told him that I did not think the oil lines went to the front of the car. I see by this thread that I was mistaken. He lives in NVa but the car is currently in Phily Pa (Rothrock I think) for service. Dan did not want to drive the car back to Washington if it had an oil problem. What part does he ask for? Is this a warrenty issue? He also curbed his front cam but not badly. Could tapping the front of the cam on a curb have caused the oil problem? Sorry I do not know the relative position of the two.
John

ChrisB · 12-29-2005, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaCrema

A friend, Dan, just purchased a 05 Elise from Chriswell a month or so ago. He is still breaking the car in. He mentioned that oil was under the front of the car and the dipstick showed low. Sadly I do not own an Elise and have not been able to stick my head inside one enough to know where anything other than the motor & trans are located. I told him that I did not think the oil lines went to the front of the car. I see by this thread that I was mistaken. He lives in NVa but the car is currently in Phily Pa (Rothrock I think) for service. Dan did not want to drive the car back to Washington if it had an oil problem. What part does he ask for? Is this a warrenty issue? He also curbed his front cam but not badly. Could tapping the front of the cam on a curb have caused the oil problem? Sorry I do not know the relative position of the two.
John

He almost undoubtedly has the same oil cooler problems as the rest of us and it is covered under warranty.

LotusFamily · 12-29-2005, 11:48 AM

What do we consider an "Early" car? Ours came in May of 2005, is that Early or are we an improved version?

ChrisB · 12-29-2005, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LotusFamily

What do we consider an "Early" car? Ours came in May of 2005, is that Early or are we an improved version?

I don't think we know for sure. Clearly it is after a December 2004 build. Since it was an installation procedure problem, there are no different parts, so you can't tell by looking at the coolers. It may also mean that some new assembler may still screw up and tighten the fittings incorrectly.

You just need to do a pre-flight inspection before every drive.

edaddy · 12-29-2005, 03:07 PM

I had the driver side cooler problem and my car was built Jan of '05. I understand that, at least in my case, it was not an installation issue but a parts failure. A factor in the pre-diagnosis was how long the car went before the leak started - 3.5K. It has 7K now and no problems since the cooler was replaced. Finally, I was concerned about driving the car in but the dealer (BMC) convinced me it would be OK. I made it without much loss but the trip was only about 25 miles.

pianomaniac · 12-29-2005, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisB

I don't think we know for sure. Clearly it is after a December 2004 build. Since it was an installation procedure problem, there are no different parts, so you can't tell by looking at the coolers. It may also mean that some new assembler may still screw up and tighten the fittings incorrectly.

You just need to do a pre-flight inspection before every drive.

I could be mistaken, but I think that it was pre-Dec 04 build. I bought mine Sept 04, and it was this same vintage having the cooler fitting problems, although (knock on wood) I haven't seen the plague (yet)!

ChrisB · 12-29-2005, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pianomaniac

I could be mistaken, but I think that it was pre-Dec 04 build. I bought mine Sept 04, and it was this same vintage having the cooler fitting problems, although (knock on wood) I haven't seen the plague (yet)!

I have a Dec '04 build and had the cooler problem recently. I think the problem was fixed in the Feb timeframe (approximately).

Surferjer · 12-29-2005, 05:30 PM

I have an April '04 build and no leak yet at 20,500 miles.

Now I cursed it. But I'd rather have it go now than after the warranty expires...

05-24-2005, 11:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
Randy Chase Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego and where ever the roads lead Posts: 28,172 Images: 761	Delayed Oil Cooler leakage As I understand, the leaking oil cooler problem was fixed later down the line, but those with early cars need to keep an eye on it. I thought if my car was not having this problem, then it was not a problem for me. I was wrong. It passed an inspection a couple months ago (9000 miles and 6 months of use) and was fine. Now, I am getting some oil accummulating around the front of the passenger tire wheel well. Keep an eye on it. I am not getting any drips or anything visible. It must be a very slow seepage than then gets soaked up by the foam at the cooler. __________________ [b]* V E R I T A S * A E Q U I T A S [/b] We have been feeling the buzz since 2002 2006 Noble M400. Getrag tranny, Quaiffe LSD, Hinged clams. Duratec dual turbo V6. Hoosier 315-18 tires. 2350 pounds. Over 500hp. Track weapon. 2009 Rossion Q1. [color=orange]Monaco Orange. [/color]Wing. Black leather/Alcantara with orange stitching. The street car. In build: 2009 Toniq R (300whp? 1100 pounds?). [color=orange]Chrome Orange. [/color] Lexus GX-470 tow vehicle. [color=blue]“Busy at times off the forum and scary* actually off the Internets. So I may not see your pm or emails for a while"[/color]

12-29-2005, 05:30 PM	#11 (permalink)
Surferjer No more cone damage! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Exton, PA Posts: 8,877	I have an April '04 build and no leak yet at 20,500 miles. Now I cursed it. But I'd rather have it go now than after the warranty expires... __________________ Jer-2005 Elise (retired from autox) 1993 MR2 autox car 2002 Ford Excursion DIESEL 4 X 4 1993 Miata (throwout bearing or clutch failure) 1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 Lemons car (needs new head) 1984 Chevy Citation Lemons car (needs a motor)

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10-22-2005, 03:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
edaddy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SF East Bay Posts: 935 Images: 2	Just short of 3500 miles and my oil cooler (driver's side) had a puddle under it yesterday.... so Randy's right, keep an eye on it. Luckily, I had just gotten home and the oil level was down only roughly a half quart. Jan '05 build, #2116 FWIW.

12-29-2005, 09:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
DaCrema Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 354	A friend, Dan, just purchased a 05 Elise from Chriswell a month or so ago. He is still breaking the car in. He mentioned that oil was under the front of the car and the dipstick showed low. Sadly I do not own an Elise and have not been able to stick my head inside one enough to know where anything other than the motor & trans are located. I told him that I did not think the oil lines went to the front of the car. I see by this thread that I was mistaken. He lives in NVa but the car is currently in Phily Pa (Rothrock I think) for service. Dan did not want to drive the car back to Washington if it had an oil problem. What part does he ask for? Is this a warrenty issue? He also curbed his front cam but not badly. Could tapping the front of the cam on a curb have caused the oil problem? Sorry I do not know the relative position of the two. John

12-29-2005, 11:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
LotusFamily Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Greenfield, In. Posts: 724	What do we consider an "Early" car? Ours came in May of 2005, is that Early or are we an improved version?

12-29-2005, 03:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
edaddy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SF East Bay Posts: 935 Images: 2	I had the driver side cooler problem and my car was built Jan of '05. I understand that, at least in my case, it was not an installation issue but a parts failure. A factor in the pre-diagnosis was how long the car went before the leak started - 3.5K. It has 7K now and no problems since the cooler was replaced. Finally, I was concerned about driving the car in but the dealer (BMC) convinced me it would be OK. I made it without much loss but the trip was only about 25 miles.

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