Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance To all those considering adding an oil cooler

When running your oil lines, do not use wire tires to hang them over the cat converter.

Why?
Because the wire ties might break and your oil line will fall to rest on the cat.

So?
Then you get a huge cloud of white smoke, a tapping noise from your engine, the oil light comes on, and the car dies.

The lesson;
Use really strong wire ties,
or,
don't run your lines anywhere near the cat.

Oil, oil everywhere!

Don't have that problem my cat is under the car behind the trans.

Lucky you.
I wish mine was.

Ouch. How much damage do you have?

I lost a bit over two quarts of oil.
Once I saw smoke, I only drove about 200 ft to pull over.
So besides oild everywhere under my car, no damage.
I am now using hydraulic hose instead of oil hose.
This stuff is wrapped in teflon and is metal reinforced.
High temp, high pressure, and only slightly less flexible than the rubber oil hose.

You can't run the hoses in a different spot?

Running the oil lines are a pain in the ass.
Theyt can't be close to anything hot or touching any moving parts.
And where's our oil filter?
Right near the exhaust, axle, and a suspension part.
The lines need to be as straight as possible so as not to lose oil pressure.
I tried using a 90 degree plumbing fitting, bit my oil light kept coming on.
So the 2 lines I got now are about 6.5 feet and 5.75 feet in length. (Maximum recommended distance is 6 feet.)
But I am nowhere near any hot, moving, or sharp objects.
300+ miles over the weekend (beach trip over the mountains and back) and no sign of any problems.
Success!

I am now ready to slap on my Zex N2O kit this weekend (should arrive Thursday)!