Quote:
Originally Posted by sperry
First, it's not necessarily big chunks of metal that are the issue. It's the very tiny, borderline microscopic ones... the ones that will get past the filter even. Normally you'll have this metal in the oil as the motor breaks in and wears normally, but it goes away every time you change the oil and slowly builds back up. But if you've got a ready supply of grit in the cooler constantly washing into the oil at a high rate, then you end up with oil that expires your bearings over a relatively short period of time.
Now, I have first hand experience destroying a motor due to reusing a well-cleaned oil cooler. A new shortblock costs $2000, making a $200 oil cooler chump change to replace "just in case". I just don't know why anyone would risk it... especially if they're installing an expensive, brand new, build motor. Well okay, I know why Dean would risk it...
Also remember, it may not be as dramatic as my failure was... it may just be the difference between 50,000 miles out of the motor and 100,000 miles... but $200 to double the lifespan of the motor... of course!
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I am not trying to start a fight, risk an engine for $200, doubt your failure cause or whatever, really just trying to understand this widely held belief vs. what I see in the cooler.
Question, was your failure with an external cooler as well or just the stock?
I would think very small particles that could get through a filter could be easily washed out of the stock cooler as they would suspend in most any agitated solvent likely far more so than in flowing oil.
Not that I looked at it under a microscope, but I flushed and dried the '04 as I did with all the oil related parts and I would tell you the stuff in it was less nasty than the bottom / nooks and crannys of the pan. Likely this is due to regular pressurized flow vs. slosh and drain type flow. Getting the crap from under/around the inserts in the stock pan was a PITA.
I am just wonder if this is an internet myth more than fact? I'm sure reusing any uncleaned part could cause a failure and that engines have failed that have not had this swapped, but considering the particles that are generated during break in and how soon most people swap out that oil/filter, I would think the delta would be little if any considering that the cooler flow has to go through the filter.