Boss 302 Oil Cooler Leaks

[VoodooBoss]

Who's had them? This past weekend another member was at Sonoma and his started leaking during his first session. The leak developed at the upper hoses where they connect to the large radiator hose. it appears the hose leaked where it's crimped to the elbow visible in the photo below. Looking at the whole cooler there looks like lots of opportunities for other places to leak too. I'm trying to determine if this is going to be a relatively high maintenance item that might need to be replace every two years so you don't ruin a track day. Please post up if you've had a leak.

 

[ArizonaBOSS]

Mine leaked from the metal hard-lines leaving the cooler block itself. Not sure how it happened but I can only assume some sort of corrosion. Was replaced under warranty.

 

[cloud9]

Mine leaked from the metal hard-lines leaving the cooler block itself. Not sure how it happened but I can only assume some sort of corrosion. Was replaced under warranty.

+1

 

[boro92]

The heck?!
Thanks for bringing this up.
Yet another thing to add to the list of pre/post track inspections

 

[Justin]

no leaks here but I will keep an eye on it.

 

[2012YellowBoss]

Mine leaked from the metal hard-lines leaving the cooler block itself. Not sure how it happened but I can only assume some sort of corrosion. Was replaced under warranty.

Me too but I ended up just buying a replacement.

 

[steveespo]

I chose to eliminate mine, increase air to oil heat exchanger plate size and add thermostatic plate in the oil cooler circuit to allow warm up prior to flow through the heat exchanger. There are too many potential coolant leak points on the stock setup for track use to keep it.
Will have a slightly used setup for sale in the classifieds shortly.
Steve

 

[Black Boss]

When I added the FRPP Air/Oil Cooler this summer, I noticed that the flange on one of the outlets from the Air/Water cooler was indented from contact with the front sway bar. Rotating the lower hose slightly increased the clearance, but it is still very close. I'm going the same way as Steve this winter -- removing the stock cooler and increasing the size of the air/oil cooler. I agree this is better for durability, and I'm hoping for lower CHT as both oil and the coolant will be getting primary cooling.

 

[06mach1]

Number 4. Anyone else? I think Steve has the right idea for those who track their car a lot.

I have not had it happen to me but KBBOSS1086 has had his go bad.

 

[KBBOSS1086]

Yes - mine cracked / split where one of the alluminum elbows is press fit into the sandwich plate.

 

[VoodooBoss]

Now we have 5. Any more?

 

[the2finger]

Great, one more thing to worry about

 

[VoodooBoss]

Re: Boss 302 Oil Cooler Leaks Update

The cause of the leak was one of the hoses didn't have it's connector collar crimped. So it was installed and someone forgot to crimp it. Nice QC. I suggest everyone check theirs.

 

[BLAZN BOSS]

.00625 % failure...........the sky isnt falling.

 

[VoodooBoss]

.00625 % failure...........the sky isnt falling.

Who said the sky is falling? It's not much fun to go to a track and have this ruin your day not to mention wasting hundreds of dollars.

 

[Grant 302]

Great, one more thing to worry about

Ugh. And I put one on the GT this summer.

When I was putting it in, I was a little concerned about the plastic diverter part in the lower radiator hose. Looks like it has a few other potential failure points.

 

[BLAZN BOSS]

Who said the sky is falling? It's not much fun to go to a track and have this ruin your day not to mention wasting hundreds of dollars.

Of the thousands of things that can happen a .000625% failure of a 1 part is nothing to worry about. Theres probably a better chance of the driver getting the flu than a part failing. It's many people on here are dying to find something to biznitch about instead of accepting the car for what it is.....a car. If the car is that much of a let down theres other makes and models out there.

 

[Grant 302]

Of the thousands of things that can happen a .000625% failure of a 1 part is nothing to worry about. Theres probably a better chance of the driver getting the flu than a part failing. It's many people on here are dying to find something to biznitch about instead of accepting the car for what it is.....a car. If the car is that much of a let down theres other makes and models out there.

You're looking at this the wrong way. Nobody is looking for something to biznitch about. To a track rat, this is a big deal. A lost day is time, money and opportunity lost. And your math is all wrong. This many failures in such a small sampling of guys who run their cars at the track means: I BETTER TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY since I track my cars.

For me, it probably means that I'll be taking the old GT hose as a spare for the track and should probably keep a spare kit on hand in the garage as cheap insurance...or change it out like a few others did for something more reliable.

 

[cloud9]

You're looking at this the wrong way. Nobody is looking for something to biznitch about. To a track rat, this is a big deal. A lost day is time, money and opportunity lost. And your math is all wrong. This many failures in such a small sampling of guys who run their cars at the track means: I BETTER TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY since I track my cars.

For me, it probably means that I'll be taking the old GT hose as a spare for the track and should probably keep a spare kit on hand in the garage as cheap insurance...or change it out like a few others did for something more reliable.

A friend of mine did something else and gave me his as a spare. It rides in my trailer with a few other susceptible parts ;-)

 

[KBBOSS1086]

Mine did failed at the track...turn 1 at Pocono at about 130mph! Not only was it very dangerous but it cost me 2 sessions and a lot of sweat till I rigged a fix.