98 V70 oil cooler lines

[wagonator]

Recently my 98 V70 AWD lost all the oil overnight apparently because the cooler lines just failed (sitting in the driveway) Couldn't believe it!

Got a quote from my mechanic $490.00!!! Sheeeesh, and I just put in a new radiator, and replaced ALL the brake lines (yes, even hardlines)

Found the parts, bout a $100 each average. Rockauto.com has them for $68 and $72 different prices for both lines...

wondering if my moderate mechanic skills can help me save the cash instead of taking it to the mechanic (almost $300 in labor!)

Is this truly that much in labor? Has anyone done it? Any tips or advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks,
Drew from the Northwest

[holler1]

Can you see where they failed? With that much oil loss, I would guess something may have come loose, at either the radiator or engine end. Did you check the connections to the radiator, where you recently disconnected and reconnected them? Those clamps can come loose fairly easily if they are weakened. The lines can leak in the middle but with mine it was a slow leak.

There is a fairly recent thread on this repair on the forum with some pictures I posted-try searching. It can be done in a couple of hours with the front wheels on ramps, but you have to be careful with the O ring connectors. When I replaced mine, I had to do it over because I cut an O ring the first time and it leaked. There is a troublesome bolt holding the lines on that requires a long socket extension to get to.

[Ozark Lee]

There are a couple of "gotchas" on the oil cooler lines. The first is the bolt that secures the bracket that holds the upper line in place. It is in a horrible position that you cannot see.

The second "gotcha" is the socket on the oil thermostat. It must be surgically clean or you will tear the O-Ring putting the stuff back together.

Your Rock Auto prices sound good for the lines - I think I paid a fuzz over $100 for the upper line on my daughter's S70 but it was OEM and I can't remember where I got it from.

From what little I have used Rock Auto they have been quality parts at a fair price.

...Lee

[vjaneczko]

You got a new radiator and THEN you had problems with the oil lines? Sounds like maybe the installation of the rad didn't go well - I'm guessing the O-rings got pinched during the install or the hose isn't properly connected to the rad. Did your mechanic do the radiator? If so, I'd be looking him straight in the eye and asking if he reused the O-rings AND if those are the problem and not the hoses themselves.

[holler1]

Here's a thread on replacing the cooler lines with some pictures I posted last Feb. But check the connectors, as both I and vjaneczko suggested, before buying new lines. The O rings are very easy to cut.
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=36007