Re: Replacement oil lines to cooler

[Aleksander Mierzwa <alex@matrix.com.pl>]

At 08:21 18.06.98 -0500, William Elliott wrote:

>The dealers I checked with indeed quoted the same outrageous prices you
saw and 
>told me the line was not available.  A couple of our European listers 
>recommended a set of aftermarket lines from the UK at about 1/3 the cost
of OEM 
>lines.

Or custom made ones from Parker at 1/10

>A couple of guys also mentioned the availability of "adapters" which 
>would allow me to run more common lines, but I never got the sourcing
details.

Again, Parker dealers (or any other company dealing with hydraulic
equipment) would probably have various adapters in stock. Alternatively,
you could just go to your favorite machine shop with your oil cooler and
"more common" lines and ask them to machine the adapters for you. When a
tranny cooling line went on our Renault (and cost is the main objective
when repairing this car, as it's gonna be sold as soon as I can afford a
new Audi and pass the 5KT to my mother), I simply bought two common lines
(they're for a Polish truck, don't even know what system they're used in),
machined the adapters and that's all.

>Instead, I went to my local NAPA shop.  While they did not have (and could
not 
>get) the OEM fittings, they instead cut off the fittings and used
compression 
>fittings to mate the standard US hose to them. The new hose is not "braided" 
>externally, but it is an extreme high-pressure, hi-temp-rated piece speced
for 
>industrial applications, as are the fittings.  Fit perfectly.  Total cost: 
>about $35. So far, 8000 miles and no leaks!

Probably the cheapest and most desirable solution indeed.

Aleksander Mierzwa
Warsaw, Poland
mailto:alex@matrix.com.pl
87 Audi 5000CS turbo (mine)
88 Renault Medallion wagon (mom's)
91 mountain bike (just in case both cars broke at the same time :-)