Oil Filter / Cooler housing failed - 2nd time

[d2freeman]

Just had my 2nd oil cooler housing failure, exact same failure as before, same coolant passage and same broken inside wall.
Original lasted 216k miles, this one 190k miles. Caught it this time as soon as it started leaking. This was an OEM VW part, replaced with the part from IDParts this time.

 

[eugene89us]

Thank you for the update, @d2freeman --- this almost begs the question of whether we should make this a routine change, let's say every 100k miles with each timing belt? I hope the aftermarket unit will be better, but I am thinking unless the replacement unit were to be made out of something completely different, such as aluminum, I am seriously doubtful the outcome will be any different. It will still fail, this appears to be a design flaw, a weak plastic part made to handle high temps and pressures of the coolant. I miss my 1993 Maxima where almost everything on that engine was metal. But is also got 18mpg combined. LOL.

Your passages do look clear, unlike mine when I replaced it. Any signs of coolant degradation within the oil cooler?

 

[eugene89us]

I am also curious where the fragments of the oil cooler go. They are unlikely to turn into small particles, they are probably somewhere out there clogging a radiator passage.

 

[d2freeman]

Yep, it is basically a maintenance item, and I suspect these are all made by the same manufacturer, what is the chance that multiple companies are making a 1 off part?
This part is a Magneti Marelli, but the part they now sell is a Febi-Bilstein and FCPEuro also sells a Vemo version, All are made in China.

 

[oilhammer]

Shoot, I see them blown out at 70k miles sometimes. You did good.

 

[eugene89us]

As a first generation immigrant who actually loves this country and our international partners, I will pay triple price before I willingly put a "Made in China" part on my home or vehicle. Sometimes we have no choice, it is China or nothing, but if other options are there, that's what will happen. I was watching a YT video yesterday or a guy replacing his 21 year old Toyota low pressure lift pump with one that clearly said "Made in China." What a freaking waste of time! Okay, ran t over, back to work. LOL.

 

[x1800MODMY360x]

I had to bump this, mine just failed @129,364 miles.