Cooler pipe break - Snetterton

[AlexGTT]

As some of you may have seen in the events thread, I had an oil cooler pipe fail at Snetts on Monday. I fitted an up-rated oil cooler a year or so ago. It was a Turner Motorsport unit and was meant for a racecar but was never fitted. So, I snapped it up at a good price (thanks Julian ).

I did 3 laps at Snetts and had a rather large slide throught the left, under the bridge after the straight. Unusual as I was still warming up and going through much slower than normal. Next thing I see loads of oil smoke out the back of the car, pull into the pits and shut it all down. No oil or engine warning lights of any kind and the engine sounded fine. Got out of the car and the reason for the dramatic drift was explained by the trails of oil dripping from the tyres! Pools of oil began to drain from the engine under tray which appeared to be full of oil when I lifted the bonnet. It all looked quite dramatic but was quite soon diagnosed as a leaking oil cooler pipe.

An RAC recovery saga then unfolded but we eventually reached Simpson Motorsport................very late. Anyway they found the "up-rated" cooler pipe like this and have made up and fitted a new, stronger one. The pipe heat sleeve wasn't worn through but the pipe was underneath!

[AlexGTT]

My oil stained CSL.

And then all clean again. Time for

[northernjim]

Glad it was a relatively straightforward fix

shame it happened just as you were heading out on track tho

[s.mac]

it sounds like it could have been so much worse
all good in the end mate

[glendog74]

Glad you're now sorted mate

[shane@mbtech]

Glad your sorted Alex

Could have been worse, it could have happened at oulton park in a man train of CSL's, imagine 4 csl's and a pesky ford all mangled together

Maybe mine was leaking and thats why we had a few drifting moments
Did you enjoy your passenger laps

[AlexGTT]

Thanks chaps. Very glad it was a simple fix as well. Your heart always sinks and you begin to think the worst when you see oil burning like that from your motor.

Yeah, great laps Lawsy. Best bit was the 90 degree to the track through most of Cascades and save. If in doubt keep your foot mashed to the floor. Awesome.

[sailorbaz]

I have to say I think you got off lightly there, it could have been a whole load worse. Imagine if it happened at the ring and god forbid, someone following you went off into a barrier closing the track etc etc, could have been very costly. Thank god, it was a straight forward fix too, car's looking well all cleaned up again.

[AlexGTT]

Originally Posted by sailorbaz

I have to say I think you got off lightly there, it could have been a whole load worse. Imagine if it happened at the ring and god forbid, someone following you went off into a barrier closing the track etc etc, could have been very costly. Thank god, it was a straight forward fix too, car's looking well all cleaned up again.

Indeed, which is why I posted on here. Well worth a look at your oil cooler pipes just to see if there's any rubbing contact. Also look at your PAS pipes. All in the same area and they are known to fail in a similar fashion.

[glendog74]

My PAS pipes are weeping - gonna get it sorted on warranty