7.3L OIL COOLER OVERHAUL

ADDRESSING ONE OF THE VENERABLE V-8’S MOST COMMON LEAK POINTS

- MIKE MCGLOTHLIN

Not unlike other aging diesels, as the 7.3L Power Stroke grows older it begins to develop oil leaks. As the years roll over, you’re bound to encounter a small leak from the dipstick adapter, a drip-drip from the oil cooler, or the dreaded seepage from a rusted out oil pan. Luckily for the owner of the ’97 F-350 in this article, a small oil puddle was discovered on the driver side of the engine, where it was quickly traced back to the oil cooler. Upon closer inspection, the outer O-rings had failed, meaning a re-seal was all that was in order, not complete replacement ($68 vs. roughly $300).

Regardless of cost, the oil cooler has to be removed to solve the problem. Fortunately, it’s a relatively simple job that a novice can tackle at home. With a few simple hand tools, a couple drain pans, and the right replacement parts from Riffraff Diesel Performance, we were able to handle the job in three hours’ time. While a leaking oil cooler is more of a nuisance than a major issue, a few drops of oil will eventually turn into a puddle under your ’94.5-’03 Ford. For that reason alone, it’s best to address this pesky problem before it gets worse. Follow along to see how we did it.