Crusader 8.1 oil/trans cooler replacement

[thatchh]

I have a 2004 396 with twin Crusader 8.1 mpi's. I think this would apply to other twin 8.1 boats as well. I'm starting the replacement of the dual tube oil coolers. The port engine has the cooler on the inboard side which makes this an annoying but possible job. The starboard engine has the cooler in the same position on the engine which means it's on the outboard side. (Thanks, Crusader) This makes the access somewhere between life-threatening and impossible. Has anyone successfully replaced their outboard oil cooler? I would appreciate any tips or tricks you might be able to share.
I am considering disconnecting the old hoses at the engine and mounting the new cooler on the inboard side. I think the specified hydraulic hoses would reach and raw water hose changes would be relatively minor.
Thanks,
Thatch in Seattle

[bud37]

I am considering disconnecting the old hoses at the engine and mounting the new cooler on the inboard side. I think the specified hydraulic hoses would reach and raw water hose changes would be relatively minor.

By the sounds of it, just abandoning the old one may be the best idea. Leave it there....

[thatchh]

At moderate bodily expense I was able to extract the old oil cooler forward from the outboard side. The three hoses at the front were not too bad to access once I accepted nearly standing on my head to get in there. The three at the rear were inaccessible. I disconnected them at the engine. The water and trans oil hoses pulled on through. The engine oil line I was able to feed forward enough to get at the fitting on the cooler and remove it.
I will be locating the new cooler on the inboard stringer. That will allow me to monitor its condition and address any leaks in the fittings. I can reuse the engine oil hoses for now. I already bought new trans hoses so I might save a set as spares. One of the trans oil connections on each cooler was very corroded and pink underneath.
I have some pictures but I can't figure out how to add them to the post. Maybe I don't have permission.

[paulr]

How many hours were on the engines? I have a 2001 396 with Crusaders and I am hoping I won't have to do that job as well.

[thatchh]

I have 1468 hours on my engines. I think it isn't so much engine hours that determines the problem.Corrosion is more just time elapsed. These coolers sit full of raw water all the time if the boat's in the water. My boat sits in salt water year round. If your boat is in fresh water and out for half the year, you might never need to do the coolers. It's worth taking a look at the inboard one which you can do with an inspection mirror or camera. On both my coolers, the aft trans oil connection was the one that was most corroded.

[paulr]

I forgot my that the 8.1 engines in my 2001 were installed new in 2008. I bought the boat in2022. The previous owner some how had a water ingestion problem which requeired engine replacements. I would hope the heat exchangers were new with the engines. I think I have a lot of time before I have to think about this. This boat is in salt water all year an I have the bottom cleaned and zincs serviced twice per year if needed by a diver.
Thanks for the information.

[km1125]

You might want to check the condition of any engine-mounted anodes and replace if necessary. Also make sure the oil cooler(s) are bonded to the engines very well, so they get some protection too from any anodes in the system.