Oil leaking under front radiator/condensor area

racertracer · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:27 pm

I have an oil leak at the front radiator/condensor area just uder the electric fan.

Power steering hoses and antisway bar are wet with oil.

Oil color on condensor is red.

Any ideas where this is coming from?

linewarbr · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:26 pm

If the oil is red, the first thought is that it is transmission fluid. I believe there is a trans oil cooler sandwiched into the radiator/ intercooler/ A/C condensor area, so I would start there and work my way further into the engine.

Something else to consider is that our power steering fluid is also ATF +4, so it may be a power steering line. Have you checked the level?

Glend · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:40 pm

Yep, it's transmission fluid. The transmission fluid cooler is integrated with the AC condensor (from underneath you can see the two pipes going up into the condensor. If you follow the lines from the transmission going forward there is a section where they change from the metal lines to hoses and back to the AC condensor metal lines (your leak maybe in these connections or the hose sections).

racertracer · **Posted:** Wed May 26, 2010 1:02 am

Well, I haven't repaired the leak yet but it is definately coming from the right lower side of the transmission intercooler, located in front of the radiator under the electric fan.

I tried to find the price of a new intercooler from MPA and i believe it is ridiculously expensive.

Can anyone confirm what the part number is for the transmission intercooler and the price?

Does anyone know if the intercooler can be repaired by a radiator repair shop?

Glend · **Posted:** Wed May 26, 2010 1:59 am

Are you sure your not looking at the AC condensor? The transmission cooler is integrated into the AC Condensor (at least on mine it is). If you can clean it up and find the leaking spot you might be able to seal it with epoxy aluminium putty. Take it to a radiator specialist shop they have the stuff to clean and test it (and fix it).

racertracer · **Posted:** Wed May 26, 2010 6:02 am

Glen,

The area where the red colored oil is seeping out of can be seen through the grill. The finned cooler is immediately under the electric fan and the leak derives from one of the fins at the lower right corner of the cooler near the connector.

This leak has not affected the function of the AC. The air conditioning continues to work as it should.

Is this the AC condenser / transmission intercooler you are referring to?

Glend · **Posted:** Wed May 26, 2010 9:10 am

Well on mine, looking from the front into the grill, the very first (front to back) of the finned cooling assembly is the AC condensor with the transmission oil cooler directly below it at the bottom. It appears from the service manual that the transmission cooler can be removed separately to the AC condensor (which is gased under pressure and really should not be disturbed). Follow your transmission cooler lines to the two metal hoses that enter the transmission cooler in the front and you should see where the mounting bolts are. You will have to drain the transmission cooler to remove it (by disconnecting the hoses. Make sure you capture any transmissoin fluid that runs out (as long as the pump is not running it will not be very much). Popping the grill off makes access easier.

jmbeam · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:17 pm **Posts:** 13

Could you tell me what line this aluminum line is on top of the radiator? Here is a picture on my Photobucket account: http://s1255.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 3.jpg.html

Thanks

jmbeam · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:17 pm **Posts:** 13

Sorry I think this is the attachment for the picture.

http://s1255.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... erty%20CRD

kjjet · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:48 pm

jmbeam wrote:

Could you tell me what line this aluminum line is on top of the radiator? Here is a picture on my Photobucket account: http://s1255.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 3.jpg.html

Thanks

Thats a airconditioning line!

jmbeam · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:17 pm **Posts:** 13

Why does black oil come out of it? Is it in some way connected to the engine oil lubricating system? I know that sounds weird but the oil level in the truck was down a couple of quarts while the oil was spraying out of the line?

kjjet · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:05 pm

jmbeam wrote:

Why does black oil come out of it? Is it in some way connected to the engine oil lubricating system? I know that sounds weird but the oil level in the truck was down a couple of quarts while the oil was spraying out of the line?

If there is a hole in that line you may get some oil that was added to lube the airconditioning system. Look at the oil closely it should be different than engine oil. Unless I am seeing things???

jmbeam · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:17 pm **Posts:** 13

Its strange but the engine oil was down a couple of quarts after pulling over and checking things out. Wondering how that could be?

thermorex · **Posted:** Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:53 am

On all my jeeps (xj and crd) I got an aftermarket cooler (for crd I got a tru cool pn LPD49211 - 6" x 23" x 3/4" - with a Tru-Cool thermal bypass valve for cold weather where I live). I totally deleted the factory coolers since I really hate messing with the quick releases or when they go bad or when you need to do some radiator work. Plus that radiator is more efficient that the one we have from stock. You could also get 1, 2 or 3 7 inch fans (I know procomp makes them) that you can mount on the transmission cooler (I need to do that still, but it seems its plenty space for at least 2 of them). Transmission cooler can be installed under the front stock bumper (will be at an angle and not straight) provided that an additional grill is added in front of the new transmission radiator to prevent damage from road hazards. The downside of this is that the lower part of the transmission cooler can only be secured on the plastic collar under the bumper, unless a metal frame is made (or some brackets from in between the front shield and car chassis).

I know that is not a direct answer to the question but since its likely to have the stock transmission cooler messed up somehow, I would just go and install an aftermarket big cooler that will definitely do a better job than the stock one, delete the stock cooler, plus it's less hassle when you need to work at it. At least this is how I see the problem.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:26 am

jmbeam wrote:

Its strange but the engine oil was down a couple of quarts after pulling over and checking things out. Wondering how that could be?

You should not be finding any engine oil leaks anywhere around the radiator.
The only oil lines there lead to the transmission and cooler.
If you lost engine oil check the drain plug, rear main seal, turbo drain pipe, and CCV.
Those are the most likely suspects.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:39 pm

For what it's worth regarding fluid leaks around the front end:
1. engine oil from a crack in the intercooler, see Sir Sam's post on this.
2. ATF from a leaky tranny cooler in the bottom of the AC condenser or from the quick disconnect fittings (will be red and hopefully relatively clear). IIRC quick disconnects can be repaired/replaced and if the leak is in the cooler itself just cut it out of the system and install an auxillary cooler as the condensor is not cheap.
3. coolant from the radiator (if HOAT will have little cooler but all coolant that I know "tastes" sweet)
4. AC system does have a lubricant in addition to the refrigerant but when I've seen leaks of that, even with a hose blow out, it's not been much.

Keep in mind it's pretty windy up there so a little leak can spray into really odd places. Best to clean everything off before looking for leak sources. When looking don't overlook bad hoses or hose connections and consider appropriate UV dye to find really small leaks.

lanthony2020 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:52 am **Posts:** 27

Hello, my transmission cooler is leaking across the bottom.

First, what type of fittings connect the transmission lines to the transmission cooler. These are some strange ducks? Metric Euro-pipe? Can't find a fitting to adapt to the OEM line fittings?

Second, will the transmission cooler come out without disturbing the AC, Radiator or Intercooler?

Third, How much for an OEM replacement. Mopar Parts online does not list them.

Thanks,

LN

lanthony2020 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:52 am **Posts:** 27

Got it!

LN

racertracer · **Posted:** Sat Jan 24, 2015 8:40 pm

Hey Guys.... pardon me for not responding.... I just noticed this thread alive again.

My leak was at the connectors according to the mechanic.

The jeep mechanic said that all he did was detach and clean the connectors and made sure that the seal was tight.

That's all he did and it solved it.

Oil leaking under front radiator/condensor area

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