15.3. CLEANING THE OIL COOLER

The oil helps with the lubrication and also with the cooling. This is the case with all cars and the 2CV is no exception. What is special in this engine is that the designers have created a small oil radiator and the airflow from the fan blows through it. The oil cooler sometimes becomes greasy from the outside. That is in itself not so bad, except that there are all kinds of dust that stick to it. A clogged oil cooler is not good. The oil becomes too hot and so do the pistons and the cylinders. As a result, it gets jammed. It is of the utmost importance that the oil cooler is kept clean.
- The exterior of the cooler can be cleaned when the front and the ventilator are removed. The cooling tunnel can remain seated.
- Installing the fan: Loosen the bolt of the ventilator with a pipe wrench 14 or a small socket wrench. Insert a rod (e.g. an extension for a socket wrench) where the fastening screw is placed and shake it several times sideways with the bar. The fan should come off. (Figure 3C.2).
- Lubricate the oil cooler at the front with a detergent such as benzene or brake cleaner. This is best done with a paintbrush. Just let the cleaner soak and then blow compressed air from behind the cooler.
- Repeat this procedure until the cooler is clean. You should now be able to see through the fins of the fan diagonally from the left.
- Make sure that after installing the fan that the V-string does not come in contact with the cooler and that it is tense enough. The string has the correct tension when you can press onto it about one centimetre.

The same airflow from the fan, that cools the oil cooler, blows also through both cylinders and cylinder heads. This combination, cooling the oil of the cylinders, makes sure that the engine, even under adverse conditions, does not easily overheat. A couple of tips:
- Be sure to have a good quality oil.
- Use the proper viscosity (thickness of the oil): 15W40.
- Change the oil every 10,000 km or at least once a year.
- Make sure that the engine is up to temperature quickly, do not let it run idle, but instead pull away quietly.
- Regularly check the oil cooler for debris.

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