Installed/How-To: 2014 Forester XT OEM Oil Cooler(pics!)

[CARNZ]

After talking in the Oil Cooler discussion thread about the OEM FXT oil cooler I ordered the parts to get the ball rolling on this.

I ordered almost all of the FXT oil cooler components except for one hard line(bolts to the driver side valve cover, links oil cooler hose to bottom water pipe).

Here's what you will need:
OEM PARTS:

• 21311AA170 - OIL COOLER, COMPLETE
• 14050AA970 OR 14050AB090 - PIPE, WATER
• 21328AA220 - PIPE, OIL COOLER
• 99078AB330 - HOSE, WATER
• 21317AA070 - CONNECTOR, OIL COOLER
• 805918010(x3) - HOSE, CLAMP
• 808206010(x2) - BOLT 6x12x12
• 092315002(x2) - HOSE, CLAMP
• 1-2 Gallons of Subaru Super Blue Coolant

Miscellaneous:

• 8 inches of 1/2 inch heater hose
• 18 inches of 3/8 heater hose
• M14x1.5 to 1/2 Barb Fitting <- I realize this is very hard to find so here is the new solution. vvv
• Order these two fittings: http://www.jegs.com/i/Russell/799/670490/10002/-1 <- Russell M14x1.5 to -8AN Male fitting. http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performan...00847/10002/-1 <- JEGS -8AN Female to 1/2 Hose Barb Fitting.
  

Initially I ordered most of the parts and laid them out to see what all I had:

The small hoses, one big clamp, 2 bolts, and 2 small clamps were not needed. Don't worry they are not listed above.

1.Start by removing your airbox and oil filter(you will not need to drain the engine oil for this install.)

2. Remove the 24mm union that the oil filter screws on to and set the oil cooler in it's place and thread in the oil cooler connector - 21317AA070. Don't tighten it down yet, just hand screw it in.


3. Install the feed water hose(faces passenger side of engine), Hose (99078AB330) with 2 hose clamps (805918010).

4. Bolt the oil cooler pipe(21328AA220) to the front chain cover of the engine using the 2 purchased bolts (808206010).

Picture is for step 3 and 4


5. Lift/jack up the car and use a 6mm allen socket to remove the water block off plug from the upper oil pan. Be careful as some coolant will come out of this passage.


6. Install a M14x1.5 plug with a 1/2 hose barbed end into the hole exposed from removing the plug in step 5. This is where you will need the ~8 inches of 1/2 inch water hose and one hose clamp of your choice.


7. Connect your water hose in step 6 to the bottom of the oil cooler pipe you installed in step 4. Use one hose clamp (805918010) to secure the hose to the oil cooler pipe.


8. Pull the water hose off the black water pipe seen in the upper right corner of this picture. Also remove the bolt that secures the pipe to the cylinder head. Don't lose the bolt as this is re-used.


9. Follow the water pipe to the back of the cylinder head and remove the two hoses connected to it along with the bolt that secures it to the head. You can now remove the water pipe.


10. As you can see there ARE some differences between the FXT(14050AA970) and BRZ water pipes(aside from the provision for the oil cooler hose). Once the FXT pipe is bolted onto the BRZ head you can see the heater hose provision on the back is bent towards the car, compared to facing straight-up on the BRZ.


11. You can get the BRZ heater hose on the FXT(14050AA970) pipe. You will need to use a little bit of muscle and slightly angle the hose differently so it goes on and doesn't kink shut. I have a very slight kink in mine but it doesn't hinder flow and i have full heater function. You will notice the FXT pipe is taller where the smaller coolant hose goes on, I installed the smaller coolant hose as far as I could get it on to the pipe and have zero leaks.


12. Take your 18 inches of 3/8 heater hose and install it on to the drain side of the oil cooler. (Driver side port of cooler) It will be a close fit to the injector crash shield on the intake manifold but it will fit with zero kinks. Install one hose clamp (092315002) to secure the hose to the cooler. Tighten the 24mm oil cooler connector bolt now, I can't remember the exact torque spec (it's around 50 ft-lbs)


13. Route this hose down the side of the valve cover along the wire harness for exhaust AVCS. I used one zip-tie to hold the hose in one place with the harness. Cut the hose to the needed length and attach it to the FXT water pipe using hose clamp (092315002).


14. Re-install airbox and burp your cooling system.


Enjoy your OEM oil cooler! This looks completely factory and functions very well.

I noticed the oil temps got to operating temperature quicker and stabilized once the engine was hot.

I recommend Heuberger Subaru's Online Parts store as your source to get the Oil Cooler Parts, see screenshot below.


Enjoy,
Mike

[SubaSteve]

What did this end up costing you?

[B2FiNiTY]

wow, very nice write up!

[smbstyle]

nice write up, but do you have any pics?

[CARNZ]

With my employee price it was around $220 for everything I needed.

[Kostamojen]

Horay!!!

Why didn't you use the valve cover side hard line?

Also post a link to that fitting for the block!

[CARNZ]

Originally Posted by Kostamojen

Horay!!!

Why didn't you use the valve cover side hard line?

Also post a link to that fitting for the block!

I didn't use the V/C hard line because I felt it would interfere with the injector crash shields on the BRZ engine, since it has Port and Direct injection it's laid out a little differently than the FXT, also the DI pump is on the pass-side head on the FXT so I'm sure the routing would interfere with where our pumps are.

[Kostamojen]

Originally Posted by CARNZ

I didn't use the V/C hard line because I felt it would interfere with the injector crash shields on the BRZ engine, since it has Port and Direct injection it's laid out a little differently than the FXT, also the DI pump is on the pass-side head on the FXT so I'm sure the routing would interfere with where our pumps are.

OK, thats what I needed to know. Thanks

[chanomatik]

Oh my! If this helps the oil to warm up any quicker then I'm definitely in! Thanks for the write up!

[PantsDants]

Noob question: Do all of these instructions/parts apply to installing this on an automatic car?

[CARNZ]

I would assume so, but I don't own an auto BRZ so not 100% sure. I wouldn't think anything that you do here would be affected by AT/MT.

[akyp]

I like this solution far better than Cusco's.

Now to find a shop that can do the install for me...

[smbstyle]

So the title says "pics!" but I dont see any.... are pics showing for anyone else?

[CARNZ]

for real? lol.

if they really aren't working I will re-host them.

they work for me