Partial Engine Rebuild
Partial Engine Rebuild
5 year old diesel captiva. Oil cooler has got a leak as, apparently, has the radiator (aircon unit). The oil has contaminated the coolant.
So, new oil cooler and new radiator required. But Chevrolet don't want to flush the pipes, but replace them. And there are a lot. The problem first came up 3 days ago. Since then I had the aircon at 28 degrees and the fan running on low which should have helped preserve parts.
The overall price is north of 70,000 including labour (and they also want to change the compressor and condenser which would be extra). In Europe I would get a garage to use 3rd party parts, not original parts, and save money. Does that happen over here ? is there any garage here I can talk to get a quote. Preferably someone who has done this kind of work before as the location of the oil cooler and radiator means taking out the *whole* engine first.
Thanks
So, new oil cooler and new radiator required. But Chevrolet don't want to flush the pipes, but replace them. And there are a lot. The problem first came up 3 days ago. Since then I had the aircon at 28 degrees and the fan running on low which should have helped preserve parts.
The overall price is north of 70,000 including labour (and they also want to change the compressor and condenser which would be extra). In Europe I would get a garage to use 3rd party parts, not original parts, and save money. Does that happen over here ? is there any garage here I can talk to get a quote. Preferably someone who has done this kind of work before as the location of the oil cooler and radiator means taking out the *whole* engine first.
Thanks
Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
Take it to K.Pichai at "L Garage" opposite the Palace just before the traffic lights. Also has a "Mobil" sign up on the front wall. He speaks good English and will either do it, or tell you where to take it. The dealers, or "stealers" are obliged to use factory parts as part of their franchise.fft100 wrote: ↑Sat May 04, 2019 6:22 pm 5 year old diesel captiva. Oil cooler has got a leak as, apparently, has the radiator (aircon unit). The oil has contaminated the coolant.
So, new oil cooler and new radiator required. But Chevrolet don't want to flush the pipes, but replace them. And there are a lot. The problem first came up 3 days ago. Since then I had the aircon at 28 degrees and the fan running on low which should have helped preserve parts.
The overall price is north of 70,000 including labour (and they also want to change the compressor and condenser which would be extra). In Europe I would get a garage to use 3rd party parts, not original parts, and save money. Does that happen over here ? is there any garage here I can talk to get a quote. Preferably someone who has done this kind of work before as the location of the oil cooler and radiator means taking out the *whole* engine first.
Thanks
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Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
^ and I would suggest that you DO NOT use this place.
Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
more info would help good or bad garage.
Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
I too would be interested to know why centermid7 suggests the OP says DO NOT use the garage Nereus has recommended.
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Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
Not familiar with diesels, but the posted data raises some question marks.
1. Coolant has to do with engine cooling. If it is the aircon, the 'coolant' would have evaporated and there would not be anything left to contaminate.
2. If it is engine coolant, the compressor and condensor are not part of the system and if replaced, you are being ripped off.
3. If petrol engine, I would suspect head gasket failure, but this is a diesel so unfamiliar territory..
4. If oil has contaminated the (engine) cooling system, I would suggest looking at the rubber hoses to see if there is any swelling caused by the oil. Given the age of the car, a complete replacement of all the coolant hoses is preventive maintenance. They don't last much longer than five years anyway.
My thoughts.
Get an independent opinion from someone familiar with diesels.
1. Coolant has to do with engine cooling. If it is the aircon, the 'coolant' would have evaporated and there would not be anything left to contaminate.
2. If it is engine coolant, the compressor and condensor are not part of the system and if replaced, you are being ripped off.
3. If petrol engine, I would suspect head gasket failure, but this is a diesel so unfamiliar territory..
4. If oil has contaminated the (engine) cooling system, I would suggest looking at the rubber hoses to see if there is any swelling caused by the oil. Given the age of the car, a complete replacement of all the coolant hoses is preventive maintenance. They don't last much longer than five years anyway.
My thoughts.
Get an independent opinion from someone familiar with diesels.
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Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
OEM procedure for oil contamination problem. (Diesel model)
https://gm.oemdtc.com/3820/engine-coola ... tiva-cruze
https://gm.oemdtc.com/3820/engine-coola ... tiva-cruze
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Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
There has been only one other poster on here that was not happy with K.Pichai. He no longer posts on here, but many of his previous posts make me suspect that the problem may have been himself, rather than the garage!
All place's are likely to have a "bad day", more so when they are dealing with Farangs! I have known Pichai for over 10 years, and although I no longer live in Hua Hin and therefore do not go there, I have recommended him to many people without a problem. The last person in fact was Terry from the Fishing Lodge, and if you can please that grumpy old git, then you HAVE to be doing something right!
I would be more concerned about an incorrect diagnosis of the problem. In Terry's case, and I cannot recall the make of car, but the dealer insisted that the brake booster needed replacing. The fault was nothing to do with the perfectly good brake booster!
In the case of the OP of this thread he states that both an oil cooler AND an air conditioning "radiator"(condenser) are BOTH faulty? Not had anything to do Captiva's, but on the many cars that I have worked on, I have never seen a system where the air con is not an entirely separate system to any engine cooler.
Engine oil coolers can be inside the engine radiator, but more often it is the automatic transmission cooler that is in there. The engine oil cooler, IF it has one, is usually separate, and the air con most definitely separate.
All place's are likely to have a "bad day", more so when they are dealing with Farangs! I have known Pichai for over 10 years, and although I no longer live in Hua Hin and therefore do not go there, I have recommended him to many people without a problem. The last person in fact was Terry from the Fishing Lodge, and if you can please that grumpy old git, then you HAVE to be doing something right!

I would be more concerned about an incorrect diagnosis of the problem. In Terry's case, and I cannot recall the make of car, but the dealer insisted that the brake booster needed replacing. The fault was nothing to do with the perfectly good brake booster!
In the case of the OP of this thread he states that both an oil cooler AND an air conditioning "radiator"(condenser) are BOTH faulty? Not had anything to do Captiva's, but on the many cars that I have worked on, I have never seen a system where the air con is not an entirely separate system to any engine cooler.
Engine oil coolers can be inside the engine radiator, but more often it is the automatic transmission cooler that is in there. The engine oil cooler, IF it has one, is usually separate, and the air con most definitely separate.
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Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
I thought that I had taught you better than that! You are making it more confusing by writing that "Coolant has nothing to do with engine cooling"! The engine cooling, petrol OR diesel, is called "coolant". The air con is called either "liquid" or just "gas". And never the twain shall meet!VincentD wrote:1. Coolant has to do with engine cooling. If it is the aircon, the 'coolant' would have evaporated and there would not be anything left to contaminate.

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Re: Partial Engine Rebuild

The statement is a bit vague and ambiguous and can be interpreted in many ways by a layman.
BTW the quote does say 'to do with engine cooling'

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Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
Yes, sorry I see that now. But you also saw what was going on last week with mine. That ridiculous woman referring to the condenser as a "drier", and that the problem was the "walve"!BTW the quote does say 'to do with engine cooling'
The more I think about it, the more I am inclined to believe that Terry's car may have been a Captiva? The dealer was set on just replacing parts rather than looking for the problem. But this all ties in in what you have posted on another thread about modern cars and all the "modern technology". The fact is the biggest percentage of so called "mechanics" working on modern cars cannot do anything without plugging in a testbook, and then blindly following on with just replacing parts. In fact, and not just here, they are no longer referred to as "mechanics", but "technicians"!

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Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
I saw and was somewhat involved in this guys so call "engine rebuild" and I can tell you without reservation that it was anything but. There was an attempt to do some mediation downtown as to costs, efforts, and results, and that was a laugh to say the least.
IMO steer clear.
Cheers
IMO steer clear.
Cheers
Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
Hi,
In my hurry, I got a few parts wrong
Looking at the quote, the engine needs a new oil cooler and radiator. They don't want to flush the pipes to get rid of oil but replace all the pipes etc. And the gasket for the cylinder head, manifold etc. The oil cooler is deep in the engine they showed me. Oil has got into the engine coolant.
The air con needs a new evaporator (not radiator). They also want to replace the compressor and condenser (which is where that bit gets expensive) as they think they may be compromised.
Hope that makes more sense. Wonder why both oil cooler and air-con had problems within a day or two of each other.
In my hurry, I got a few parts wrong

The air con needs a new evaporator (not radiator). They also want to replace the compressor and condenser (which is where that bit gets expensive) as they think they may be compromised.
Hope that makes more sense. Wonder why both oil cooler and air-con had problems within a day or two of each other.
Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
Do NOT believe them! Get another opinion, K. Pichai or others.fft100 wrote: ↑Sun May 05, 2019 9:34 pm Hi,
In my hurry, I got a few parts wrongLooking at the quote, the engine needs a new oil cooler and radiator. They don't want to flush the pipes to get rid of oil but replace all the pipes etc. And the gasket for the cylinder head, manifold etc. The oil cooler is deep in the engine they showed me. Oil has got into the engine coolant.
The air con needs a new evaporator (not radiator). They also want to replace the compressor and condenser (which is where that bit gets expensive) as they think they may be compromised.
Hope that makes more sense. Wonder why both oil cooler and air-con had problems within a day or two of each other.
You need to treat this as two entirely separate issues. Taking the engine first:
WHY do they need to take off the cylinder head? If it is a diesel and has blown a gasket, then it will be both difficult to start, and down on power if it does run at all. A simple compression test on each cylinder will show if it is faulty.
If the gasket has blown into the water jacket then it will force exhaust gas into the cooling system resulting in it expelling water out the expansion tank and pressuring the radiator hoses so that they feel "hard" to try and squeeze when the engine is running. It will also rapidly overheat.
Oil Cooler: the oil cooler is not "inside" the engine, or do you mean close to the engine? No idea if it is correct, but the oil cooler shown on the link posted by Vincent does not fit inside the engine radiator, it is simply too big. It is an air cooled heat exchanger, NOT inside of anything. That link also says to remove the oil filter to gain access to the cooler, but it probably means to gain access to the connections, as on many engines the lines to any cooler are taken off from around the oil filter area, as that is where both pressure and flow are easiest to connect too.
Is the car automatic transmission? If so then it is more likely that it's cooler is inside the radiator. Whatever cooler may be inside the radiator, does NOT automatically condemn the radiator. With most radiators it is a simple matter to remove the tanks and clean out the core. Not always possible if the radiator has plastic tanks. There are places that do just that.
Air Con: you have posted that you are still using the air con, albeit at a lower temperature. As posted, whatever MAY be wrong with the air con, it has NOTHING to do with contaminated engine cooling water. If it is still producing cold air, then there is very little wrong with it.
The evaporator is buried away inside the dash, and on most cars is one hell of a job to replace as it usually entails completely removing the whole dash assembly.
The compressor is repairable, unless it has a broken shaft of similar. The compressor is probably not made by GM, but Denso or similar.
The condenser is normally in front of the engine radiator, and can be cleaned, OR replaced if it has a hole in it or is rotted away. Take the car to a place that just does car air cons, they will soon test it and tell you what is what. Good luck!
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Re: Partial Engine Rebuild
Another garage option is Tanakrit garage in soi 50. They've taken care of our 84 Mercedes for 5 yrs. They only fix what's broken and everything they've fixed has stayed fixed. We've had an engine & exhaust system replacement and numerous other jobs. If you go them take someone who speaks Thai. There prices are a bit higher than other places and their work is much better, for me it's worth it to know that they're honest mechanics, do good work and stand behind their work.