Oil Cooler freeze damage repair

[Bimmerbill]

Hello all, When I winterized my boat last year I failed to take out the annodes at the bottom of my U-shaped oil coolers. The water there froze and pushed the bottom part of the cooler off slightly. I removed the solder and the bottom part of the cooler (it joins the two raw water tubes) the cooler and gave it all a good cleaning.

Can I solder the bottom part back on? Is 500F solder with high lead content the right choice? The old joint solder had a lot of flex to it, so I figured it probably wasn't silver solder or brazed on.
I'm going to call the local radiator shop who was recommended by the boat haulers and the boat part store locally. Not sure how much the repair will cost tho, and thought I may do it myself.
Thanks,
Bill

[todd brinkerhoff]

I'd take it to a welder. It would be an easy fix for a good welder.

[P-Dogg]

This is one of posts where a picture would help. I'd take it off and give it a good cleaning to assess how bad things are. If it is soldered as you said and the solder joint itself failed, I'd repair it myself (not in the boat of course) but then again I rebuilt my tricab underwater exhaust (both sides). A pressure test would be in order afterwards. Good luck and let's us know how you make out.

[prowlersfish]

Replace it . There could be hidden damage you cant see . I could test fine now and a few weeks later take out a engine or trans .

[Bimmerbill]

Heading off to the radiator shop now. The solder joint failed, it separated slightly from the frozen water.
Thanks for the ideas.
Bill

[K4282]

how much could it cost for a new one? is it really worth the hassle and uncertainty? My boat, bow down some filled wit water this past winter, i had ice up to my oil pans and no damage other than some minor stress cracks to the hull, i find it hard to believe your oil cooler was in the best of shape to start with

[Landlocked]

I was in the same boat, so to speak. I have successfully winterized my boat for the past 20 years but somehow missed those two drains on the oil coolers last fall. Pushed them apart as he describes. I replaced them both for roughly $270 ea.
I'm betting I won't forget them again.

[Bimmerbill]

Yeah, I won't forget them again either (I hope).
$100 to have both pressure tested to make sure there was no leak between chambers and soldered back up. Going to get the back in the boat this weekend.