S2 Oil Cooler

[Bergerac]

Well if someone changed it in the past thats a different story, perhaps a hose failed and they had the 8V parts to make it work.

Its just a case of getting the correct parts, the oil console is similar to the turbo but a different part number, but the hoses and oil cooler are different. Best bet is to download the 89-91 PET from Porsche to get the part numbers, the console parts are in section 104-01 and the hoses and cooler section 104-04 . Make sure you don't miss the small connection pipe between the block and the oil console.

If you buy a secondhand oil console make sure its thoroughly cleaned incase its come off an engine thats failed.

Screenshot 2025-07-11 104949.png (266.48 KiB) Viewed 1231 times

[Race5103]

Thanks! As I look at this I think maybe it isn't the solution I want. Clearly oil passes through the console into and out of the filter. I don't know where the water inlet and outlets are in the block corresponding to what i assume is a block in the console sealed with o-rings. It seems to me the problem of mixed water and oil could still be a problem. Do Turbos ever have this problem or only NAs?

[Tom]

If it were me, whatever the engine turns out to be, I'd just use the stock parts for that motor. If they are failing quickly, regardless of which set up, then something isn't right -- either with the installation of with the parts. My seals are about 18 years old now, knock on wood, and they should keep working fine for years to come...

[Race5103]

Well the type of motor isn't in doubt. So it is only how long seasl should last and whether I want to consider doing this again. When I bought the car there was oil in the water and it was something I had never seen before. I thought I repaired it seven years ago but here I am again. I'll consider your advice while I search for ways to eliminate the problem forever.

Thanks.

[Tom]

Well the type of motor isn't in doubt. So it is only how long seasl should last and whether I want to consider doing this again. When I bought the car there was oil in the water and it was something I had never seen before. I thought I repaired it seven years ago but here I am again. I'll consider your advice while I search for ways to eliminate the problem forever.

Thanks.

Why do you say the type of motor isn't in doubt? I'm still unclear. Did you see the pictures I posted above and the questions about the body style? Which one do you have?

[Tom]

Thanks! As I look at this I think maybe it isn't the solution I want. Clearly oil passes through the console into and out of the filter. I don't know where the water inlet and outlets are in the block corresponding to what i assume is a block in the console sealed with o-rings. It seems to me the problem of mixed water and oil could still be a problem. Do Turbos ever have this problem or only NAs?

Yes, all 944 variants can have this issue. That's why I said that switching to a 951 set up won't eliminate that vulnerability. There's not a lot you can do about it, realistically, other than confirm the block and console parts are all good and assembled properly. Thousands of 944's go for decades on end without mixing. Of course, anything can be modified with enough effort, but that medicine is almost surely worse than the disease it cures.

[RadioRush]

My 16V ‘89 S2 has an external oil “radiator” that sits in the opening near the passenger side fog light. Oil is piped to & from the same area of the block that houses the NA oil/water cooler, but there isn’t a cooler inside that housing.

As pointed out previously, the seals there are still subject to failure which can cause oil/coolant mixing, but fortunately I’ve not experienced any issues.

I wouldn’t recommend eliminating the external oil radiator in favor of an NA-style, internal cooler. The 3.0L 16V engine produces more heat than the 2.5L 8V. Porsche didn’t put it there because it looked pretty.

[Race5103]

My idea wasn't to eliminate the cooler, simply to replace it with something doesn't have the same water oil mixing problem. But it doesn't seem that is really possible so I've abandoned the project and in the spring will simply try to repair the cooler again, but correctly.

[Race5103]

Tom:
I should have answered you long ago. Sorry for missing. But the reason the type of motor isn't in doubt is because I am not confused about it. I have owned the car for years and know what I have.