3.7LX oil cooler & manual

[rstoney1]

I have twin 1989, 3.7LX, 180hp engines in my 27' Carver. The port engine developed oil in the closed fresh water system. From what I can tell, there's an oil cooler within the intake manifold. I can see the cover & bolts, but I'm not sure if the cooler is an integral part of the manifold and don't want to remove the cover prior to knowing if the cooler can be removed form the manifold.
Also, is there anywhere I can get a manual for the 3.7LX engine? I bought a SELOC for all types of Mercruisers, 1964-1991. You guessed it, my 3.7LX isn't addressed. It shows the engines that have the intake & exhaust manifolds as a single unit.
Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.7LX oil cooler & manual

Might want to look at your engine, I doubt you have an oil cooler in there. 99.9% don't and I have never even seen one, and Merc doesn't even show one in their parts. BUT, the manual shows a hook up for one that has hoses going to the cooler, and they come out of the oil filter housing. This oil filter housing also isn't on an engine without the cooler.
The service manual you need is OEM manual #8. Might want to have a look on ebay, or check with your local Merc dealer for a new one.

 

[rstoney1]

Re: 3.7LX oil cooler & manual

Thanks so much for your reply, Don.
I do believe I might have a cooler in the manifold as there are 2 lines running into the cover form the engine. The abreviated operation/maint. book which came with the boat shows the manifold in the system breakdown and it says the oil cooler is in there. It doesn't show the actual cooler (hoses,cover & gasket only), it just says it's there.
I guess I'm going to have to pull the lines and cover off to see. What's your opinion on an aftermarket, external oil cooler? Any suggestions? My concern is where I'd get the cooling water from.
Thanks again,
Rstoney1 (Bob)

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.7LX oil cooler & manual

They all have hoses going to the intake manifold, but do you have 2 hoses coming from the OIL FILTER HOUSING going to the manifold.

 

[rstoney1]

Re: 3.7LX oil cooler & manual

Yes. They go right into the bottom of the manifold into the oil cooler cover.