Gregory Bender

Automatic transmission oil cooler line/hose replacement

DIY and how-to articles on repairing the Saab 9-5 SE.

Updated:

Disclaimer: We own a 2000 Saab 9-5 SE 6 cylinder 4-door sedan. This information may not be at all applicable to other Saab 9-5 models.

Immediately before our Christmas vacation trip to Denver and Scotts Bluff, Nebraska in 2008, I noticed automatic transmission fluid had been leaking. Not a huge amount, but enough that I didn't want to have to worry about it during our trip. A little bit of investigation revealed that the washers on the banjo bolt that secure the oil cooler line to the top fitting on the radiator had gone bad. I scrounged around in my stash and found some suitable temporary sealing washers. No more leaks from that location on the 2000+ mile round trip.

But then in mid-January, 2009 I began seeing fresh spots of transmission fluid on the garage floor. I looked carefully at all the washers on all 4 banjo bolts that secure both oil cooler lines...no detectable leaks there. Must be the automatic transmission oil cooler lines themselves, as they were pretty soaked with fluid with no other visible source.

I ordered replacement hoses from my favorite Saab parts supplier: eEuroParts. But, they didn't show the special washers for the banjo bolts on their web site. Rather than spend USD $4.00 each at the local Saab dealer, I ordered suitable replacements, McMaster-Carr part number 93786A225. I ordered 2 packs of 5 (USD $5.66 per pack). The washers are a perfect fit, work perfectly, and are a lot less expensive.

Installation

The parts from eEuroParts arrived and were precisely what I needed. Same for the sealing washers from McMaster-Carr. The sealing washers were a snug fit on the inside diameter, just like the originals when I removed them. The outside diameter of the sealing washers is larger than original, but there is plenty of room for the extra size when fitted.

Fitting the new lines was pretty straightforward. Here's a quick rundown:

The car has been used extensively over the past month with no detectable leaks. The new hoses and sealing washers are doing their job nicely.

Automatic transmission inlet hose to oil cooler (upper hose); Saab part number 4576245.
Automatic transmission inlet hose to oil cooler (upper hose); Saab part number 4576245.

Photo courtesy of eEuroParts.

Automatic transmission outlet hose from oil cooler (lower hose); Saab part number 4576252.
Automatic transmission outlet hose from oil cooler (lower hose); Saab part number 4576252.

Photo courtesy of eEuroParts.