swapping out the defender oil cooler lines

[TorqueVeteran]

Is it worth swapping out those defender oil cooler lines?

Are people just sticking with the usual rubber and metal combo, or is there a better mousetrap out there with a new design?

Aside from those Trailhead lines for the V8s, it seems no one's stepping up to the plate to make TDI lines in different materials.

Lay it on me, what do you think guys?

 

[Manfromafar]

I dont know why most people haven't realised that OEM lines are just ticking time bombs once they get old and soft especially with age and heat cycling and you might as well swap them. I've seen a few folks fab their own AN braided setups with adapters and honestly it feels way more bulletproof than the rubber and metal mix.

 

[Rickyboy80]

This is the great thing about aftermarket parts. They're made to work like OEM but offer improvements. In this case, as @Manfromafar mentioned, the rubber is the weak point and after a while it's more plastic than rubber, which is where the braided or hadlines come into play. Much more durable and will handle a lot more punishment.

 

[GreenOvalSoul]

Yep, braided lines totally solve that rubber breakdown issue. The steel mesh build can handle heat and pressure way better than those stock rubber hoses. Just be sure they're DOT-approved, you don't want some cheap copies that could fail on you