Also, do you *have* to drain the coolant ro replace? I heard someone mention this previously. Couldn't find any info in the Bentley about this.

Those are the cam seals next to the O-ring. Nickle for scale (couldn't find a quarter). ;-)
<img src="http://audi12v.home.comcast.net/pix/oilcoolercamseals.jpg">

I bought lots of stuff from germanautoparts.com this last purchase.
<img src="http://audi12v.home.comcast.net/pix/stuff1.jpg">

yes that's the right o-ring, no you don't HAVE to drain the coolant.

There are 2 leads going into the oil cooler... the top one is the feed, the bottom one is the return. I used a mini vice grip with its teeth wrapped in duct tape and clamped it. Unfortunately I didn't realize this was the feed, and thought teh bottome one was... I'm sure you can imagine what happened.

It's VERY tight in there, and not easy to mess with. And there is little slack in the tubes cuz they're only like 2-3 inches long. But with some patience it can be done... at least I was able to do it ;)

Just have a catch bucket under where you're working and you'll be fine. I lost a minimal amonut of fluid... but decided to buy the G12 to refill it, even though I used about 2 cups of it

I probably have pix of it at home... so if you're interested lemme know. But once you get the oil filter off it's pretty self explainatory. I believe the nut holding it on was a 22mm as an fyi.

hope this helps.

never even got a thank you ;)

I unfortunately though don't save every link like you do, so I couldn't help you out too much.

Glad I could help.

when you heading up here again?

mentioned he'll be doing a head workshop down the road. I'm not going to go through the trouble of installing the whole head until I can put some work into it.

I don't have another trip planned to Chicago, yet, but I bet sometime this summer. I'll let you know when I head back out that way. ;-)

I used to work for Waterloo making those. Same exact box as Craftsman, Kobalt, John Deere with a different name plate &amp; a lot cheaper than the rest. You get the smart consumer award of the day! Are your slides ball-bearing, or just regular?

I think I only threw 2 tools during that one. That's good for me. I did a lot of cursing though. My car likes being cursed at. Especially during the evap change.

esp when I kept disconnecting more and more things and the f'in dash STILL wouldn't come out. I think I coulda made a sailor blush in shame at some points.

Only time I ever threw a tool though is when I was helping my brother pull the O2 sensor from his quattro coupe... and we were torching it to get it to loosen up. I accidentally leaned my right arm on the box end wrench we had been heating (damn close to being red hot). Needless to say I had a perfect half of a box end on my arm (22mm to be exact)... and that tool went sailing across the garage floor... with my brother laughing hysterically at me... that bastage!

I never want to do another evap core change again. At least not on my car where I'm the poor sucker that has to live w/ it.

I told him for $400 I'd do it... any less and I wouldn't touch it. Not to mention, he'd need to give me the car for a week so I could work on it on my own time... he never emailed me back =P

I'd pay that much to have it done.

but I think he was thinking a case of beer and lunch... HA

Esp since dealer wanted OVER $800 in labor alone... whole job was like $1500 with parts. In the end I dropped about $350 including buying a heater core. If you're gonna take it apart once, might as well do everything right?

My wife used to work for a tool and equipment company and gave it to me for Christmas in 2002. She got a great deal on it. I don't think the slides are ball bearing, though. I have a Craftsman, too, but its only the bottom piece and has a plastic work surface on top. I am using it as my work bench, for now. And, my wife told me the same thing; they look identical.

Yeah, they are the exact same box, gauge of metal, etc. The ONLY diff. is the name plate &amp; the price tag. Your wife did very well!