a big tear on a tiny piece of rubber (coolant story)
#1
Track Day
Thread Starter
a big tear on a tiny piece of rubber (coolant story)
I'll try to keep it brief...
A spirited acceleration + white smoke in rearview + red/slippery mist all over backend = the dreaded coolant catastrophe
I take to indy and I decide to do the right thing.
I have the indy pin the coolant lines and replace the plastic elbows w/ SS ones from Sharkwerks. Also for good measure, I have him replace ALL the coolant hoses while he's in there.
Yes it sucks, but I know I'm making it better/stronger/etc.
Well....
When they removed the intake manifold they discovered that the leak was:
NOT coming from a cracked plastic elbow, and it was
NOT coming from an epoxied fitting that came loose
...the failure was from the tiny rubber end of coolant pipe in the picture below.
When I inspected the plastic elbows (that are being replaced) and coolant fittings (which will be pinned)... everything actually looked pretty good.
So YES, while I am replacing the hose that burst with a new one,
I don't feel like I'm making the coolant system "stronger/better" ... b/c the way I see it, IT'S ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK.
Am I missing something? Is there a way to make the stock rubber coolant lines better/stronger? Can they be wrapped to block heat?
Or should I just settle for factory new hoses and cross my fingers in another 10 years?
A spirited acceleration + white smoke in rearview + red/slippery mist all over backend = the dreaded coolant catastrophe
I take to indy and I decide to do the right thing.
I have the indy pin the coolant lines and replace the plastic elbows w/ SS ones from Sharkwerks. Also for good measure, I have him replace ALL the coolant hoses while he's in there.
Yes it sucks, but I know I'm making it better/stronger/etc.
Well....
When they removed the intake manifold they discovered that the leak was:
NOT coming from a cracked plastic elbow, and it was
NOT coming from an epoxied fitting that came loose
...the failure was from the tiny rubber end of coolant pipe in the picture below.
When I inspected the plastic elbows (that are being replaced) and coolant fittings (which will be pinned)... everything actually looked pretty good.
So YES, while I am replacing the hose that burst with a new one,
I don't feel like I'm making the coolant system "stronger/better" ... b/c the way I see it, IT'S ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK.
Am I missing something? Is there a way to make the stock rubber coolant lines better/stronger? Can they be wrapped to block heat?
Or should I just settle for factory new hoses and cross my fingers in another 10 years?
#3
Rennlist Member
Mine were swollen like that when I dropped engine to pin coolant pipes. I suspect there's a risk they'll get to the same point in another 10 years time.
#4
Track Day
Thread Starter
I think I'm fine with that. There is a finite life for these components (either in time or miles) and I accept that those hoses will be part of the 8-10 year "refresh"
#5
Yep, very common and mis diagnosed by dealers into a huge job and bill. Can be repaired easily with a $3.00 hose and some additional coolant from Porsche and two clamps.
#7
Track Day
Thread Starter
Here is the part number:
COOLANT LINE - PORSCHE (997-106-076-74)
It was described to me as being on the 'top' of the engine, near the plastic coolant elbow. Perhaps a diagram is out there that highlights this.
COOLANT LINE - PORSCHE (997-106-076-74)
It was described to me as being on the 'top' of the engine, near the plastic coolant elbow. Perhaps a diagram is out there that highlights this.
Trending Topics
#11
#12
Three Wheelin'
You find a compatible off the shelf hose at NAPA or other FLAPS that has similar ID (smaller is better) with about the same shape. Unfortunately the hose has different ID's at either end. I forget what my measurements were when I did mine.
You chop the crimped connector with a dremel along it's length and remove the crimp and the hose. Cut the new hose to length, attach with a couple of hose clamps and you are done.
Ed
You chop the crimped connector with a dremel along it's length and remove the crimp and the hose. Cut the new hose to length, attach with a couple of hose clamps and you are done.
Ed