Come on GM (coolant leak rant)

[Mr_Roboto]

Just gotta wonder what the fuck is up with the engineer that designed this part. Did they have an IQ of 85, were they drunk or were they high? Here's the contraption they have that broke.

The piece had a split at the seam so I threw a Dorman one in. The issue isn't the outlets with clamps but the one at the top with the clip. There's an adapter there. That adapter has an O-ring that seals. There's a pre-made hose with another o-ringed connector in it. You can see the piece of molded on plastic GM uses in leiu of a real clamp.

So far I've had:
-The adapter leak. I replaced the o-ring
-The adapter still leaked
-The hose leaked where it connected into the adapter. Replaced the hose
-When I replaced the hose the line pulled off the connector with barely any effort. Certainly not anything I'd trust to seal. I cut the plastic piece off and put a real clamp on it.

Was a fucking hose barb or even a 1/8 NPT port too much to ask for on this? Why the hell would they even think this was a good idea? I have some ABS Slurry from my 3D printing stuff. Am I wrong to think I should just make this thing into a single piece with some ABS glue/goo?

Click to read more...

 

[EmersonHart13]

Can you adapt a barb to it?

 

[Mr_Roboto]

I may end up eliminating the hose O-ring that way e.g. drilling/tapping to 1/8 NPT. The bigger one I'm kind of dubious on although I'm tempted to try. I have the one I took off (I intend to warranty it) but may end up trying to tap it for 3/8 NPT.

 

[CMNTMXR57]

I had something like this on the suburban and just went and made my own connections out of brass parts from the home section at Menards.

 

[EmersonHart13]

That is kinda what I was thinking.

Its common for the rear heat in tahoe and suburban. I know ilikemtb999 has discussed this.

 

[CMNTMXR57]

If you use worm clamps, you'll just crack the fucking thing. If you use the OEM tension clamps, it's a bitch to get them in a way, so that you can get the tool on them again later to get them off.

So I said fuck it, and started making my own T's and what not and used worm clamps.

 

[DEEZUZ]

God damn etorx er where.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Not just gm that does this shit. Plastic should rarely be used in a cooling system IMO.

I remember our old focus every year would have a t stat housing crack and puke coolant. The entire thing was plastic and bolted to the side of the head. Every few years there was a plastic coolant pipe that would also develop a split. I’d always use OEM ford parts too.

 

[Mr_Roboto]

If I get the foundry up this summer I may end up casting a replacement up. Sounds silly but man I'm tempted.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Also dorman plastic seems like trash.

 

[DEEZUZ]

Bitching about coolant and plastic components... I think every single member here has had a 90 degree intake elbow split on a 3800 so we know... We know....

 

[Stink Star]

Lol I replace at least one of those a day. Plus that air bleed hose always leaks at the fitting

 

[Mr_Roboto]

Lol I replace at least one of those a day. Plus that air bleed hose always leaks at the fitting

Fuck I talked with the parts guys at the dealership. They had 11 of the hoses in stock and wouldn't be surprised if they had that many outlets in stock too.

 

[Stink Star]

ALWAYS do the outlet and the air bleed hose together. Every time I try and cheap out and do just one they come back leaking

 

[Mr_Roboto]

ALWAYS do the outlet and the air bleed hose together. Every time I try and cheap out and do just one they come back leaking

The parts guy mentioned that.

 

[Mr_Roboto]

Swapped this bitch out with an AC Delco. Dorman Part definitely NOT to spec. Hose seats way deeper on the AC Delco. I'm thinking that the adapter had excessive shrink in the mold and the part doesn't seal correctly due to that. Wrote Dorman told em their part is out of spec and I want my money back.

 

[RICH17]

Havent done one on my car yet, but going to order this today JIC

 

[Mr_Roboto]

Get both the outlet and hose. The hose is a piece of shit too btw. My shit's still leaking so I'm probably going to buy another hose.