Coolant pipes

Post by **Mariner Man** » 15 Nov 2006, 07:38

Hi
Can i replace the steel coolant pipes with alluminium tube on my 1.6 diesel?

Post by **Mocki** » 15 Nov 2006, 07:40

YES, dont see why not, if you can bend it the right shape to do the job..but you will then have to be really carefull what antifreeze you use...

Post by **Mariner Man** » 15 Nov 2006, 07:43

Thanks Mocki, can you tell me a bit more about the anti freeze, how do i know whats ok and what isn't.
Cheers
Paul

Post by **Mocki** » 15 Nov 2006, 07:48

nothing special, just remember you are going to need to prevent corrosion more with ally pipes, just like all those off us with wbx engines do, just incase you dont bother too much now with your diesel cast iron block. Just make sure it has inhibitor in it, which i think it all does now anyway.......

Post by **Mariner Man** » 15 Nov 2006, 10:01

Thanks mate.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 15 Nov 2006, 16:53

Pipes have quite a few bends to `em so metal pipe-work can prove tricky. Hacksawbob had a supplier of new plastic hose that will do the job, at sensible prices. Do a quick search for that if you are interested.

Post by **Mariner Man** » 15 Nov 2006, 17:40

Thanks WCJ, but at the moment im only replacing the straight shorter pipe
25" ish, so no bending to do.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 15 Nov 2006, 17:46

Must be one in the engine bay then... everyone was thinking you meant the front to back ones... (coz thats normally what need replacing.)

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 15 Nov 2006, 19:25

Which are the short steel coolant pipes on a 1.6D ? You don`t mean the rusty engine mounting steel tubes underneath do you ?

Post by **Mariner Man** » 15 Nov 2006, 21:22

Oh dear
Perhaps it was another inherited bodge up then. The pipe in question joins on to one of the long pipes which runs to the front of the van. In the engine compartment it connects to a 3-way rubber hose set up, one bit connects to the coolant bottle, one to the oil filter housing, the other going somewhere else, i cant go and look cos its blowing a 10 force and a touch wet. It could well be a makeshift as its running on a Golf engine, but yep its definately a part of the coolant pipe set up.
Cheers