Water pipes

[wayne]

Hi all, I have a 1983 1900 petrol t25, there are two steel water pipes that run under the van they connect to rubber at both ends, can these be changed for plastic/rubber, I've got a leak and the steel ones are hard to find thank you

[R0B]

Brickwerks sell stainless steel ones. VW Coolant Pipe Set - T3 / Front To Rear / Diesel (+ some WBX) (brickwerks.co.uk)

[hubcap61]

Mine is a 1983 1900. I fitted plastic pipes. Depending on where you are located.
Try Mick, he probably has a set.
07968 367 046

[mioba]

everyone went away from plastic moons ago because the metal in the plastic ends les to them breaking.

I put ss on my van 15 years ago and they are as good as new.

[hubcap61]

everyone went away from plastic moons ago because the metal in the plastic ends les to them breaking.

I put ss on my van 15 years ago and they are as good as new.

Not everyone! I took the metal ends off prior to fitting. They have been on my bus since 2008, never has a problem with them.

[wayne]

Hi thanks for the replies, what I don't understand is that the steel pipes join to rubber at each end, so what I'm asking is can I go rubber all the way, thank you

[R0B]

The problem with rubber is. It perishes over time.

[wayne]

Hi, rubber does perish, but as I say the ends of the steel pipes connect to rubber hoses at both ends , plus all the other hoses are.............rubber

[R0B]

I seem to remember someone saying they used the blue alkathene water pipe. Although how they would straighten it I don't know. Maybe try using silicone/rubber. Let us know how you get on.

[Mocki]

Just using rubber will be problematic i think , firstly the rubber pipes expand , meaning the 1 litre allowed expansion room in the system wont be enough , so you will forever be topping the coolant up and secondly i suspect you will be struggling to keep it in the right shape , so allowing many places for airlocks .
I remember someone many years ago shelling out quite a bit of money on rubber pipes and doing this, didnt work out much cheaper than the plastic ones at the time , and didnt end well ….. personally , if you plan on keeping the van , fit the stainless ones , fit once and forget , its a PITA job , you really dont want to do it more than once imho

[mioba]

you wouldn't want road debris puncturing a rubber hose. That wont happen with ss or plastic pipes.