Club 80-90 Forums

Ok - the problem is that one of my long waterpipes has a hole in it - the local vw garage tells me the parts are obsolete so a replacement isnt available.

So - i thought is it a good idea to cut out the rusty section and replace it with flexible rubber water hose clipped into place over the ends of the existing metal pipe ???

Any thoughts , suggestions and has anyone else done this type of repair??

Thanks

I think you know the answer before anyone says it.
Yes! absolutely but........the pipe is likely corroded in other places and do you really want to have to do the job twice.
If you can only see corrosion in one spot and the van has always had regular antifreeze changes (so internally the pipe is likely to be OK)
Then a repair like this is probably going to be OK.
Martin

can you not replace with plastic pipes?

that's what we did.

*warning re corrosion and putting another bit in*

When changing engines, the front to back METAL pipes needed slight adjustment. Although where we had to cut was solid, the action of cutting put strain on the pipe further down....and we got a hairline crack that pee'd water under pressure. We covered the section with a flexible rubber hose, and clipped it as you suggest. But it still leaked a little. Sealed and added further clips. Leaked less. Resorted to regualr top-ups (very manageable as lost only tiny amount of water) Gradually got less, as green stuff appeared round clips and sealed itself.

Had other issues, so decided to bit bullet and replace both metal pipes with the plastic ones......which is what we should have done in the first place.

However, I know others have used plastic tube (not the vw plastic pipes) that I think they said were purple from Wickes? (ie other plastic pipe that can take the temp).

Good luck if you go ahead.....but be prepared to do it again in the near future as other bits of the pipe fail. It corrodes from the inside out....so you cannot see where it is just about to go! And make sure you support it very well when you go to cut it!

Hope this helps
Em
x

The pipes are only corroded at the back section where they go up from the floor of the van at an angle to the engine under the wheel arch - otherwise the rest is fine.
When you said replace with plastic pipes - do you mean VW parts ?? if so where can you get them??

Glenn - see the thread below by courgette - seems you are wanting the same things! Try all the breakers on here....billy739, T25vanspares, cj etc....or stick an add in wanted. That's how we got our set!

take care
Em
x

Yes.. my 'velle has a couple on it at the back... 9 years no problem..
But Stainless omnes are available... (Germany)
Plastic ones are harder to fit to early vans..

Blue plastic mains water pipe (32mm od IIRC) apparently can be used (cheap!!) but nobody on here has confirmed that they have used it and it works.. (I will prob do a test on this in the coming months )