Leaking water pipe

[chano]

I need to replace the water hoses that run from the radiator to the hard white plastic pipes on a 1990 2.1 DJ. Anyone know what length/diameter
i will need? The van is in a friends garage up in the hills here on Gran Canaria, so would like to have the hoses ready to replace when i remove the old
hoses.


Thanks

Alan

[Cruz]

Don't know the sizes but there are links to 2 sources of reasy made pipes here

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=81553&start=0#p7594399

[chano]

Thanks for the link. I'll track them down when i'm back in the UK in May. Does the rubber hose
from the radiotor fit directly onto the plastic pipe, or is there some kind of metal sleeve?


Alan

[Cruz]

They are exact replicas of the original pipes. They fit onto the rad oulet/inlet and then onto the metal inserts in the end of the plastic pipes. If the metal inserts have rusted away then you need new 2nd hand plastic pipes too or stainless replicas

[chano]

I'm assuming the metal inserts are corroded as there is a lot of gungy, rusty crud where it's leaking at
the join.


Alan

[Cruz]

Yep, you will never get a good seal without them. You may be able to bodge it with a large enough reducer but it will probably always seep, or blow just when you don't want it to.

If funds are limited put the feelers out, or check ebay for a good 2nd hand set for whatever engine you have, petrol/diesel (pipes no longer available new)

If you have funds then a new set of stainless pipes can be obtained from brickwerks or JK. The last time you will ever change them.

[chano]

Checked with a a couple of VW spares stockists here on Gran Canaria and just got a shake of the head and sharp intake of breath.
Looks like it will have to wait until May which is my next trip to the UK. Using my limited mechanical skills, I'm thinking of draining the coolant
and removing the hoses to inspect the plastic pipes. The van is garaged and i won't be using it until i get the replacement pipes/hoses. As the coolant kees
dripping from the join, can i leave it for a couple of months without coolant rather than refilling and topping up every week?


Alan

[getunder]

Try Megabug breakers for parts. Never let me down yet. Give them as much information as possible.