Coolant leak: time for some maintenance...

User avatar
5chn3ll
Six shots...or only five?
Posts: 4640
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2018 4:35 pm

Coolant leak: time for some maintenance...

Post by 5chn3ll » Thu Jun 27, 2019 11:50 am

I've been noticing a few drops of coolant on the garage floor since early June. Last weekend, I cleaned up the engine bay so I could track down the rogue leak. The news is mixed but mostly good: the coolant is leaking from the 3-way return pipe (pics coming).

There is no coolant around/under the expansion tank and cap. The only visible coolant anywhere other than the garage floor is in the photo...

Any other opinions from the house of learned doctors before I start ordering parts and beer?
IMG_20190625_173408_334.jpg
IMG_20190625_173408_334.jpg (380.6 KiB) Viewed 2874 times

Understeer: You will hit the wall with the front end.
Oversteer: You will hit the wall with the rear end.
Horsepower: How hard you will hit the wall.
Torque: How far you will move the wall.

Gone hunting with Alec Baldwin and Dick Cheney. Back soon.

User avatar
5chn3ll
Six shots...or only five?
Posts: 4640
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2018 4:35 pm

Re: Coolant leak: time for some maintenance...

Post by 5chn3ll » Thu Jun 27, 2019 11:56 am

Here's a better photo, and you can get a much better idea of the location in the engine bay...
20190625_094551.jpg
20190625_094551.jpg (75.54 KiB) Viewed 2868 times

Understeer: You will hit the wall with the front end.
Oversteer: You will hit the wall with the rear end.
Horsepower: How hard you will hit the wall.
Torque: How far you will move the wall.

Gone hunting with Alec Baldwin and Dick Cheney. Back soon.

User avatar
sweet victory
OG (First 100 Outposters!)
Posts: 616
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:55 pm

Re: Coolant leak: time for some maintenance...

Post by sweet victory » Fri Jun 28, 2019 12:13 am

I broke that T when I was doing my tank/thermostat/water pump replacement. I'm pretty sure I broke it as I was removing the tank if I remember correctly. It's a pretty straight forward replacement. Collecting the coolant (if reusing) and refilling is the annoying part.

User avatar
DBJoe996
OG (First 100 Outposters!)
Posts: 161
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:47 am
Location: Ormond Beach, Florida, USA

Re: Coolant leak: time for some maintenance...

Post by DBJoe996 » Fri Jun 28, 2019 4:47 am

I've had to replace that hose as well. The plastic tee part broke. Be careful ordering a new three way hose....there are several different types.

User avatar
5chn3ll
Six shots...or only five?
Posts: 4640
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2018 4:35 pm

Re: Coolant leak: time for some maintenance...

Post by 5chn3ll » Fri Jun 28, 2019 9:09 am

Is the "tee" you guys mention the plastic barbed fitting that tends to break when anyone touches it or looks at it funny?

Understeer: You will hit the wall with the front end.
Oversteer: You will hit the wall with the rear end.
Horsepower: How hard you will hit the wall.
Torque: How far you will move the wall.

Gone hunting with Alec Baldwin and Dick Cheney. Back soon.

User avatar
DBJoe996
OG (First 100 Outposters!)
Posts: 161
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:47 am
Location: Ormond Beach, Florida, USA

Re: Coolant leak: time for some maintenance...

Post by DBJoe996 » Sat Jun 29, 2019 6:29 am

No. This is the T fitting on the main coolant hose going from the expansion tank to the thermostat. The other brittle plastic fitting is just a joint fitting located to the right of the alternator. I replaced that several times and finally got the Rausch stainless steel fitting to be done with that forever.

User avatar
sweet victory
OG (First 100 Outposters!)
Posts: 616
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:55 pm

Re: Coolant leak: time for some maintenance...

Post by sweet victory » Sun Jun 30, 2019 10:18 pm

Same story as Joe here. Also installed the Rausch ss fitting.

No one makes an "upgrade" for the three way hose, but it is far less likely to break. This replacement will probably be the last one you need for the car.

User avatar
808Bill
NG (Second 100 Outposters!)
Posts: 400
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 6:36 am

Re: Coolant leak: time for some maintenance...

Post by 808Bill » Mon Jul 01, 2019 8:30 am

Three way? There's nothing like a good three way! ;)
FSI-R40

User avatar
5chn3ll
Six shots...or only five?
Posts: 4640
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2018 4:35 pm

Re: Coolant leak: time for some maintenance...

Post by 5chn3ll » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:57 am

Yeah, I knew as soon as I looked under the lid that I had that one wrong. Thanks for the comments.

Seems like a good time to get it up on the ramps and see what other plumbing items might be due for replacement...some of the coolant pipes are looking a bit swollen.
DBJoe996 wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 6:29 am No. This is the T fitting on the main coolant hose going from the expansion tank to the thermostat. The other brittle plastic fitting is just a joint fitting located to the right of the alternator. I replaced that several times and finally got the Rausch stainless steel fitting to be done with that forever.
Anyone have the link for a parts diagram with the proper 3-way hose for a '99 C4? I'll post it here as soon as I find it if nobody beats me to it...

Understeer: You will hit the wall with the front end.
Oversteer: You will hit the wall with the rear end.
Horsepower: How hard you will hit the wall.
Torque: How far you will move the wall.

Gone hunting with Alec Baldwin and Dick Cheney. Back soon.

User avatar
5chn3ll
Six shots...or only five?
Posts: 4640
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2018 4:35 pm

Re: Coolant leak: time for some maintenance...

Post by 5chn3ll » Mon Jul 01, 2019 10:01 am

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/ ... at=Y&null=
Hose.png
Hose.png (133.24 KiB) Viewed 2797 times

Understeer: You will hit the wall with the front end.
Oversteer: You will hit the wall with the rear end.
Horsepower: How hard you will hit the wall.
Torque: How far you will move the wall.

Gone hunting with Alec Baldwin and Dick Cheney. Back soon.

Post Reply