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Just noticed this leak
Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 2:42 pm
by mycale
Just noticed this today and contacted Marty about it. I am not too sure if it will require a big fix or just a little one. When the engine in warm green fluid is coming out of this tube under pressure...the bolt-head broke off and I am guessing the seal is broken...any ideas on how to do some damage control on this B4 i can take it to someone to fix properly?

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Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:45 pm
by mycale
So it turns out the end of the plug for that pipe is just busted off. I managed to pull the threaded part out, but the end "bolt" like end just broke off which means there is no gasket to seal the pipe. Got rolly eyes at Lordco looking for the part, sheer confusion at Crappytire, hoping i can find the part somewhere. Now, what the heck is the name of this leaky pipe? anyone?
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 10:26 pm
by Green1
I can tell you it's coolant... but I have no idea what the pipe is actually for...
Depending on how much of a leak there is, you could try putting teflon tape on the bolt to make it seal better, or if you don't think you need access to it again you could silicone the bolt back in to seal it... (Probably not the factory recommended option... but sometimes jerry-rigging things works just fine...)
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 10:55 pm
by Luna-Sea
Hey,
I could not figure out where the leak was until your second
post,I can see where you a talking about now.
I figure you already know it's coolant,nice
fresh stuff too judging from its pretty
wet jade colour.
Don't know WTF its called,doesn't matter
Mardy or CCauto should have one.
The thing here is matching the bolt plug,
which might be a bit of a pain may involve
taking that whole piece out (if you can)
to carefully extract that bolt plug.(or whats left of it)
Also means you might not be able to drive the van
for a bit.
OR
You could wipe off the bolt area while it is cold
and cover that end piece with a piece of rubber
(like a bike tire inner tube) and put a hose clamp
(or 2)over it and snug it up.Then you are OK
for a bit while you drive to get the part.
Doesn't look too hard to get at at least eh?
Also check your coolant to make sure you have not lost
too too much and keep the pets away from any puddles of
sweet sweet death under your ride...
keep an eye on your temp gauge ect ect blah blah...
Good Luck!
Do you have the bolt plug head?
Does it have any threads left on it?
If yes ,Any pics of it ?
Jesse or somebody will probably chime in too,
Seeing how he has a L400 to compare it too...
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:51 pm
by madmazda
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:00 pm
by Pacific JDM Parts
That is exactly right it is an air bleed for the cooling system.
The bolt is plastic and can go brittle and break.Just try and seal the hole up for now until you can get the replacement parts.
Any part or hardware store should stock something for sealing up plastic to get you back on the road as a tempory repair.
Hope this helps
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:46 pm
by Manitoba deli
If you can't seal it up, you can replace the whole plastic piece with a 5/8" plastic elbow (90 degrees with barbed ends) you should be able to find one at a hardware store, or an autoparts store. It will just be a little harder bleeding the air out of the coolant system.
Jason
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:11 pm
by loki
Manitoba deli wrote:If you can't seal it up, you can replace the whole plastic piece with a 5/8" plastic elbow (90 degrees with barbed ends) you should be able to find one at a hardware store, or an autoparts store. It will just be a little harder bleeding the air out of the coolant system.
Jason
or replace the whole thing with a brass with pipe fittings, hose barb ends in 2 ends and a plug on the 3rd, lordco should be able to fix you up with that in about 5 minutes.
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:13 am
by EnviroImports.com
Its a very easy fix, I believe the thread is M10 but not 100% on that, you can buy a couple of stainless bolts of different sizes, about 3/4 long buy a rubber gasket or O ring, and you have your fix,
However you can also just get the bleeder valve from a mid 90's subaru as they have the EXACT same fitting, I know because when i brought my van in and had the system flushed the mechanic droped mine and then steped on it, trashing the threads, a subaru car was in the shop at the same time, we looked at it , pulled it off, tried it and it was the perfect match, $2 part from Lordco and all was good, but just think how nice a pretty stainless bolt would look........
Hope you get it going
Noel
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:50 pm
by mycale
Coolio! Thanks all for the advice! I managed to do an bandage repair this evening by taking a cheap rubber floor-mat from crappytire, cutting a portion of it, and using a hose-clamp to seal it on there. Haven't had a chance to test it, but will be doing so on my drive tomorrow to Lordco for a search of the Subaru part mentioned in the last post. On the question of coolant...any ideas what would be the best to use in the vruck? I am also pretty sure i know where to put it too! OMG this is the most I have EVER worked on a vehicle in my whole life! haha it's kinda fun cheers again for all the good advice!!
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:02 am
by EnviroImports.com
If your going to Lordco, see Carl, but also pick up 2 jugs of DIESEL antifreeze, they have a special one that is for Sleeved engines like your L400, it has the proper PH level so you dont Pitt your engine lining, you have an industrial engine in your L400 the 4m40, and you want to keep it happy.
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:19 pm
by mycale
So the thread size on that part is M12 1.5, so that size is not available! WEEEEE! So, I talked to Carl at Lordco, he found me a bleed valve that is M12 1.25. Went to a nuts and bolt place on Alpha St, and they couldn't source that exact size in stainless! haha painful. I ranted about everything in Canada being measured in metric except for parts and construction materials for about 5 mins alone in the van

Not too sure if i want to force the new part with the different pitch value. I don't want to mess up the thread if Marty can find the exact replacement.
on another slightly related note...mixing green and Red coolant...good or bad idea?
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:35 pm
by EnviroImports.com
Get rid of the Green coolant, its generic, mix and put in the red, call a couple wreckers ask about any subaru's or go up to malahat auto wreckers, walk into the subaru section , pull the bleeder valve, pay them a couple bucks have a coke and a smile and go on about your day...
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 2:21 pm
by mycale
what I have been reading about antifreeze is not to mix colours
Re: Just noticed this leak
Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 2:24 pm
by EnviroImports.com
exactly, so get the green out, flush with regular water, and thats a good time to run a cleaner through it, I use white vinigar to break up the build up if any passageways are cloged, flush again, then fill up with the red..