[DML] Re: Small Coolant Leak

["Harold McElraft" <hmcelraft@xxxxxxx>]

You are probably correct. The aluminum "shrinks" more than the hose 
and steel clamp. You can tighten the hose clamps with the engine cold 
and that will probably stop a good bit of it. You didn't say how old 
the hoses are but as they age the expansion-flex at the clamps 
diminishes so, some leaks occur. Silicone hoses help stop this too as 
the expansion at the clamp doesn't diminish as much over time. Don't 
over tighten as you can damage the hose that way too. There is a 
special expanding hose clamp that is very effective as it keeps the 
clamp pressure constant at all temperatures much like the expansion 
ring clamps you see on many cars.

I use silicone based grease on the hoses or a hi-temp (red) gasket 
silicone inside the hoses at the connection before assembly. The red 
stuff is messy but it stops the leaks, hot or cold, and stops any 
corrosion or leaks caused by the pits from the corrosion that you 
often see on connections that have age on them. I would not use 
anything but a silicone hose under the intake manifold as the big one 
on the water pump ages it will definitely leak and you can't get to it 
easily. That hose leak has been responsible for many a premature water 
pump replacement because of where the coolant runs down when it begins 
to leak - often it appears like the pump is leaking.

Harold McElraft - 3354


> engine.  Am I right in thinking that the cold weather is shrinking 
the piping and causing them 
> to leak slightly???  When the weather is above freezing there are 
never any leaks.
> 
> Any ideas??
> 
> Alistair
> VIN:- PILOT 25
> Belfast.
>








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