I just got the car back together after the valve adjustment, just returned from a test spin, and I was pulling the u-pipe pipe off that goes from the air cleaner to the turbo (I was going to replace one of the vibration mounts on the air assembly) and somehow I jerked back and hit the hose that goes from the radiator to the overflow tank and the hose snapped off at the radiator spewing hot antifreeze on me.

ARGH!!!!!

So, am I just hosed (pun intended) and have to get an entire new radiator?

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~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

THAT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!i have read most here like the all hard/copper type instead of the plastic ones......just my .02 ...........

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Gretchen 1981 240D 4-spd 213,000 mi
1979 240D 4-spd 298,000 mi parts car

1994 BMW 325is
1991 Dodge turbo diesel
1997 ford expedition

BILL

i had the same thing happen to me, this is how i fixed it. drill and tap the tank to 1/8'' pipe threads. then get a 1/8" x 3" pipe nipple, apply thread tape and screw it in gently, dont crack the tank. slip hose on nipple and tighten clamp. works like a charm!!!

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matt

Used the same technique as Matt, but with a 1/8" MPT X barb brass fitting. Can't remember if barb was 1/4" or 3/8" but easy to figure out with it in your hand. Held great until radiator replaced for other reasons (~1.5 yrs.).

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

Hi Bodyart27.

Go to www.**************.com
click the tips and alerts link
and you'll find a good fix just for that
problem.
You might be able to get the parts
in your area.

It is normally for the big top radiator hose
but I'm sure you could use the same solution
for your problem.


Louis.

Is that a home depot / lowes type item?

What does the "MPT" stand for when you say:

"1/8" MPT X barb brass fitting"

Since I'm not having any cooling issues (and just did the upper / lower hoses / thermostat / coolant flush at the beggining of the summer), it would be a big bummer to now have to swap the radiator $$$. At least looking at the factory service manual, it looks very easy to do...

__________________
~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

The upper radiator hose nipple broke on my girlfriends 300D. I ended up JBWelding 2 sizes of copper tubing to the radiator to solve the problem. It worked great for about 8 months but i ended up replacing the radiator ($193 total) in it last week for other reasons. Instead of JBWelding, rigging it back together, or replaceing the radiator there is always the option of having just the top tank replaced. I believe i was given a estimate of about $90 back about 8 months ago but i decided to JBWeld it together. Good luck man and let us know what you end up doing.

Chris

Definitely available at a large hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, OSH)

MPT... male pipe thread

Edit: I just remembered that I have my old radiator with this repair in the garage. If you want I can send the fitting and the washer/"O" ring set up I used with it. Email me if you want it. Bruce

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

If it broke easily, there is a chance that the upper tank is brittle, and the top radiator hose is next.....

Try the pipe fitting repair -- remember, pipe threads are tapered, so you MUST use a pipe fitting tap, not a standard one, if you are putting a pipe fitting in. Don't overtighten for the same reason, the taper combined with excess torque will split the plastic, and then for SURE you will need a new rad!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Never heard of MPT, I HAVE heard of NPT, which is a thread type called National Pipe Thread, there are different sizes of it.

Gilly

Yes it is NPT(National Pipe Thread) and it comes as MNPT or FNPT(male or female) or he could use a street L..Electrical threads are the same as pipe except not tapered..

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James A. Harris

yeah, I also broke mine.

So that I could move the car around to avoid parking tickets, I temporarily tapped the radiator, and used a bic pen as the nipple, secured with crazy glue. It didn't last long, but did let me drive the car in the neighborhood.


The break was a combination of my fault, in that I stressed the hose, but also the nipple was brittle and broke too easily.

After getting a replacement radiator, I also bought a longer overflow line, as insurance to prevent a repeat of this accident.