Coolant leak - water return tube

[pgt892]

Hello all. I was recently involved in a collision on 11/27. I will have pics up after the insurance company decided to sack up and take liability. Anyway, I think my water return tube was kinked/torn because I have a coolant leak behind my motor that leaks onto my transmission. The tube is coming from my turbo and after looking at the FSM I think it is the water return tube. Looking at it on my car, it looks like there is metal tubing coming from the turbo, going behind the engine to a small maybe 5" long piece of rubber hosing which then connects to another metal tube. It is is this small piece of rubber where I have a tear. My question is, what size tubing do I need and is the piece accessible to repair with the motor in the car. It doesn't look like I can get it from the top, I may be able to reach it from under the car. If anyone has any tips from doing this before that may help, let me know. Thanks, Alex.

[blitz_silvia]

I replaced the turbo oil/coolant lines with a set of braided stainless lines. The only problem is... to change the one you speak of, I had to pull the intake manifold to get to it. I tried for hours to find an alternative to doing it, but in the end it was the only way I could get it done. Granted.. I have a limited access to quality tools, so if you can find a set of pliers that can fit in there to remove the clip that holds the rubber tube in place... more power to you. While your at it, you can replace the hard to reach coolant hoses under the intake manifold too. I chose not to, and now I have a leak under there which will require me to pull the manifold again . Good luck--Matt

By the way, I got my stainless lines from Taka Motorsports. They seem to be holding up well, but I only have about 8K miles on them since instillation.

[pgt892]

Right on, thanks man. I was really hoping it would be possible from underneath the car, but I guess I will have to wait until I take into the shop to get the front end fixed and have them do it then. It's way too cold to try it without a garage right now!

[lazyfcker]

i think im having the exact same problem with my leak too, as i was checking under the car i noticed smoke coming from my transmission and a puddle on the ground so after i checked what kind of fluid it was it was green coolant. so i'm pretty sure we are having the same problem...so my question is where did you buy those steel braided hose or what size rubber tube should i use? Thanks and sorry for bringing this thread back.

[lazyfcker]

anyone? know where to buy steel braided hoses that size?