Plastic overflow pipe replacement with copper tube

[colb]

Had a couple of cars in the shed that have the plastic overflow pipe from the top of the radiator to the overflow tank that started getting split and broken over time at the ends where they connect to the short rubber pipes at either end. Latest one needed replacing as it was too short to trim the ends back. Using some 6mm copper microbore tubing I bent a replacement using the plastic one as a template. Came out rather well and this one will not degrade like the plastic.

 

[AntStark]

Great idea.. got to be an opportunity for someone to start making these @ZEDonist UK @Mazza

 

[the Nefyn cat]

That's going to be a bu**er to post.
I wound up using a length of rubber hose on mine, bends around nicely and stays out of the way come air filter replacement time.

 

[Mike Fishwick]

As the pipe in question is not an 'overflow' pipe, but an expansion pipe, it is pressurised when the engine is hot. How are you going to connect the copper pipe to the push-on connectors at either end?

 

[colb]

Yes it's pressurised, ends of the copper pipe are joined using the existing connector to the tank and a short rubber pipe at the radiator. Small jubilee clips used to secure the joints. The tank end has a plastic round connector with a short rubber hose that the copper pipe is joined to using a jubilee clip. This is the OEM parts that is reused.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

The small pipe on the radiator on my car disintegrated several years ago, so I drilled it out, fitted a short piece of copper pipe in, and epoxy resined it into place. The other end I trimmed the plastic hose down and slipped the rubber hose on. It's been there a few years now, and the car seems to be able to go up and down our local hills with no problem.

 

[colb]

That's what had happened on the 3.0l one someone had put a small copper pipe in the stub on radiator no evidence of epoxy so leak developed. New copper pipe seems to have sorted it.