Auto box cooling pipes

dmblbit

Active Member
I bought some new auto box cooling pipes as the old ones were spewing ATF over the bottom of the engine bay. Still got a small leak from the bottom/back one at the top union. The pipe is brand new so I'm assuming it must be the union

  • I'm a bit nervous about over tightening the connection - is such a thing likely or even possible (front/top seems fine)?
  • Does it matter which way round these connect to the radiator?

  • F0FBCA42-4AF5-47F8-B3BA-EAA3C9A96220.jpeg
 
It doesn't matter which way they go. If you're sure you haven't crossthreaded the union all you can do is nip it up some more, then check for leaks. If it still leaks then dry it off, and sprinkle some talcum powder or chalk dust over it and then run and watch for the source of the leak. As standard they don't have clips holding the hoses to the union, so if those are neded on the new ones then chances are the hoses are too big for the fitting so you might be able to nip the clip up a bit.
 
sounds good advise . pinpointing source of a leak is best way to work out solutions. hoses like that shown (red) can be 'hard' to clamp ad will tend to 'shrink' a bit once clamped.( rubber gives a bit under constant load. so might just need wee bit more clamping force. if fluid leak is from threads? on brass union/joint? and we need to be careful of not over tightening as risk of thread stripping or making leak worse! I tend to use PTFE tape ( plumbers tape) on such threads .much like you see used on many plumbing threaded joints. this simply crushes up very easily and fills any thread 'voids' thus in most cases solving leaks. Used to use a lot at work on water pipes and fuel pipe joints. its not 100% gauranteed but theres a reason so many plumbers apply it. otherwise proper pipes might be solution. I think I had a spare pair in garage but having had a tidy up.. can't put finger on them.
 
Where did you get them from? I'm playing around with my 2000 Auto, and will need new pipes as replacing various components.
 
I got them from Wins. They’re not cheap! Plus, there’s a £15 surcharge for each pipe, refundable when you return your old end bits.
 
Fair point. I was tempted, and actually bought some pipe from Halfords, but lost my nerve, as I wasn’t sure it was the correct bore or even whether it was suitable for hot ATF.
 
I have a good pair of bw35 steel lines with decent rubber hoses for sale if anybody would like them.
Like H says, getting them made properly at a hydraulic shop would be fit and forget, many have a mobile service so could whip up a couple on your doorstep
 
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