While I can think of no reason not to use a piece of plastic pipe picked up
at Lowes pure paranoia would prevent me from using it as "household
environments" are drastically different from "automotove environments". I
have "plastic" parts in my cooling system as well but these were purchased
at an auto supply store and, theoretically anyway, are designed and built to
put up with the oil, gas, solvents, heat, etc.. Yours may not be. It may
hold the pressure now but how about after the gas, oil, solvents and the
rest have had a year or so to "eat" that plastic?
        I dont know if the "Plumbing Plastic" from Lowes would be able to put up
with an "automotive environment" or not but not knowing would be enough for
me to pick up my plastic parts at the auto store.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Bradley Flubacher
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2000 11:30 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: cooling system modification, OK?

Hi,  I'm almost complete in the following task,

My '84 vanagon had a rusted return line on the cooling system.  Rather than
spend well over $100 on the replacement, I went to NAPA and got two soft
lines.  One was flexible, and the other more rigid.

I cut out the rusted section of the return line, and I connected the two
soft lines together.  I used an 1 1/4" short plastic sleve I found at my
local "Lowe's" (hardware superstore).  The plastic sleeve was made for water
lines, and is a dark grey color.  I used two of the sleeves, one for
connecting the two new lines, and one for connecting the new line to the
engine bay line.  I double clamped all the connections.  I'm also about the
double clamp this line to the remaining section of the hard line under the
van.

Anyone think this plastic peice is the wrong thing to use?

Anyone think these soft lines won't hold up to the pressure?  I think they
will...

Thanks,

Bradley Flubacher