This past weekend we had a near miss when our H pipe
(the plastic thing between the coolant expansion tank
and the engine hoses) split and we lost some coolant.
This on an excursion to Seattle from Olympia, just
after we left the freeway.  I noticed the level light
when it began flashing and got pulled over into a
parking lot just in time for steam to shoot out for a
few moments.

I was able to get back on the road by removing the H
pipe and clamping the hoses directly to the expansion
tank, refilling lost liquid and bleeding the system.
Not too bad considering all I had with me was a pocket
knife.

So it's runing fine and made it home, so why is that
pipe there?  I see a port at the top end to allow some
coolant in, but not the full flow of what goes through
the loop.  They are no longer made I gather, except
for the $90 one VolksCafe has.  What have others done
in this situation?  I'm tempted to
A) leave it as is, except perhaps adding straight
pipes to allow the expansion tank to go back in it's
holder,
B) sweat my own together from some copper fittings
C) buy the $90 one.  But I'd like to know why!  :^)

Thanks,
Gregory Smith
'84 Vanagon in Olympia, WA

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