on my subie conversion i used copper and universal flex hose for my
coolant system.  the first winter i developed about a half dozen
drips.  all were at the connections of the flex hose to the hard
pipe.  i reclamped and problems gone.  the next winter i developed a
drip at one of the joints again but this time i could see that the
hose had also moved about a quarter inch.  the clamp was tight but
the drip was obviously coming from there.  i loosened that joint and
pushed the pipe in further and added another clamp.  this winter no
drip from there (yet??)
jimt
On Nov 19, 2005, at 4:19 PM, Jim Felder wrote:

> Has anyone had this happen?
>
> For the second winter in a row, my 90 carat with plastic pipes
> developed a drip where the rubber radiator hose connects to the long
> plastic pipe at a connection visible just aft of the spare tire tray
> but above the tire.
>
> And for the second year in a row, I can see exposed white plastic
> where
> the pipe has been pulled out a bit, about a quarter inch or a bit
> more,
> from where it normally fits into the rubber hose. Both times I have
> loosened the connection, slid the hose back to its previous
> position on
> the pipe, and tightened the clamp again with nary a drip till cold
> weather strikes.
>
> Obviously, there is some amount--looks like a quarter inch--of
> contraction in the pipe in cold weather. It seems though that rather
> than pulling out of the rubber hose, the pipe would simply move the
> rubber hose, which I am sure was meant to compensate for the
> temperature-caused movement of the long plastic pipe.
>
> Anyway, it's probably fixed at least until next year. I was wondering
> if it was a common phenomenon.
>
> Jim
>
>