Mine leaked once while driving poor and timeless... so I simply moved the rubber securely over the exposed metal of the pipe and put on two or three hose clamps on each pipe (which I later retightened) ... and it was fine... was going to replace with marine hose... when I drop the tank to fix gas vapor leakage... someday... 

From: Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Anyone repaired plastic coolant tubes??

> Thanks for an additional suggestion. That's why this list is such a great resource!
> Jerry
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Felder" <felder@knology.net>
> To: "Gerald Masar" <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
> Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 8:03 PM
> Subject: Re: Anyone repaired plastic coolant tubes??
> 
> 
> > I just wanted to mention that I first had a problem with leaking
> > three years ago from one of the front hose connections. I tightened
> > it, wrote the problem off to having the car up north in 18 degree
> > weather, and drove on for a year. Then it leaked again, same place. I
> > removed the hose and saw that the metal was in place but the plastic
> > around it had split to pieces, allowing the coolant leak. I removed
> > the broken plastic, sanded the metal, and recreated the missing
> > plastic and flange out of JB weld, which wasn't have but was like
> > using a very loose modeling clay. I put the JB weld around the metal
> > pipe, more or less to the height of the plastic, and wrapped it with
> > packing tape to make it smooth with the plastic. I came back a second
> > time and fashioned the flange at the end.
> >
> > That's been two years and not a drop out of it.
> >
> > Jim
> >
> 

----- End Original Message -----