Rusty bits in the engine bay

[Benzowner]

Driving up the M5 on Sunday, low coolant warning light came on. Checked the temperature gauge, no significant movement, so carried on. A few more miles, and I notice "smoke" coming from the back of the car, pulled off at the next junction, opened the bonet lots of steam, though the car gad not overheated or even close to overheating. I could hear a hissing sound somewhere from the rear of the engine bay and located the leak. It was the steel pipe that runs across the bulkhead at the rear on the engine bay had split, jeeze more rust Called the RAC who carried out a bypass, but could not include the heater and it was a cold day. New parts now ordered still running with bypass hose bl**dy cold in the car though, reminded me of my first Mini with no heater

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I had exactly this fault, exactly the same pipe. I just got a rubber sleeve and 2 jubilee clips over it, much easier than faffing around down there

 

[Benzowner]

How did you get the rubber pipe half way along the steel pipe? Tis all a bit tight

 

[Parrot of Doom]

No idea. Paid someone else to do it, along with the glow plugs

I'm presuming they just chopped a section from the pipe (hacksaw blade), slid the rubber pipe down one way, and then back onto the other section.

Bodge job, but its a bodge that will hold for many many years.

 

[Glenn Smith]

Driving up the M5 on Sunday, low coolant warning light came on. Checked the temperature gauge, no significant movement, so carried on. A few more miles, and I notice "smoke" coming from the back of the car, pulled off at the next junction, opened the bonet lots of steam, though the car gad not overheated or even close to overheating. I could hear a hissing sound somewhere from the rear of the engine bay and located the leak. It was the steel pipe that runs across the bulkhead at the rear on the engine bay had split, jeeze more rust Called the RAC who carried out a bypass, but could not include the heater and it was a cold day. New parts now ordered still running with bypass hose bl**dy cold in the car though, reminded me of my first Mini with no heater

Just a word of warning, the temperature gauge is only of any use if the cooling system has enough water in it, this is why they fit low coolant level switches.

 

[Glenn Smith]

No idea. Paid someone else to do it, along with the glow plugs

I'm presuming they just chopped a section from the pipe (hacksaw blade), slid the rubber pipe down one way, and then back onto the other section.

Bodge job, but its a bodge that will hold for many many years.

I did a similar thing, but it was on an old pug, wouldn't expect the merc to have rusty cooling pipes, disgusting. i would repair in the same way though, not really a bodge more of an improvement modification.