Aluminum replacement for plastic rear coolant bypass joint

Anyone able to get the aluminum part to work?

 

Revisiting this. 2022 SR5 bought 11 October 2022 just started leaking today. Just over 4K miles. Any word on the aluminum bypass from anyone? This is definitely not cool in my book warranty or not.

 

I say buy the metal part. Do the modifications to make it work. Then take it to the stealership and see if they will put it in for ya. All they can say is no way, get that crap outta here. And they will put the same crappy plastic piece back on. Worth a try. If they don't, you will have it to install now or later..

 

If I am not mistaken, the one union on the metal one was facing the wrong direction and causing interference? Modding that for reliability is likely as bad as trusting a replacement original, IMO.

 

Plastic in the engine bay..the (costcutting) future is now!

 

Well I would not be trying to put in a new elbow. I would tap what is there and run an threaded AN 90deg barbed hose tip. That way the stock hose can be reused. And I guess that the rest is easy plugging a couple holes right if it is a MT. This way would be much better than brazing in new parts...

 

That does not change my own opinion. A one off mod for this small part in a tight space is much more likely to have lower reliability than the OE part. Yes, these fail more than normal for a Toyota, but this isn't widespread comparatively. I'd go with the replacement part until a batch of the metallic ones can be produced and tested.

 

This project, along with the rest of the truck, are sitting awaiting my renewed attention… simply to much else going on.

There is no need to braze anything as the stainless barb is press fit, quite snugly, into the aluminum. It was quite the f$#@er to pull it out. Tapping and inserting a 90 o-ring fitting is the right way to use this part. Better yet, a whole new piece can be cast.

 

^^^ This.

 

Each his own I guess. I agree with low fail rate. But I have seen these plastic coolant pipes let go in other cars and SUVs. All that I have come across, comes down the glue not holding up over time..like 5-8 years of age. Porsche had it really bad in their V8's. They posted a recall, it got replaced with a one piece metal pipe. Will Toyota do this... probably not. Not enough failures to justify.

@Jowett post up some pictures of your part before the install if possible. I would like to take a look at it over the interwebs.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised if Dorman comes out with an aluminum replacement. They’ve been doing this for many other plastic coolant pipes and parts for various manufacturer’s vehicles, including Toyota. Of course, Dorman parts are not what they once were… but I’m willing to give a look should it happen before I complete this.

Pics of the completed part will certainly be posted.

 

It's all good. That is the good thing about the discussion.


I think the problem was traced to somewhere above the part line in the mold? The corner was too thin and porous, or something like that.

I agree that we will not see Toyota helping out here, as they definitely should. No need for a recall, just extending the warranty for folks with failures.

 

They've had to update it on the 2017 because mine's still going strong and I'm at 200,000 miles og owner

 

It's not very common, just more common than normal for Toyotas.

I just had an up close look at mine and it is perfect. But, someone recently reported a failure on a 2020+, which definitely had a superceded part number.

 

Fresh from Japan. A small run of these will be underway shortly.

 

Refit with a 90 degree elbow?

 

What????? Nice!

 

Yes, refitting with a 90 of some sort/TBD

 

All in for this

 

I am in for one for later.