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Hose clamps

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by mwrohde, Apr 2, 2018.

  1. Apr 2, 2018 at 10:40 AM
    #1
    mwrohde

    mwrohde [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I'm having a terrible time running down a coolant leak. It's now coming from the lower radiator hose where it connects to the water inlet. I have a new radiator, new lower radiator hose, new water inlet, new thermostat, and thermostat gasket. Literally, the only thing on the lower end of the cooling system that I haven't replaced is the hose clamp.

    I have this style on there: hoseclamp.jpg

    Can it be bad? Have I done it wrong? Should I use something else?

    Thanks
     
  2. Apr 2, 2018 at 10:43 AM
    #2
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Not really, no.

    I would look VERY closely at where the inlet is soldered to the rad itself. You probably have a small crack there.
     
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  3. Apr 2, 2018 at 10:44 AM
    #3
    Timmah!

    Timmah! Well-Known Member

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    This a subject of debate but I believe the OEM constant tension clamps are superior to screw-down clamps. Go to your local dealer and pick up a couple. They would be more affordable online, but if you need it now, your local dealer will have these in stock.
     
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  4. Apr 2, 2018 at 10:45 AM
    #4
    mwrohde

    mwrohde [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The radiator is plastic, there's nothing to solder there, so I'm clearly not understanding you.

    The plumbing goes like this: radiator has a protrusion that the lower hose goes over -> Lower hose -> water inlet (metal "hose" that covers the thermostat) -> block

    The leak, as near as I can tell, is where the lower hose meets the water inlet.
     
  5. Apr 2, 2018 at 10:53 AM
    #5
    mwrohde

    mwrohde [OP] Well-Known Member

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    You don't happen to know what size, do you?
     
  6. Apr 2, 2018 at 11:03 AM
    #6
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    your radiator is plastic?? :confused:

    I guess I'm not understanding what you're saying then, either, lol...

    I'm saying that the leak is probably coming from a small crack in the "protrusion" that the hose goes on, or perhaps the "protrusion" is deformed slightly so the clamp isn't holding uniformly around the circumference.

    I guess I would be on the side of the debate that it is conceivable the factory style clamps might be "better" than the type pictured above, but I don't think the conventional style are all that "bad" either, and function perfectly well.
     
  7. Apr 2, 2018 at 11:12 AM
    #7
    Timmah!

    Timmah! Well-Known Member

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    No, I don't but you could easily look up the clamps you need from an online Toyota parts seller like Camleback Toyota or do like I suggested and just pay a visit to your local Toyota parts department. They can't be that expensive.
     
  8. Apr 2, 2018 at 11:20 AM
    #8
    mwrohde

    mwrohde [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yours isn't?

    The leak is, I think, at the other end of that hose. I guess the same issue could be happening there. That part is brand new, though.
     
  9. Apr 2, 2018 at 11:27 AM
    #9
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    AFAIK, most rads are metal. Some might have a plastic cover or something, though. Mine has a plastic "shell" covering part of the top of the rad, but the rad itself and the fittings for hoses are metal.

    I mean, unless I'm on crack or something. I've said dumber things before...
     
  10. Apr 2, 2018 at 11:29 AM
    #10
    mwrohde

    mwrohde [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The core is metal - where the cooling fins are. The rest is plastic. On mine, at least. Including the hose fittings.
     
  11. Apr 2, 2018 at 11:43 AM
    #11
    cliffyk

    cliffyk Well-Known Member

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    Almost all contemporary OEM radiators have aluminum cores with plastic top and bottom tanks gasketed and crimped to the core. It is not uncommon for the gaskets to fail,or for the moulded plastic connectors to crack and weep...
     
  12. Apr 2, 2018 at 11:55 AM
    #12
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Interesting. I swear mine are metal, but granted I haven't stared at it in a while... lol

    Either way, whatever material it's made of, plastic or metal, I would bet the leak is from the hose fittings (cracked where they protrude, or deformed/not round), rather than the clamp itself.

    Is it a slow leak, or does it drip pretty bad?
     
  13. Apr 2, 2018 at 12:14 PM
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    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

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    I think you are going to have to put a coolant pressure tester on you system and look. An way outside possibility is the pressure cap is incorrect or malfunctioning. It should have a .9 pressure cap. fwiw, the .9 refers to .9 bars(metric) of atmopsheric pressure, or 90% of 14.7 psi
     
  14. Apr 2, 2018 at 12:31 PM
    #14
    mwrohde

    mwrohde [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Over a couple of weeks it managed to empty the overflow bottle and spray antifreeze around the lower driver's side of the truck underbody. I don't see it dripping in the driveway, though.
     
  15. Apr 2, 2018 at 3:04 PM
    #15
    pray4surf

    pray4surf Well-Known Member

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    FYI - my daughter just paid Toyota of Escondido ~$500 for a radiator (and hose) replacement - the old was plastic, pert sure the new one is too...
     
  16. Apr 2, 2018 at 5:13 PM
    #16
    mwrohde

    mwrohde [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Here's some pictures. You have to look close, but you can see a drip of coolant on the hose clamp.
    IMG_20180402_194029.jpg IMG_20180402_194049.jpg IMG_20180402_194104.jpg
     
  17. Apr 2, 2018 at 5:26 PM
    #17
    Timmah!

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    Maybe that elbow has some pitting on it which is causing the hose connection to leak. It's pretty common that these hose fittings get pitted from corrosion.
     
  18. Apr 2, 2018 at 5:28 PM
    #18
    mwrohde

    mwrohde [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It's two weeks old. I got tired of this shit and replaced everything. Took it out of the box from camelback with a new thermostat, lower hose, and thermostat gasket.
     
  19. Apr 2, 2018 at 5:30 PM
    #19
    NMTrailRider

    NMTrailRider Well-Known Member

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    This would tell me it's leaking under pressure (hot fluid increases pressure). And not leaking when cold.
     
  20. Apr 2, 2018 at 5:38 PM
    #20
    NMTrailRider

    NMTrailRider Well-Known Member

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    For kicks... Take off the hose clamp and reinstall it, making sure it's completely straight and flat. Sometimes these clamps get just a tic out of alignment and don't cinch up "flat" on the surface of whatever they are sealing.

    Is this the same location as where the OEM clamp sits? Seems to me it should be clamped closer to the end of the "male" end (i.e. moved to the left in your picture). I haven't looked at mine in awhile, so I could be wrong.
     

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