DIY: Replacing heater hose pipe T's *important* (3 Viewers)

[super90]

I don't make this so difficult. I just get all Yota parts (tees and hoses) and replace every 10 years. Its really easy to do. I don't feel like that is unreasonable...

 

[snoname]

I don't make this so difficult. I just get all Yota parts (tees and hoses) and replace every 10 years. Its really easy to do. I don't feel like that is unreasonable...

I typically work weekdays from 6:45-5:45. Not a huge fan of going to the parts department, ordering parts, and waiting for them to come in, only to have to go in again to pick them up. It really doesn't much fit into my schedule. For me, the ability to get parts at any parts retailer rather than having to get Toyota-specific ones, especially for something which shouldn't be as complicated as Toyota has made it, is a no brainer. It makes it easier than really easy.

 

[super90]

I wish I only worked from 6:45 til 5:45....

Toyota is pretty straightforward as cars go. Use their parts catalog online and you don't have any issues. One trip nine of 10 projects...

http://www.toyodiy.com/

Here's the list I had on file for the hoses and T's

Heater Hoses
Water Hose 87245-6A220 $12.00
Water Hose 87245-6A210$8.46
Water Hose 87245-6A190 $17.60
Water Hose 87245-6A180 $10.90
Water Hose 87245-6A800 $13.99
Water Pipe 87248-60460 $7.89 (need 2 of these)
Heater Hose 99556-20155 $4.07

 

[timberwilde]

I replaced mine today after reading a number of these threads and noticing the coolant level dropping. The job was a PITA due only to having to climb in the engine bay to get at them. I am pretty sure mine were original but at 181818 on the dial I think they lasted pretty well.

Anyway, this board has saved me thousands of dollars with all the great advice and support. Thanks to everyone for help on this and so many projects I've done.

 

[aaronrules]

Stan, this is a fantastic write up. Did it today not too bad. But I think I lost a little more coolant than expected. Easy job...do it.

 

[JETTIX2]

170k on my 04, one of the T's appears to have leaked very slightly at one point, a long, long time ago (could have been changed at 90k, not sure). Ordering T's, and I'm assuming that at this point/mileage, and because it'll make removal/installation easier to just replace the hoses and T's all at once, ya?

 

[2001LC]

170k on my 04, one of the T's appears to have leaked very slightly at one point, a long, long time ago (could have been changed at 90k, not sure). Ordering T's, and I'm assuming that at this point/mileage, and because it'll make removal/installation easier to just replace the hoses and T's all at once, ya?

If hoses are swollen or damaged in any way replace them, otherwise just keep the factories.

Hoses in good condition with tiny bit of seepage at DS Tee:

Swollen hoses replace with larger Tee or/and screw clamps. Cases where changing hoses would be a good idea:

 

[JETTIX2]

I have more seepage than that. Ordered new factory T's and new hoses, local dealer hooked me up with a terrific deal. Should have them here later this week and will install ASAP.

If hoses are swollen or damaged in any way replace them, otherwise just keep the factories.

Hoses in good condition with tiny bit of seepage at DS Tee:
View attachment 1383780
Swollen hoses replace with larger Tee or/and screw clamps. Case where changing hoses would a good idea:
View attachment 1383784 View attachment 1383786

 

[beachbumin]

Ordered set from local toyota dealer today. When I got there they mentioned that the toyota paperwork showed green coolant instead of red. Base lining my 98 lx470 and it has red in it so I stayed true with that.... Not a terrible job at all.

 

[ILcruiser]

I replaced mine this past weekend with OEM parts from the dealer. With the exception of all my clamps facing the wrong way, it was an easy job just as others have described. My vehicle has 104,000 miles and I do not know if they had been done before. Upon removal they showed no signs of wear/stress/breakage at all. the one thing I did note is when I squeezed the ends, by hand, there was some flexibility in the plastic. There is no flexibility in the new parts.

The Ts I removed had a 4 stamped in the plastic. The new ones had a 2. I'm not sure if they changed the type of plastic or if the different number relates to something else. Anyone have any idea?

 

[Live to Ski]

Different number probably refers to the mold cavity. These molds might have 4 or more cavities in each mold, thus numbers to indicate which cavity.

 

[Catskills]

I'm having these swapped out in my 2002. The dealership swapped the 2007's last summer for me. They charged me like $60, and it means there isn't coolant in my driveway, which is a nice bonus.

 

[bctlex]

170k on my 04, one of the T's appears to have leaked very slightly at one point, a long, long time ago (could have been changed at 90k, not sure). Ordering T's, and I'm assuming that at this point/mileage, and because it'll make removal/installation easier to just replace the hoses and T's all at once, ya?

I replaced my T's and the hoses. I think the easiest is to use a serrate knife and just cut off those hoses. Mine was like glued to the pipes, and I did not want to be pulling and break something else. Beside at 200K, I may as well just replace them all for peace of mind. Assemble the hose and the T's before you put them on. It is not hard, but the location makes it harder.

 

[txslg]

I replaced mine yesterday. The coolant start leaking from the Hot T-fittings. 140K miles. Bought all parts from Toyota cost $176.00
The T fitting on mine is completely broken. I initially want to keep the old hose. It slows down the process. It is so hard to get these hose off the pipe. Later I used a razor knife to cut them off. It is so much easier. It took me 3 hours. If I decide to use razor knife in the beginning, it will probably only take an hours or so.

Thanks OP, great article on changing the T-Fittings.

Here is my part list just FYI

1. 2 X 87248-60460 T Fitting $14.15 Total $28.30
2. 87245-6A210 $16.74
3. 87245-6A800 $27.59
4. 87245-6A220 $23.66
5. 87245-6A180 $21.51
6. 99556-20155 $9.71
7. 87245-6A190 $31.95

 

[JETTIX2]

Replaced all my heater hoses and Ts this week. 171k, original still. One of the Ts desinigrated while I was removing it. Very glad I did them before they failed (soon).

DO THIS REPAIR ASAP if you haven't already

 

[WestTX28]

DO THIS REPAIR ASAP if you haven't already

I've been meaning to do this for a while and finally got it done today. Man was I on borrowed time. The hot side was starting to leak and snapped when I barely handled it. This hose hook made it very easy to remove the hoses. As others suggested I removed and reassembled as a set with new hoses. Thanks OP. Such an easy job to prevent a major problem.

 

[98100Crusher]

My two notes on this: You are probably going to lose more coolant than you expect so prep and count all your hose pieces. I had to do this job the night before a 5am family trip. The good news is that I saw the problem while doing some other work (it was ready to split in two and would have left us stranded) and had the part (was going to do it after reading all the threads here). Downside was I lost more coolant than I was expecting and I didn't realize until a day later than I was missing some chips out of the remains of the broken T. I went back in with the home built catcher below and couldn't find the pieces. The catcher is just a one liter bottle with the top chopped off and the spigot of a gallon milk jug to redirect the flow into the bottle. I also made my life easier by laying a 2x12 board across the hood with towels wrapped to protect the paint. I just stretched out on the plank to access the T hoses. fyi - T-pipe was failing at 148K.

 

[tacotraitor]

T fittings are leaking on my 2002 LX w/137K. I have OEM fittings and plan to do the work today once the sun comes out.

Did a decent amount of research and definitely considered going with metal t's instead of OE plastic but wanted to share the following:

I work for an automotive research lab and we do a lot of work on coolants. Per our analytical testing lead, a number of the ASTM test methods for coolant use brass to assess corosivity most likely because it reacts preferentially as compared to other metals. He said that while the radiator/cooling system may have some brass in it, it isn't just a matter of presence/absence. Changing the ratio of metals could theoretically increase corrosion potential throughout the system.

His $0.02: better to keep replacing cheap and "easily" accessible t fittings than risk creating an issue somewhere more internal that would be harder to find and more expensive to fix.

While I doubt any members who went with brass are going to suffer any ill effect w/ regular coolant changes, Toyota did pay a bunch of engineers a bunch of money to design the cooling system in a holistic manner. Why second guess all of those man hours?

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

My two notes on this: You are probably going to lose more coolant than you expect so prep and count all your hose pieces. I had to do this job the night before a 5am family trip. The good news is that I saw the problem while doing some other work (it was ready to split in two and would have left us stranded) and had the part (was going to do it after reading all the threads here). Downside was I lost more coolant than I was expecting and I didn't realize until a day later than I was missing some chips out of the remains of the broken T. I went back in with the home built catcher below and couldn't find the pieces. The catcher is just a one liter bottle with the top chopped off and the spigot of a gallon milk jug to redirect the flow into the bottle. I also made my life easier by laying a 2x12 board across the hood with towels wrapped to protect the paint. I just stretched out on the plank to access the T hoses. fyi - T-pipe was failing at 148K.

View attachment 1405369

Green coolant

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Just put an end to heater T's issues for ever.

My heater T broke when I lowered my drivetrain when I was converting my t-case to part-time.

I was happy when I realized I have the correct one time replacement 4Season T's (part #84543) on the shelf. The 4Season T's have 2 - 5/8" and 1 1/2" nipples being SAE and not metric the factory clamps will not seal on used hose so I used the correct sized Breeze clamps.

I did make a tool for removing the broken piece on the fly that worked great.

I have now put an end to heater T's failures forever.