Need advice on a coolant leak

[jsfgso]

I have a coolant leak that is right above my catylitic converter. I am assuming it is for the coolant line for the rear heater. The metal section of pipe is rusted and after being bumped by my cat several times this weekend it has sprung a leak. Any advice on parts or rerouting this so it wont happen again would be appreciated.

 

[80t0ylc]

I vote bypass the rear heater. You won't need it in NC. Threads on Mud for doing just that. You don't need go through the anguish to remove the hard lines. Just drain them and rear heater core and either leave them in place or remove them. One less headache to worry about on the cooling system. If I lived in Alaska, Canada or Siberia, I would probably fix it.

 

[jsfgso]

I took it out this morning and decided to take your advice. I am just going to eliminate the rear heater, the hard lines were completely rusted through.

 

[e9999]

fairly common situation from what I've read here.

 

[jsfgso]

I removed the lines from the rear heater core to the main line coming down from the engine compartment. I installed a horseshow shaped pipe to loop the two line together.

Next up is the PHH.

 

[Slowleak]

jsfgso.....I'm in Hickory, NC and the PHH is on my top priority list.
Let me know how the PHH turns out and which replacement kit you used.

Thanks,

 

[cruiser88]

just use heater hose and keep the rear heater?

 

[jsfgso]

Good point, I may go back and run heater hose to the rear heater later, its not a priority right now. I just finished the PHH. I chose to go the PHH-ectomy route. Once I got the old pipes out installing the replacement line was a breeze.

I just used 4 feet of 16mm heater line and 2 of the factory clamps.

 

[d0ubledown]

I removed the lines from the rear heater core to the main line coming down from the engine compartment. I installed a horseshow shaped pipe to loop the two line together.

Next up is the PHH.

i just noticed i started leaking above my cats this afternoon res was empty. got a pic of the U shaped pipe/hose that looped the two lines together? and the two lines you looped together were the ones towards the front of the truck near the cats correct? and not the rear, where im guessing the heater core is, under the PS front seat?

now in replacing these 2 lines, instead of going hardlines above the cats heatshield, would using soft lines away from the cats, but closer to the frame be a good solution?

also, during normal operation, without the rear heater on, is the coolant still travelling through the rear heater lines? im hoping i can still drive around until i get the time to sort out this leak...