PSA: replace those heater tees (2 Viewers)

[Super77]

Been said a thousand times here, just sharing that I recently got religion too.

26 years old, ~142k miles. Looked “normal” upon initial inspection, no leaks. Snapped like a stale Triscuit as soon as I started twisting the hose a little. Not a gradual fail that you’d see or smell, but a sudden gusher if it had been pressurized. You can’t really visualize how the plastic is failing until you remove the hose and see the brown splotches.

Also:

1) it’s a one job if you invest a few bucks in one of these

Seriously, it makes working with 6 spring clamps in a tight space an actual pleasure and leaves them looking like new.

2) Don’t buy the aftermarket tees. Just. Don’t. They’re all garbage. And using brass tees from Home Depot or whatever is a dead end. The perpendicular tube is smaller than the other two, and does not match US plumbing fittings.

OEM tees are engineered for a hot environment, vibrating, constantly soaked in coolant. It’s worth the ~$25 for a pair from Uncle T.

 

[Aracobuilt]

One of the first thing I replaced when I bought my truck back in 2017 with only 46,000 miles. They literally disintegrated when removed and were brown in color. I changed them again a few months ago.

 

[anthonydiaz85]

Been said a thousand times here, just sharing that I recently got religion too.

View attachment 3940813
View attachment 3940814
26 years old, ~142k miles. Looked “normal” upon initial inspection, no leaks. Snapped like a stale Triscuit as soon as I started twisting the hose a little. Not a gradual fail that you’d see or smell, but a sudden gusher if it had been pressurized. You can’t really visualize how the plastic is failing until you remove the hose and see the brown splotches.

Also:

1) it’s a one job if you invest a few bucks in one of these

View attachment 3940815
Seriously, it makes working with 6 spring clamps in a tight space an actual pleasure and leaves them looking like new.

2) Don’t buy the aftermarket tees. Just. Don’t. They’re all garbage. And using brass tees from Home Depot or whatever is a dead end. The perpendicular tube is smaller than the other two, and does not match US plumbing fittings.

OEM tees are engineered for a hot environment, vibrating, constantly soaked in coolant. It’s worth the ~$25 for a pair from Uncle T.

I bought this from amazon two weeks ago because its easier to buy a tool this cheap then to lose my mind.

 

[Super77]

I bought this from amazon two weeks ago because its easier to buy a tool this cheap then to lose my mind.

I’ve probably got a dozen constant-tension clamps hidden in the dark corners of my garage, from when they sproinged off the lineman’s pliers I used for years to wrestle them on and off.

 

[SanDiegoCruiser]

Just bypass the heater t’s completely! I have never used the rear heat in over 13 years lve owned the 100. Cruiser Patch has the hoses.

 

[Super77]

Just bypass the heater t’s completely! I have never used the rear heat in over 13 years lve owned the 100. Cruiser Patch has the hoses.
View attachment 3947866

That’s pretty elegant. I think you can get the same result by replacing the tees with straight connectors. In that case, I think you actually can use the barbed brass fitting from a hardware store, since IIRC it’s the 3rd, smaller tube that requires the tee made by Uncle T.