Pipe blew off, what to do? (e39 cooling system)

DannyW

DannyW

DannyW

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Joined
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Hi guys was just parked up ideling for about 15 mins then i heard a big bang and saw loads of gushing out the front of my car, opened the bonnet and this plastic pipe that plugs into the bottom of the radiator on the drivers side had come off.

Nothing appears to have broken and i manged to clip the pipe back on top up with water bleed the system and drive away, been fine since.


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Any ideas as to why the pipe would do this? The radiator is less then 2 years old. Should i try source a replacement plastic bit (dont know the name)?

Please can i not have any comments saying stick it on ebay, I like this car and intend to keep it for a while, I know i've done wrong in the past selling a dodgy car but I payed the price when my mondeo blow up costing me nearly £1000.
 
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No, its the lower hose. The connector is for the aux coolant temp sensor.

Difficult to think why it would simply fly off unless the system was being excessively pressurised, and even then it would need a LOT of pressure as the header tank cap should vent excess pressure?
 
[TW]Fox;16184327 said:
No, its the lower hose. The connector is for the aux coolant temp sensor.

Difficult to think why it would simply fly off unless the system was being excessively pressurised, and even then it would need a LOT of pressure as the header tank cap should vent excess pressure?
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Should i buy a new cap then? maybe mine is knackered and can no longer vent this pressure
 
Could this of been caused by a faulty viscous fan? Didnt cool then engine enough when parked up, resulting in excess pressure forcing the pipe to blow off?

Think it was idleing for like 20 mins..
 
[TW]Fox;16184421 said:
You could do but in normal circumstances there shouldn't BE any pressure..
Click to expand...

You mean excessive pressure as coolant systems are pressurized systems.

Check the condition of the oil and coolant as it could be down to the head gasket blown causing it to over pressure.

Could be as simple as a faulty thermostat.
 
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[TW]Fox;16186658 said:
Yes sorry, I wasn't very clear :p The entire system is pressurised, but there shouldnt be enough excessive pressure to trigger it to escape out of the cap.
Click to expand...

Sorry wasnt being funny, just could imagine him taking the cap off and sticking a rag in it or something thinking hes fixed it. :D
 
had a similar issue with my e39 - the clips are notorious for looking and feeling as though they are on and secure but they are not - mine went after a new radiator was fitted - an AA man then re-fitted the pipe and it fell off again, third time the AA man knew what he was doing and no probs since.

Just put it on, make sure the clip is secure by really tugging on the pipe, then all should be fine (mine has been for the last year)
 
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/a.whetstone/site/

Are you really a driving instructor?

Erm yeah, anyway, If the rads been replaced at some point, maybe something was broken or not replace properly. 2 years to work loose might be far fetched but what's to say its not been doing it for the previous owner often and thus repeatedly put back? Depends how it actually fastens, I can't tell from here.
 
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