Help I Have A Green Puddle

[blueboy]

Yes it's the dreaded green puddle under the car. Looks quite an easy fix. (did I really type that?)

a rubber hose that goes to the accumulator sphere has decided to split. This is where it gets complicated. The hose ends in a large thick bit and it is where it enters the thicker bit it is leaking. I assume (a) it is not a pressure hose and (b) it is what is known as part of the octupus.

Can I cut the hose by the split and sleeve it with a couple of clips. Also what sort of clip holds it onto the metal spigot. It looks kinda solid. Any advice would be appreciated. I have about 24 hours to get it fixed or her indoors will be after my blood. We were supposed to be going away for a week in the morning.

I should add it is a 1995 Xantia 16v petrol hatchback.

Thanks guys

[kfk]

as you say it isnt under a great deal of pressure.....however as you will have noticed there are various sized pipes and they are sized acording to the amount of LHM thats likely to be flowing through them.

 

So..........you want to sleeve it?

 

ideally if this is the route you are going, you need to ensure the internal diameter of your sleeve is as large as possible whilst the wall thickness is stong enough to allow you to tighten a hose clip round it.

 

your local car accessorie shop may sell some suitable t pieces or joiners.....ussually on one of those fancy displays that has bubble pack of fuses, rolls of wire and switches.

 

Alternatively i have had success repairing repairing pipes with a suitable disposable pen.....dont use the crystal plastic ones....there too brittle and dont like oil....copper tube if you can get it the right size.

 

alternative to pushing a tube inside both and hose cliping maybe to get a pipe that can go over the pipes and push them inside it.....if you do you will still need to find a means of stopping the iner pipe compress as the hose clip is tightnened.

 

and another consideration......if the pipe has split....could you blank off the hole (using a bolt and a hose clip......and run the return from the accumulator into the top of the reservoir....after all thats where its trying to get to.

 

Wish you luck......if not see you at your funeral.

 

kfk

[blueboy]

as you say it isnt under a great deal of pressure.....however as you will have noticed there are various sized pipes and they are sized acording to the amount of LHM thats likely to be flowing through them.

 

So..........you want to sleeve it?

 

ideally if this is the route you are going, you need to ensure the internal diameter of your sleeve is as large as possible whilst the wall thickness is stong enough to allow you to tighten a hose clip round it.

 

your local car accessorie shop may sell some suitable t pieces or joiners.....ussually on one of those fancy displays that has bubble pack of fuses, rolls of wire and switches.

 

Alternatively i have had success repairing repairing pipes with a suitable disposable pen.....dont use the crystal plastic ones....there too brittle and dont like oil....copper tube if you can get it the right size.

 

alternative to pushing a tube inside both and hose cliping maybe to get a pipe that can go over the pipes and push them inside it.....if you do you will still need to find a means of stopping the iner pipe compress as the hose clip is tightnened.

 

and another consideration......if the pipe has split....could you blank off the hole (using a bolt and a hose clip......and run the return from the accumulator into the top of the reservoir....after all thats where its trying to get to.

 

Wish you luck......if not see you at your funeral.

 

kfk

 

 

 

Thanks very much for a very comprehensive solution.

I put the car onto ramps and allowed the remaining fluid to drain while I went in search of suitable pipe. B & Q sell a straight length of 8mm brass plated tube which is made for connecting gas fires. It's about two feet in length and fits snugly inside the rubber pipe. I cut a piece about 6 inches long having first put a gentle curve in it and slipped the hose clips over the pipe. Two different sizes as the exit pipe from the accumulator sphere is larger at that point. joined up the two ends. Checked the filters in the tank were still clean having first cleaned the area of dust and dirt. Put two litres of lhm into the tank and performed several citarobics. Job done and no leaks. Total cost: pipe £5.98 (still have 18 inches left) two litres of lhm £14. and my life is saved.

 

Blueboy