Hi Group,

Please help! The small hose next to the large lower radiator hose is leaking.
It is a short hose that fits on a metal connector on the radiator and runs to a
metal hose/pipe that seems to run to the back of the engine. The short
rubber hose is leaking but believe it or not, I cannot seem to get it off. I
haven't tugged super hard on it yet, but shouldn't it just pull off? Before I get
in there with something to pry it off, I just want to make sure I don't damage
anything, because sometimes when I'm working on the truck, I just end up
making extra work for myself. I realize this is a pretty simple question, but I
am a little simple minded and need some assistance.

 

Can you post a pic? I'm not recalling the hose you're speaking of, but I suffer from CRS.

 

Oh wait, you're talking about the transmission cooler lines aren't you? Yeah, if someone spliced a hose in there it "should" just pull off.
But it's probably safer just to cut it so you don't damage anything.

 

That's right. I thought that is what the are, and after reading a bit, and now your message, I'm sure of it. From your message, it sounds like originally the entire line was metal, and the hose was added. I will get in there with a knife tomorrow and cut that hose out. It's a super tight fit, but I think it's been on there for a long time. When I cut it out, then won't I have antifreeze running out of both sides? I was going to find something to plug them up, so I don't lose my coolant, because it looks fresh, but I'll get a test strip, I guess, to make sure.

I'm also cleaning up electrical connections because I've been through the glow plugs and repaired some of the connector because the plugs tested fine, and I think the fuel system is tight, but it still has trouble with warm starts. I think this could be the temperature sensor, but I haven't found it yet. After it's warmed up and driven, it won't restart until it completely cools off (about 90 minutes when it's not to warm out). It does this consistently. When I've tried to start it sooner, I usually just run down the batteries and have to break out the charger. I have read that this could be the fuel injection pump, but it's practically new, so I'm not going there yet.

Thank you very much for your reply!! It helps me a great deal!

 

When the engine is hot,warmed up and then won`t start.
Pour cool water over the head of the IP. If it starts, then the pump
is worn and needs replacing.
Do not use ice cold water.
the idea of the cool water is, the worn internal parts will contract down
enough for the engine to start.

Doesn`t matter if it is a newer pump. There are rebuilders that clean them
up enough to get by. Then there are rebuilders that remanufacture them
back to new condition.

Charlie

 

Wait, are you talking about the T-shaped radiator hose on E4OD trucks? If you have an E4OD and it's the hose I'm thinking of (yes, the radiator hose is specific to that transmission), it has to be either replaced as an assembly, or cobbled together with a bunch of hose clamps and a bard tee fitting. The OEM style hose is not meant to pull off, if it looks like it might, the original crimp collar is rotted off.

 

That's right, originally a hard line and someone cut and spliced them. Very common. You won't lose any coolant there, but ATF. ATF is cycled through the bottom of the radiator to cool it off.

 

Hey Chevy Eater,

Thank you, I probably would not have figured out that it's transmission fluid and not antifreeze. It shouldn't have been a problem, because I have been keeping and eye on both levels, although the transmission fluid being low might have been confusing. On the other hand, once I saw the fluid, I hope I would have realized what was going on.

Thanks to others for their replies too. The tip on pouring water over my injection pump is something I'll keep in the back of my mind in case I need to try it in an emergency.

Appreciate it folks!

 

NO it's not a transmission line. It carries hot engine coolant. It's a rubber hose approx. 5/8 inch that taps off of one of the heater core hoses and carries hot engine coolant down to a fitting on the lower radiator tank passenger side.
THAT fitting is soldered to the radiator tank and does not come off.
The fitting has a VERY SMALL hole through the middle, about 1/6 inch or less that allows a small stream of HOT engine coolant to flow directly into the engine coolant side of brass transmission fluid cooler inside the lower radiator tank where heat is conducted through the brass from the hot coolant into the circulating transmission fluid to pre heat the transmission during engine warm up so the transmission can come up to operating temperature quicker.

When you cut the hose at that fitting engine coolant WILL LEAK OUT IN A STREAM. It's surprising to see how much fluid streams out of that tiny hole! Probably close to a gallon a minute.

The best way to work on this (replace the hose) is to drain the coolant from the radiator into some LARGE containers and then re-use it after the repair..

I'll post a photo of that fitting so you can see what it looks like with the hose removed.

As far as replacing that entire hose circuit, you'll probably need to find and use aftermarket hose fitting(s) to duplicate the original path = mainly a 'Y' or a 'T' where it taps off of the heater hose.
You need to use a good quality hose clamp (or two) to attach the new hose to that radiator fitting and use a thin coating of RTV on the outside barrel of the fitting to help seal it. THEN check it for a dripping leak for the next few days by putting a liece of cardboard on the ground directly below it.

 

This is the fitting. The radiator is from a 1991 F-350 parts truck with an e4OD:

 

Hi,

Yes, that looks like the connection I removed the hose from. When I removed it, I had a bit of a stream from the line, and even less from the connection at the radiator. After I put the new hose on, I noticed a nice puddle of fluid near the rear of the truck and I can't tell were the fluid was/is coming from. I would estimate it to be about half a quart to a quart. I'll have to check again, but I don't believe there is anymore coming out. It's leaking above the rear axel, in fact it's dripping off the under side of the bed of the truck, which really has me confused.

So, is this transmission fluid? I don't know, and I'm still registering fluid on the transmission dip stick.

Don't know what to do next. It seems like the stuff that leaked out is transmission fluid, but dirtier than the transmission fluid on my dip stick. How do I refill it and what do I use?

Please...I was really hoping this would be easy for a change!

 

OMG! I was just laying down after a hot shower and realized the fluid at the rear of my truck on my paved carport is old oil I pulled out of the trucks tool box to take to recycle. I placed the oil in the bed of the truck temporarily and it leaked (had it in a damn milk jug). I haven't actually gone out to confirm 100%, but that's what I got goin on! I'm pissed at myself that this happened and that I became extremely confused by it, cause I thought it was leaking in the trucks system after I cut that hose (and wondered how it got way back there). I did come to realize that it wasn't antifreeze or transmission fluid.

So, I think I'm good except, what was the fluid coming out of the hose I cut? It seemed a little thicker and maybe reddish. That's just transmission fluid I hope, and I can top it off where I add the transmission fluid up top. Do I have that right?

Thank you for your patience!

 

Read this in the OP's original post: "It is a short hose that fits on a metal connector on the radiator and runs to a
metal hose/pipe that seems to run to the back of the engine."

 

Quote from my last message: "So, I think I'm good except, what was the fluid coming out of the hose I cut? It seemed a little thicker and maybe reddish. That's just transmission fluid I hope, and I can top it off where I add the transmission fluid up top. Do I have that right?"

Hi Chevy Eater,

Do you happen to know the answer to my above question?

Thanks!

 

Yes, that's transmission fluid and you can add it to your transmission like you normally would.
The fluid is plumbed from the transmission to the radiator and then back for cooling purposes. You'll see a similar line on the passenger side of the radiator.