Topic

Hi all, Can someone answer a question I have. The metal coolant pipes which are on the engine block, do one or more ends attach to the block or do they all attach to rubber hoses

The purple part in the picture below shows the metal pipes, it connects to rubber hoses and the thermostat housing on both ends but is bolted to the block.

And it's a lot easier to access/replace when there is no driveshaft in the way.

Thanks for the repiies. So why did they use metal and not rubber. I ask as mine are 15 yrs old and I would like to replace in the near future but with silicon hoses or is there some reason why you can't?
Thanks again J

For essentially the same reason pipe was used under the car: if you used hose, you would have to support it; better to use pipe.

We are continually encouraged to change the under floor pipes to stainless. Should be be changing these too? They are quite a bit more expensive...

I don't know; I am of mixed opinion. Just this winter, I changed this pipe on my wife's F to the stainless version, and I bought the mild steel version for my own car.

Given the original mild steel one lasted for 24 years, the mild steel replacement pipe should last even longer, given that our cars are only summer drivers now.

I changed my under floor coolant pipes to aluminium. I just bought a length of tube from metal merchant. did have to flare the ends to stop the hoses slipping off (they did when I first installed them with no flare). I made a small flare tool to do this. Though you can buy from one from Ebay.
The alloy will give better cooling.