Thread: Is there no answer to constant leaking plastic elbows?

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  1. #1 Is there no answer to constant leaking plastic elbows? 
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    These dam plastic cooling elbows are a pain in the ass! I have replaced them three time in the last year and a half. The first couple lasted about 6 months, and thi last set I canged only about two months ago and now the bottom one is leaking again.
    Has any one fould a solution to seal them any better or make them last any longer?...
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  2. #2 Re: Is there no answer to constant leaking plastic elbows? 
    Modded for Maximum Slow burgundybullet's Avatar
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    RTV I have hear can seal up around them pretty good from what I have heard. If you are having issues with the elbow itself cracking look into aluminum elbows.


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  3. #3 Re: Is there no answer to constant leaking plastic elbows? 
    GXP Level Member GTPpower's Avatar
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    Put a bead of RTV on before/ontop of the orings. I've never had a leak with this method.


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  4. #4 Re: Is there no answer to constant leaking plastic elbows? 
    GrandPrix Junkie The Guz's Avatar
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    Go back to using the GM one's or replace the o-rings on the dorman one's with the delco o-rings. I ended up going back to delco elbows and used a little RTV this last time.
    1999 GP GT 18" Boss 353 Concave|SLP CAI|Borla Cat Back|Plog|HV3|HV TB|ER Rockers|Custom Retrofit Projectors|GMPP Lowering|GMPP Handling|MPD F1|Full Diode Dynamic LEDs
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  5. #5 Re: Is there no answer to constant leaking plastic elbows? 
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    I've changed them five times over the past 2-3 years. I've tried installing them dry, with a little oil on the o-rings, light silicone and now with more silicone. I keep having the same elbow leak: where the top elbow enters the intake manifold.

    So far I have been good, but who knows?

    I'd like to try the aluminum elbows if they actually seal better.

    This is just an ill design. I also notice some slight seepage around one of my lower intake manifold bolts, so I think I will be taking this all apart again all too soon to deal with another yet another cooling leak.
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  6. #6 Re: Is there no answer to constant leaking plastic elbows? 
    SE Level Member GT in Kennesaw's Avatar
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    There are these - Aluminum Coolant Elbows #ZZ-ALCE, aluminum coolant elbows from ZZ Performance. These should be the last elbows you ever need.
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  7. #7  
    Turbo is the way to go. REDCRAPGP's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GT in Kennesaw View Post
    There are these - Aluminum Coolant Elbows #ZZ-ALCE, aluminum coolant elbows from ZZ Performance. These should be the last elbows you ever need.
    Don't get ripped by ZZP prices and just buy from rockauto...
    Squirrels are my engine. I need a Ford Regal
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    Quote Originally Posted by REDCOMPG View Post
    Don't get ripped by ZZP prices and just buy from rockauto...
    They are $12 shipped, took 3 day's to get here. My only options were Napa, O'Really, and Auto Zone. None of them stocked them nor could cross and find the aluminum elbows for me. So sometime's this is the best option.

    Sent using Tapatalk 2 from my GS3.
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  9. #9  
    Turbo is the way to go. REDCRAPGP's Avatar
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    Nothing wrong with that. I just recall when Zzp starting selling them they were more expensive then what Rockauto was selling then for. I guess they adjusted the price since then.
    Squirrels are my engine. I need a Ford Regal
    04 Comp G.
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  10. #10 Re: Is there no answer to constant leaking plastic elbows? 
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    So are the aluminum elbows better in that they seal better, or is it just because they don't crack?
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  11. #11 Re: Is there no answer to constant leaking plastic elbows? 
    GrandPrix Junkie The Guz's Avatar
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    They still use the same o-rings.
    1999 GP GT 18" Boss 353 Concave|SLP CAI|Borla Cat Back|Plog|HV3|HV TB|ER Rockers|Custom Retrofit Projectors|GMPP Lowering|GMPP Handling|MPD F1|Full Diode Dynamic LEDs
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  12. #12 Re: Is there no answer to constant leaking plastic elbows? 
    SE Level Member GT in Kennesaw's Avatar
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    It's the heat and age that causes the plastic to crack, usually at the weak point, where the o-ring goes, or along the seam. Mine crumbled into many pieces that I had to dig out. The aluminum won't crack or snap off.
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  13. #13 Re: Is there no answer to constant leaking plastic elbows? 
    GTX Level Member nos4blood70's Avatar
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    Put the aluminum ones in when they first came out, haven't had an issue.
    -Carl
    "Penelope" - 145k Miles 2003 Bonneville SLE


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