Thread: coolant elbow broken only 5 months old..?!?!?

so I'm driving after a wot run to 65, I see white smoke coming out of the back of my car and engine bay. I'm freaking out thinking I blew a head gasket. I park the car, open the hood and see coolant spraying out of the top coolant elbow.....I think this is strange since I just replaced it 5 months ago when I did my intake gaskets. I checked the radiator and oil filler for pressure, the oil for coolant and exhaust for coolant smell...nothing everything seems fine. I just find it strange the elbow I replaced 5 months ago just suddenly blows a leak. Is this normal? I already have the zzp aluminum ones so hopefulley it doesn't happen again. Just wondering if anybody has had an issue similar to this.

Mine were leaking after 3 months of new ones being installed.

If you got the help ones then yeah its very probable. I have heard that the ones you get from a gm dealer are higher quality. I got the help ones from O'Reillys and after 3 months it popped out of the LIM it didn't break it just came out.

Crazy, that sucks, I have the help one, been doing good for three months now, hope the aluminum ones do the trick.

The new Help plastic ones have been redesigned to correct the bending problem, but I'd go with the aluminum ones and a little bit if RTV on the o-rings for extra security.

Sent from my SkyRocket

I have replaced the coolent elbows so many times I have it down to a 10 min job. All the plastic ones from any parts store are crap..... You shouldnt have a problem with the alum ones from zzp. I had a set that was only about a month old blow out after passing a 85 ford f150. Its just a shame he had all that fluid on his windshield. Then he passed me as I was broke down on the side of the road.

I believe the aluminum elbows ZZP sells are Dorman Help pieces. I don't remember the part number, but I picked mine up from my local O'Reilly. They were hanging up in the back with their overstock.

Sent from my SkyRocket

yeah, it took me just about an hour to do it, put some baby Vaseline on them before sliding them in. These zzp one will not break. That made in china crap was cracked. BTW it was the upper one. Thanks guys.

Sometimes if they get wedged in there wierd it puts too much stress on them and they snap. Ive made a habit of double checking that they have a slight wiggle after installing to be sure it seated comfortably.

You shouldnt have anymore issues now that you threw a aluminum one in there.

Thats not true I heard the aluminum ones have bad orings.

We carry the replacement plastic and aluminum plastic heater hose elbows. Here's a link to them if anyone needs them.

1997 - 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix Upper & Lower Plastic Heater Hose Elbow for V6 3.8L Pair

1997 - 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix Upper & Lower Aluminum Heater Hose Elbow for V6 3.8L Pair

Here's a video that should help you guys out too.