Hydronics Help!

[Trail Talk]

Winter is coming! We're excited for this year's ice road adventures but I need to address a leaking hydronics connection in the engine compartment for our Webasto heater. During winter travel, this connection is subject to temperature swings from full heat soak while driving to a deep freeze while parked up for the night. Inevitably it starts to drip, drip, drip onto the exhaust manifold below. I can lose half a litre or more over a week and, most annoying, can smell it burn off and see the vapour coming from under the hood. Up to now I've been tightening them several times a season but that is not a permanent solution.



To replace the two nylon 3-way tee's and standard hose clamps, I've obtained constant-tension hose clamps (Norma 20-32/9CT) and a couple of brass tee's. As someone having no experience with the coolant system ,other than topping it off, is this something I can tackle without draining the whole system? The connection is at the high point of the coolant circuit so I'm wondering about clamping off each hose while I remove and reinstall the tee's and clamps. I suspect that would introduce air into the system but, if so, would it bleed out through the coolant reservoir?

 

[Victorian]

Interesting problem... Can't imagine how frustrating this may be!

I'm wondering if the hose clamps are the issue by not evenly expanding/contracting at extreme temperatures. I remember having a similar conversation with the service team at TigerExped in Germany. They mentioned several times of the importance to use the included metal spring clamps with their hydronic kit. Not sure of the correct terminology in English but here is the link with images to our listing: coolant-circuit-kit-for-combiboil-water-heater

 

[Trail Talk]

I'm wondering if the hose clamps are the issue by not evenly expanding/contracting at extreme temperatures.

That was my thoughts too, it took some time to source these constant-tension clamps.