BlackXJay

I have a leak in the water pump inlet tube. I patched it with a piece of hose and hose clamp. It's been holding for a few weeks. But in the process of researching it I see most people change it to a 3/8 fitting. But there still are a few people who think the factory metal tube needs to be there because the bend of the longer rubber hose will be to extreme.....Any thoughts?

JDS123

All I know is I just found out that metal tube is crappy hard to get off.

BlackXJay

Well I know if I take the water pump off I could probably put it in a vise and get it off. But I was thinking about cutting it above the threaded part and using a breaker bar and deep socket while it is still bolted in. If I go that route I guess I'll be using the 3/8 nipple bc there isn't enough room to put the stock tube back.

CCKen

Depending upon how old the water pump is, you may want to replace the pump, with the new pipe on it.

JeepMN

This is what I did. You can buy the tube at most parts stores.

WyoCherokee

If you have no cooling issues aside from that leak, i would just take a dremel tool, cut it off just before the bung, take it out with a deep socket and install a threaded nipple. The pipe is just there to provide a solid bend around the front of the engine. If you have any cooling issues, just replace the water pump and put a new tube on it and seal it up good n tight.

BlackXJay

No cooling issues at all. Runs 200-210 with ac on. Fairly new water pump. I was just looking for opinions if the tube was needed. I've read that the tube is there bc the bend of a longer hose is to extreme. And I really didn't want to take the water pump out. But I think I came up with a solution. I will use the dremel method to cut off my old tube, remove with deep socket. Install fitting. Measure longer hose, cut the new tube at the bung, insert bungless tube into new hose...... hose clamp and all done without removing the water pump and keeping the integrity of the stock metal tube there for all oem specs ....

CCKen

What are you going to do about all the metal chips in the coolant system from cutting the tube with a Dremel cut off wheel?

BlackXJay

I was thinking about a large magnet on the lower radiator hose then doing a coolant flush????

Just kidding yeah I didn't think about that so much. Other then using a vise grip and bending the tube back and forth until it breaks off ... I guess the water pump will be coming off

Bluecuda

I second what CCKen said, new water pump. Just make sure to install the tube before you get your gasket and black silicone all pretty and nice. From recent experience taking it off because you forgot to install the tube first is not fun. At my local auto parts store the pump was $30 or so and the new tube with rubber hose came to about $15.

salad

How's the rust situation? If the tube is sufficiently weakened you can snap it off. My 2001 developed a leak right above the hex head at the pump. I just wiggled it around and it popped off, nice and clean, no Dremel debris. Used a deep socket and it came right out.

That tube is one of AMC's worse ideas. I went the barbed fitting with heater hose route. I reused the factory clamps - I do not trust the worm screw type clamps for this application and I can't see how you'd even tighten one. The bend is not too extreme. Works great, cost me $1.60 for the fitting and $4 for the hose. (Canadian dollars so that's like 35 cents US) Very easy to do and it will never rust again.

abodyjoe

i prefer the proper tube for that.. they are cheap enough. may as well do it right.

BlackXJay

See I knew this would happen haha. Opened up a can of worms. It seems both ways are effective. It just comes down to if you want to take off the water pump. Thanks guys.

Ben Reilly

Yes, I would do a water pump and the tube. That water pump is going to need to be replaced sooner or later anyway. I just had to replace mine at 166k.