TheSamba.com :: View topic - Brass Pex fitings for cooling system repair

Wed Jul 13, 2011 1:35 pm

Just wanted to put it out there that these fittings seem to work really well for repairing hard to find hoses. I had to adapt a bunch of connections and replace a t-hose. It would have been impossible to buy the custom pipes but I made them very simply with these fittings. Best, Dave

Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:57 am

I agree, I've used them on three Vanagons so far to replace heater hose connections they work great and are Brass so no fear of breaks etc. I buy the 1\2" size and it fits snuggly into the heater hose. Also for those that wish to install a rear Ball Valve upgrade, to shut your heat off in those hot months, PEX sells a nice 1\2" Ball Valve with hose Barbs pre attached sells for about $10.00 it also works great. I get my stuff at the Homedope store..

Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:40 am

I loved it. It solved my woes from the back of my truck. That is a 3/4 x 3/4 x 1/2 tee and above is a 3/4 coupling. You can see on the coupling that I had to use a second piece of heater hose on the inside of another to bush up to the larger on to the right. Whatever works right.

Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:47 am

We had a PEX rep in our office recently and it looked like the 1-1/2" PEX would be a direct replacement for the long plastic coolant lines. The fittings even looked like they would work. The metal crimp bands are rated for 150 PSI. It got me thinking...

Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:15 am

Dave Walsh wrote: I loved it. It solved my woes from the back of my truck. That is a 3/4 x 3/4 x 1/2 tee and above is a 3/4 coupling. You can see on the coupling that I had to use a second piece of heater hose on the inside of another to bush up to the larger on to the right. Whatever works right.

not to crazy about double hose... did you use rubber cement to insure it doesn't slide? I have 1/2" pex running up to my front heater core and works great for a year now. I double clamped the rubber right to it at fits well.

Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:29 pm

PDXWesty wrote: We had a PEX rep in our office recently and it looked like the 1-1/2" PEX would be a direct replacement for the long plastic coolant lines. The fittings even looked like they would work. The metal crimp bands are rated for 150 PSI. It got me thinking...

I recently found that Pex is now making this tubing that can with stand very Hi heat ranges including Steam...

Thinking about going with this for my next coolant lines Engine to radiator replacement.

Anyone used it yet or know anything about it..? I currently use the Brass Fittings, but never tried the Tubing.. That is the question?

BTW the PEX measurments aren't the same as most plumbing measurments. Example there 3\4" brass barbs are a perfect fit for the Vanagon 5\8" heater hoses. So rule of thumb is the PEX measurement has to be larger then the I.D. hose your trying to fit it into..

Also the biggest problem that I've found is most plumbing supply houses won't sell small lengths of tubing.
.

Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:27 pm

It should be noted that the standard Pex found in hardware stores is rated for 180F water and the Pex for hydronic heating is rated to 200F, with both having a constant 140F as a safe working temp.

There are others, rated for higher temps. And for ease of identification you can get red -for hot water and blue -pex for cold water :D

There is also Pex-al-Pex which has an aluminum middle pipe, this allows the pex to maintain its shape after bending, where it is difficult to put a strap.

Wait, there's more! A number of companies make the crimp style clamps for use with Pex, so if you have the tool, you're set.

Fri Dec 21, 2012 2:57 pm

While I see the value in PEX for heater pipes, locating 1 1/2" PEX that is high temperature rated, form capable and oxygen protected is difficult at best. Add to that finding and purchasing the crimping tool...... Just buy the stainless pipes!
A 100' roll of 1 1/2" PEX is over $400! Granted, you only need 35' or so but ind someone who sells partial rolls!

Dave

Fri Dec 21, 2012 4:07 pm

djkeev wrote: While I see the value in PEX for heater pipes, locating 1 1/2" PEX that is high temperature rated, form capable and oxygen protected is difficult at best. Add to that finding and purchasing the crimping tool...... Just buy the stainless pipes!
A 100' roll of 1 1/2" PEX is over $400! Granted, you only need 35' or so but ind someone who sells partial rolls!

Dave

If I could get new long pipes for under $100, I would be all over that.

Fri Dec 21, 2012 4:17 pm

group buy.

Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:07 am

or have a friend who is a plumber?

Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:02 am

I have the PEX tool and have experimented with the aluminum cored PEX tubing in various sizes.
I prefer the aftermarket stainless and aluminum front to back lines available from various vendors, but could see one doing them in PEX.

I don't see much savings unless a roll of tubing and boxes of fittings are purchased.

Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:24 am

OMG my brother is a plumber & works with PEX all the time...
<sound of scrambling out of the room & frantic phone dialing>

PS: share your perceived downside of the PEX, insync?

Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:38 am

dhaavers wrote: OMG my brother is a plumber & works with PEX all the time...
<sound of scrambling out of the room & frantic phone dialing>

PS: share your perceived downside of the PEX, insync?

The larger diameters are difficult to bend and have them hold the exact shape you wish.
Thats why I use the cored PEX, but it is far more expensive.

Personally, I am trying to rid my vans cooling system of copper and brass and replace with stainless or aluminum.
Please feel free to add comments about this to the stainless cooling pipe discussion that has many pages of opinions.

IMHO, the fittings available are not ideal, but work OK.
They are too short and the multiple ribbed end that receives the VW rubber hose is not designed for the automobile application it is being used in.
Some of them have weeped in my trials.
Multiple hose clamps were needed and old hoses did not hold well if they were malformed from the 20+ years of service they have seen already.

If you plan to get new hoses, upgrade to silicone hoses and swap out most of the cooling system, I recommend the metal prebent pipes available over PEX.