Waterpump issues...maybe

[adv rider]

I think i am having issues with my 2.1 water pump-the pressed in tube for that goes to the oil cooler? hose. First the hose was leaking,so i tightened clamp. Continuing to leak-tightened clamp more.

Still leaking so closer inspection showed clamp was cutting into hose, replaced with a piece of 3/8 heater hose,new clamps. leaking again,tightened the clamps some more. Still leaking! Not wanting to cause the clamps to cut hose. I replace hose with factory specified hose- still leaking again. I removed hose and put some adhesive on metal tube and reinstalled hose, tightened securely-but not over tight. And still leaking!

I got a set of clamps from a local VW service shop today-raised edges so i can tighten more,without cutting hose. But i am wondering has anyone ever seen the tube that is pressed into waterpump leak? Like around the tube from pump body?
When i get home from work today, I plan to install the new clamps and pressure test the system. But was wondering about the pump leaking.

Thanks for the input.
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86' Wolfsburg weekender 2.1, 4spd, , merian brown

[AtlasShrugged]

Never have seen that fitting leak..but it could.

Just be sure it is leaking there and not somewhere else.

Try using those dreaded OEM VW spring clamps. They do a good job of holding a coolant hose in place with no leaks. Don't damage the hoses/fittings and expand with the fittings when hot. They are a pain to get off and on. A special $36 spring clamp tool from Sears part number 9-47390 really helps.

[adv rider]

Got home and swapped out the 2 hose clamps, hooked up my handy snap-on pressure tester w/ adapter of course. Pumped her up to 14psi-no leak anymore . So I let it sit to check for any other leaks-and boy I was prayin' to not have anything happen.

Some drips started in the middle at one of my stainless pipe to rubber hose clamps-tightened that one. And waited...and waited, seems good. So I go about do a little pressure bleeding of the system.
Opened rear heater bleed valve-only coolant, no air was heard escaping.Went to the front loosed rad. bleeder-heard a very brief hiss of air, then coolant. So I released the pressure, added a small amount of Starcool.and pumped it up again.let sit for 10 min or so,and repeated.

Ended up using about 1 quart of the Starbrite, Starcool, and I am happy about that. And on top of no visible leaks-I had no white smoke on start-up.

So I should have used the pressure tester from the beginning,made quick work of my problems-using correct clamps helped too.

Has anyone used the Starbrite Starcool?, synthetic coolant, etc. etc.but it is supposed to seal pinhole leaks. Maybe this is similar to the Subaru stuff? I have never seen the suby stuff myself,so when I saw this I figured why not. I already run Triumph oat coolant in the van.
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86' Wolfsburg weekender 2.1, 4spd, , merian brown