The coolant pipe above the engine rocker cover has begun to weep at the joint with the bracket which attaches it to the ciylinder head. The photot identifies the pipe nd the place it is weeping from.

Anyone have experience of replacing/repairing this pipe? I believe it's expensive to buy as a spare part but repair may not be feasible?

Hi
I was told by the Fiat dealer that was one of the problems that occur with the 2.8 JTD due to the constant vibration of the pipe & not enough support for it.
On our 2.8 there was a bracket that was bolted to the inlet manifold that didn't appear to do anything, it had two plastic clamps for a wiring harness with nothing using them. So I removed it & bent the bracket forward so it would line up with the coolant pipe & used the clamps on this bracket to hold the pipe from vibrating. The price out here in Oz was quoted at $400 + for the pipe, have thought if it cracked on ours I would cut out the cracked section & use a rubber heater hose section in place of it. Or you could try brazing it as an alternative first to see if that works & also securing it better as I have done to minimise vibration. Might take a picture tomorrow & post it on the thread.
Cheers

Pictures as promised

Thanks FreeSpirit, - that's a good idea for the future to prevent it happening again. I guess I'll have to take it off and see if a local guy can braze or silver solder it.

$400+ sounds like extortion.

Well, I took the cooalnt pipe off to find that not only was the battery-side flange leaking at the weld-joint but the air filter-side mounting flange had sheared off, too. (This pipe takes a lot of vibration from the engine.)

FIAT wanted £174+VAT for a replacement part but a local engineering shop brazed the leaking joint and welded the mounting flange back on for £10.

I put the repaired pipe back on this morning and all seems well (so far!) Thanks to Free Spirit for his help (see his photos - how does he keep his engine bay so clean?)

Thanks to Free Spirit for his help (see his photos - how does he keep his engine bay so clean?)

Click to expand...

A lot of FREE time, and some SPIRITS.