Popped the heater core connector today

[2004LB7]

About an hour and a half away from home on some back roads and I get the message on the dash of low coolant level. Then I start seeing the temperature go up. By the time I was at the bottom of the road where it was safe to pull over and check it, the temp gauge was just shy of the 260° mark.

When I popped the hood I was greeted with the heater core hose blowing steam. The connector was snapped off


Was able to do the heater core bypass with one of the hoses. Added about 3 gallons. Trip home temperature stayed good

What are the chances you guys think the head gasket may be hurt? I'll keep an eye on the coolant level and see if it drops. Or if the hose gets hard

Also, what do you recommend for the metal replacement fittings?

 

[1FastBrick]

I have seen the stainless from various suppliers.

Recently noticed the Dmax store ones and they seem to be nice. A friend used them on his truck this last week and they seem to be working just fine. might be easier to service in the field Vs the metal tang retained ones.

DmaxStore Billet Heater Hose Connector, 2001-2014 LB7/LLY/LBZ/LMM/LML, 2020-2024 L5P

Upgrade the OE plastic heater hose connector on 2001-2014 & 2020-2024 Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra 6.6L with a DmaxStore Billet connector. Shop DmaxStore for your Duramax needs.

dmaxstore.com

 

[malibu795]

Yup Dorman 800-409HP

Looks like DHD has a pretty good price on them.

From my thread

 

[2004LB7]

I have seen the stainless from various suppliers.

Recently noticed the Dmax store ones and they seem to be nice. A friend used them on his truck this last week and they seem to be working just fine. might be easier to service in the field Vs the metal tang retained ones.

DmaxStore Billet Heater Hose Connector, 2001-2014 LB7/LLY/LBZ/LMM/LML, 2020-2024 L5P

Upgrade the OE plastic heater hose connector on 2001-2014 & 2020-2024 Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra 6.6L with a DmaxStore Billet connector. Shop DmaxStore for your Duramax needs.

dmaxstore.com

That actually looks like a decent price. Thanks

 

[1FastBrick]

That actually looks like a decent price. Thanks

I think they lowered it to be more competitive. I believe it was a few dollars higher before. Unless its on sale or something right now.

 

[SoCalMike]

I had the Dorman one and it was a pain to get off for some reason when I just did my HG recently. I damaged the metal quick connect locking tab when I finally got it off. I threw it in the trash and replaced it with the Dmaxstore one. In my opinion, it is made better and easier to get off.

 

[1FastBrick]

I had the Dorman one and it was a pain to get off for some reason when I just did my HG recently. I damaged the metal quick connect locking tab when I finally got it off. I threw it in the trash and replaced it with the Dmaxstore one. In my opinion, it is made better and easier to get off.

Had the same problem with the plastic Dorman junk. Ended up cutting it off.

 

[SoCalMike]

Just a heads up. Dmaxstore sells stuff on ebay. You can get the heater core fittings there for cheaper than ordering from the website. At least that is what I did at the time. The shipping at Dmaxstore is expensive.

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

I don’t think you hurt the gaskets at 260. The dash gauge usually reads about 10 to 15 degrees colder than what it is in actuality.

 

[2004LB7]

I don’t think you hurt the gaskets at 260. The dash gauge usually reads about 10 to 15 degrees colder than what it is in actuality.

That's what I was hoping to hear. Only issue I can think of is there was definitely air or voids in the coolant as it was missing about 3 gallons. So, not sure if the gauge was even reading it correctly. But hopefully everything is OK

 

[2004LB7]

What about ditching the adapters and just using good ol fashioned hose clamps or the ones already on the hose? Are the adapters really necessary?

 

[SoCalMike]

I would jut get the adapter's, but that's just me. Replace both and replace the hose too. The old hose will be stretched out at the connection. If you every have to take them off again, you would most likely have a hard time getting the hose off of the heater core. Possibly damage the heater core. But again that is how I would do it.

I avoid worm hose clamps for anything on coolant lines. There is too much heating cycles for them the be reliable and you always have to retighten them. I also avoid t-bolt clamps unless they have the spring on them. You can try constant tension hose clamps, but they are big. I reuse the spring clamps or use oetiker hose clamps for smaller hose connections.

 

[2004LB7]

Finally got around to replacing the adapters. Decided to go with the Dorman ones as I found some on Amazon for $13 each. Stainless steel. Good reviews. Hope I don't need to remove them as I know these type of connections can be a pain

Couldn't get the old plastic ones to come off. Ended up touching them until the plastic got soft and I could remove them. What a pain. Is it normal for the passenger side to be black and the drivers side to be white/tan? Looking at photos on the web, it appears many are like that. Mine included. I thought the original where white or tan and replacements that came later where the black ones. Maybe the passenger side is more prone to breaking (like mine did) and people are only replacing that one?

Anyways, little silicone grease on the rubber seal and they popped right on with little effort. Hoses where still in good shape and didn't look stretched or cracked. Everything went together well after the pain of removing the old ones. Just a little topping off of coolant and I have heat in the cab now

 

[1FastBrick]

Yes they are 2 different colors. 1 is sold separately through GM and the other I believe only comes with the hose through GM...

 

[1FastBrick]

Looks like you can get them both seprate. I think it was a cost thing with the hose where it was like 2 dollars more and it came with the hose.

White 15032062
Black 15059583

 

[2004LB7]

Looks like you can get them both seprate. I think it was a cost thing with the hose where it was like 2 dollars more and it came with the hose.

White 15032062
Black 15059583

I see that the black one there doesn't have any clamp. Was it glued?

My black one was the one that broke and it also had a clamp. Wonder if it was replaced at some point. But doesn't matter anymore as they will likely never need replacing again

 

[SoCalMike]

At some point they made it molded and one piece. I don know what year it was when they started to do it. My 07 LBZ was like that. When I did headgaskets I replaced the metal tube and hose as one piece. You can cut off the aluminum clamp on the metal tube side that connects to the hose and replace the hose and use a new fitting to connect to the heater core.

 

[1FastBrick]

I see that the black one there doesn't have any clamp. Was it glued?

My black one was the one that broke and it also had a clamp. Wonder if it was replaced at some point. But doesn't matter anymore as they will likely never need replacing again

I Had to replace both of mine on that truck and I think that's the one they sell with the hose for like $2 more... or at least it was $2 more when I bought mine... I have an extra Black connector still in the bag and I believe it's because that came as a 1 piece hose and connector with the molded clamp.

I would have to look on my LLY and see as I believe those are Original hoses and connectors still.

 

[Chevy1925]

JoshH turned me onto the dmaxstore aluminum ones. Little less weight on the heater core.

01-05 had a black and white fitting, both replaceable. 06+ one became a crimped on fitting to the connector and you have to replace the whole line