Temporary fix for a snapped coolant expansion tank nipple
Plastic coolant tank nipples often become brittle and snap off due to heating and cooling cycles, leaving no stub to connect the bleed hose to. While waiting for a replacement tank to arrive, temporary fixes like epoxy often fail to adhere to the pressurized plastic, leaving drivers stuck without a reliable way to drive their car.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
Temporary fix for a snapped coolant expansion tank nipple
- 1Trying to use adhesives like JB Weld MarineWeldDid this help you?
- 2Drilling into the remainder of the nipple and securing a small tube or barbed fitting with adhesiveDid this help you?
- 3Using a barbed brass nipple threaded into the holeDid this help you?
- 4using fuel tank puttyDid this help you?
- 5applying epoxy repairDid this help you?
- 6replacing the entire tankDid this help you?
- 7sourcing a replacement valve from the manufacturerDid this help you?
- 8Buying a completely new OEM replacement tankDid this help you?
- 9Sourcing a used tank from a salvage yardDid this help you?
- 10Installing a cheaper, universal tank that fits the spaceDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’ve tried glue, epoxy, cold solder, and nothing is really sticking or biting the plastic, even after sanding it down (first pic).”source ↗
“The thing won’t stay put, and keep on dripping if I don’t fix it.”source ↗
“I really don’t want to get a new tank, since they aren’t particularly cheap, so I wanna try everything before I spend the money.”source ↗
“I assume through the many heating and cooling cycles the plastic nipple on my 2019 ZB Commodore's (I think it's called a Buick Regal in the US? and an Opel Insignia in Europe) coolant expansion tank has become brittle and snapped off.”source ↗
“It's the small coolant bleed hose connection right beside the expansion tank cap. I've managed to get the broken nipple out of the hose, but there's basically nothing left on the tank to connect it to.”source ↗
“Tried JB Weld MarineWeld, but it didn't adhere very well and just peeled straight off...”source ↗
“I've got a brand new one on the way for 50 bucks, but it's about two weeks away and I need the car for work.”source ↗
“It's cracked where the black connector meets the purple tube so what's the best way to fix this? Can I replace this fitting or do I need to some sort of epoxy repair?”source ↗
Where this came up
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