Pink Powder

[Schrowang]

There are two hoses that run from the firewall to connections on the top of the cylinder head at cylinders 4 & 5 just before the exhaust manifold. I am assuming that these two connections are supply and return? for the cab heater?



The problem is a buildup of a crusty, pink powdery substance at the connection of the hose to the nipple in the cylinder head.



I'm taking the truck in to the dealer (Bonneville & Sons in Manchester, NH) for other maintenance, but I'm wondering whether any of you other oil burners out there have seen this particular problem before? Its obviously a leak of some kind, but I'm wonder exactly what it is. Possibly dried anti-freeze?



As dealers go, Bonneville & Son has been among the best I've dealt with over the years. Quality work, they know CTD's and have done some good work on mine. Much has been warrantee work, and they have never, never tried to screw me. Course the truck is bone stock, but even then some dealers I've done business with have tried to screw me on warrantee work when they thought they could get away with it.



Mike

 

[rbattelle]

Yes, those hoses are supply/return for the heater core.

The pink powder you're seeing is the remains of coolant that has seeped (very slowly) from those fittings. All the water has evaporated and what remains are the coolant additives. It's up to you whether you think it's worth "fixing".

Mine developed the pink powder after a short time. In fact, all the pipe plugs on my exhaust side had it. Then I switched to Fleetguard coolant, which is blue. Guess what? Now there's blue powder crusted around all those nipples!

I've never put forth any effort to fix this. In my opinion, if the evaporation rate equals the leak rate, then there's essentially no leak.

Ryan

 

[TBurow]

it is antifreeze, do the hoses have those goofy spring clamps? if so romove the hose and clean the connections off and then replace the clamps with new worm drive clamps and refill the coolant, problem solved and it didnt cost $200 for the dealer to fix it.

 

[Pawpaw]

... do the hoses have those goofy spring clamps? if so romove the hose and clean the connections off and then replace the clamps with new worm drive clamps ...

I have a new found respect for those flat-band spring clamps.



If the clamps are where you can easily get a screwdriver or socket on them, then the worm clamps are the only way to go. For those impossible to get to locations, you can't beat those spring clamps IF you have the right tool.



http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...Automotive+Specialty+Tools&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes



I just finished replacing all the hoses on my '97 Intrepid. Some of those hoses would've been downright impossible without this tool. It makes taking off and putting on those clamps a lead-pipe cinch.

 

[Schrowang]

Thanks

Hey guys,



Thanks for the responses. I'm going to take TBurow's advise, buy the hose clamps (stainless of course) and clean up the connections and make this right.



Mike