The Trick to Removing Radiator Hose Connectors

TimCSquared · 12-25-2020, 06:15 PM

I just replaced my Radiator after it had cracked and leaked.

I had a great deal of trouble removing the radiator hose connectors BMW uses and had even more trouble putting them back on.

I was doing this outside in 40 F weather, so the rubber O-rings were not very pliable to begin with, but as hard as I tried, the hoses would not snap back on. I spent a solid two hours or so trying Lithium grease, silicon grease, WD40, I tired different positions, in the car, out of the car, etc. Nothing would work.

I tried setting my heat gun to 650 F, on high wind speed and heated up the o-rings and connectors to ~120 F (You wouldn't want to hold onto it forever, but you can hold onto it for a few seconds).

It slid right on. 10 second job.

I'm convinced this must be how they do it on the assembly line.

Don't get it too hot, I've heard of these connectors warping as they age, but the coolant gets much hotter than 120 F, so it should be fine.

TL;DR:
For anyone who may read this in the future: heat the Radiator Hose connectors up with a heat gun, it is absolutely worth it.

Thunderguts · 01-21-2021, 08:49 AM

Now you tell me!

I replaced every hot water hose on my car and most weren't much trouble. The toughest was the radiator return hose. I didn't want to pull the neck off the radiator so I had to go slowly. I ended up carefully cutting off the fitting with a Dremel. I didn't even think about using a heat gun.

spidertri · 01-29-2021, 09:59 AM

Thank you so much for posting this. I'm replacing all the hoses on my car and hitting them with the heat gun made them come right off.

I didn't try heating them up to put the new hoses on, but I did put a tiny bit of silicone grease on the orings inside the connectors and they slid on really easily.

Petro135 · 01-29-2021, 02:41 PM

There should really a be thread around that is just tips and tricks like this one. I dont look at the other platform forums on here, just 1addicts. I learned a long time ago the heat gun is your friend in alot of situations

fotontom · 02-16-2021, 08:23 AM

Just did the power steering flush routine this weekend and I'll bet this procedure would have worked well for that, too. Thanks for posting!

12-25-2020, 06:15 PM	#1
TimCSquared New Member 29 Rep 10 Posts Drives: '08 128i Join Date: May 2020 Location: Arlington, TX iTrader: (0)	The Trick to Removing Radiator Hose Connectors I just replaced my Radiator after it had cracked and leaked. I had a great deal of trouble removing the radiator hose connectors BMW uses and had even more trouble putting them back on. I was doing this outside in 40 F weather, so the rubber O-rings were not very pliable to begin with, but as hard as I tried, the hoses would not snap back on. I spent a solid two hours or so trying Lithium grease, silicon grease, WD40, I tired different positions, in the car, out of the car, etc. Nothing would work. I tried setting my heat gun to 650 F, on high wind speed and heated up the o-rings and connectors to ~120 F (You wouldn't want to hold onto it forever, but you can hold onto it for a few seconds). It slid right on. 10 second job. I'm convinced this must be how they do it on the assembly line. Don't get it too hot, I've heard of these connectors warping as they age, but the coolant gets much hotter than 120 F, so it should be fine. TL;DR: For anyone who may read this in the future: heat the Radiator Hose connectors up with a heat gun, it is absolutely worth it.
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01-21-2021, 08:49 AM	#2
Thunderguts Captain 784 Rep 999 Posts Drives: 2009 128i Sport MT Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: DFW iTrader: (0)	Now you tell me! I replaced every hot water hose on my car and most weren't much trouble. The toughest was the radiator return hose. I didn't want to pull the neck off the radiator so I had to go slowly. I ended up carefully cutting off the fitting with a Dremel. I didn't even think about using a heat gun. __________________ Official BMWP Whore - BMWP suspension kit w/ M3 arms, BMWP big brake kit, BMWP intake w/Mishimoto tube, BMWP exhaust, BMWP carbon strut brace, BMWP short shifter, and BMWP carbon spoiler. OZ Leggera HLT w/ 245 square setup.
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01-29-2021, 09:59 AM	#3
spidertri Lieutenant 398 Rep 464 Posts Drives: 11 128i 6MT Sport Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Rock Hill, SC iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 128i [0.00]	Thank you so much for posting this. I'm replacing all the hoses on my car and hitting them with the heat gun made them come right off. I didn't try heating them up to put the new hoses on, but I did put a tiny bit of silicone grease on the orings inside the connectors and they slid on really easily. __________________ 11 128i slicktop 13 WK2 19 Alltrack S
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01-29-2021, 02:41 PM	#4
Petro135 Captain 453 Rep 610 Posts Drives: 2008 135i E88 Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: South jersey iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [0.00]	There should really a be thread around that is just tips and tricks like this one. I dont look at the other platform forums on here, just 1addicts. I learned a long time ago the heat gun is your friend in alot of situations
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02-16-2021, 08:23 AM	#5
fotontom Second Lieutenant 178 Rep 262 Posts Drives: BMW 128i E82 M-Sport, 528i F10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1)	Just did the power steering flush routine this weekend and I'll bet this procedure would have worked well for that, too. Thanks for posting!
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