Ok, 89 gmc k3500 454 th400 4wd
I replaced both fittings on my oil cooler lines where they go to the oil filter adapter a few months ago when I had the adapter off to replace the big o-ring in it.(Those not interested in a story please skip down to paragraph 3 :-)) All was fine for about 1000 miles until I take a long trip. Last sunday i'm up in ticonderoga NY the only part of my 3 hr drive that i don't get cell phone service and the line coming out of the filter adapter to the rad pops.
So I run out of oil, have to drive a mile, walked an hour, begged a ride, got some oil and a new fitting and made it back to my truck. I then burrowed through the snow I parked it in, tried to get the old fitting off with the wrench I bought and couldn't swing it w/o taking the oil filter off. What I could see is that the line came out of the clip, I could see the nub that is on the line, that's how far out it was. So I jam it back in, with vise grips, it feels like it clicks, pour some oil in it, after a couple minutes tapping from the engine goes away. I turn around and drive home and take the wife's car. 3 hour trip turned to 10.
Ok, now back from storytime.... Last night I crawl under there to check it and the nub is popped out again. So I spend an hour taking the old fitting off put the new fitting with new clip on, I had to put it on first cuz i can't get a wrench on it with the line on. I measure how far i think the line needs to go to click before I put it on, and jam the line back in there. Now, I looked at the old and new fittings side by side and they look the same, is there some trick to these things? I think the new one is in there, i jammed that sucker as hard as i could, i put vice grips on the line with some rubber hose under em and used a wrench to wedge against it and pushed as hard as i could. But now I'm scared to go on a long trip with this sucker, what gives on these clips? Does anyone know of a better way? Should I try and get custom lines made at a hydraulic shop? Those clips are the sketchiest things i've ever seen considering what they do.
Thanks guys, Ed